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Prof. Dr. Maja Göpel

System transformation expert, honorary professor at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg, author, and co-initiator of the “Scientists for Future” network

The Political economist Maja Göpel is Scientific Director at THE NEW INSTITUTE in Hamburg. She addresses sustainability issues at the intersection of business, politics and society and has become a widely heard voice in public discourse. Her book "Unsere Welt neu denken" (Rethinking Our World) was in the top ten bestseller lists for months in 2020. Göpel served from 2017 to 2020 as secretary general of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), a body that advises the government on shaping global transformations toward sustainability. Previously, she headed the Berlin office of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy and, as Director Future Justice at the World Future Council, introduced concepts for strengthening the interests of future generations into EU and UN processes. In 2019, Maja Göpel was appointed honorary professor at Leuphana University Lüneburg. She is a member of the Club of Rome, the World Future Council, the Balaton Group and the German Sustainable Development Solutions Network and co-initiator of the initiative "Scientists for Future".