History and Mission
DUH was founded in 1975 and has since developed into one of Germany’s leading environmental NGOs. The organization focuses on environmental protection, nature conservation, and promoting sustainable development. DUH’s mission includes advocating for policies to address climate change, promoting renewable energy, and reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The purpose of the DUH is to foster the protection of nature conservation and environmental protection as well as environmental and health-related consumer protection, particularly by educating and advising consumers.
Work and Achievements
DUH has been actively involved in numerous campaigns and legal actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enforce nature protection. Notable achievements include:
- Legal Actions: DUH is quite active and successful in this field.
- It has successfully taken legal action against car manufacturers to enforce emissions regulations. For example, it has pressured companies like Volkswagen to reduce their carbon emissions through legal channels (Home | White & Case LLP).
- DUH won its emissions policy case against the German government in the higher administrative court of Berlin-Brandenburg in the German capital only a few days ago, in mid-May ’24. DW
“The court’s ruling upholds lawsuits brought by DUH (Environmental Action Germany) alleging that current federal measures to reduce CO2 emissions in various sectors are insufficient and will fall short of the government’s own legally binding targets for the coming years.” Thus, they are demanding from the government that “they would have to improve their climate protection program for the years up to 2030 with concrete measures such as the speed limit on motorways that DUH is demanding, stopping subsidies for company cars or the energy-efficient renovation of schools and kindergartens.”
- Advocacy and Campaigns: DUH runs various campaigns to promote climate-friendly policies. They advocate for stringent emissions targets and the phase-out of fossil fuels. Their campaigns often involve public awareness initiatives and policy advocacy at both national and EU levels.
- Projects: DUH constantly engages and develops projects to reach its purpose.
Network and Linkages
DUH maintains a robust network within Germany, collaborating with other environmental organizations, academic institutions, and policymakers. They are also part of broader European and international networks, which helps them influence climate policies at multiple levels.
They are also partnering with a “consortium of partners from China, India, Britain, and the USA, the DUH campaigns to anchor energy efficiency standards at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and at other development banks.”
Funding and Support
DUH’s funding comes from various sources, including membership fees, donations, grants from foundations, and public funding. “The proportion of public and state funding is, on average, about 14% in recent years”. They claim to “receive project funding from various federal ministries, from the European Union as well as from the governments of federal states and private companies.”
The organization employs a professional staff supported by a large number of volunteers. This diverse funding base ensures their operational stability and ability to undertake large-scale projects and campaigns.
Budget and Staffing
While specific budget details are not publicly disclosed, DUH’s broad range of activities and sustained campaigns indicate a well-supported organization. Its dedicated team of experts in environmental science, law, and policy enables it to advocate effectively for climate action.
Contact for Partnership:
- Sascha Müller-Kraenner, Executive Director
- Email: info@duh.de
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Germany Country Manager Katherine Cote.
Name: Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. (DUH)
Address: Hackescher Markt 4, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Leader/Director: Sascha Müller-Kraenner, Executive Director
Contact Information:
- Email: info@duh.de
- Phone: +49 30 2400867-0