The future of Lower Saxony: Expert report with PIK participation published

"Specifically in the area of agriculture and food, Lower Saxony should focus on reducing nitrogen surpluses in the food system, improving the preservation of biodiversity and striving for climate-friendly management of peatlands" said PIK scientist Lotze-Campen. "In the area of 'landscape, energy and climate change,' it is crucial for Lower Saxony to further expand its role in shaping the energy transition, advance the development of a 'green infrastructure' and protect land from overdevelopment, as well as activate brownfield and conversion sites."

Commission Chairman Prof. Dietmar Harhoff presented the report, entitled "Lower Saxony 2030 - Potentials and Prospects," to Minister President Stephan Weil.

In general, the report shows that the challenges are great; at the same time, Lower Saxony is on a good path in many future fields - such as the energy and transport turnaround or demographic change - and is already using its numerous potentials, the Minister President said. "The recommendations presented are not a blueprint, but they can help us steer the upcoming transformation processes in the right direction by providing a scientific view from the outside."

The challenges identified are not unique to Lower Saxony, but highlight general development trends, some of which are particularly relevant to Lower Saxony. On this basis, the commission then formulated specific recommendations for the state that should already be effective in the medium term so that Lower Saxony can shape the socio-ecological transformation by 2030.