- November 30, 2022
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- November 30, 2022
On November 30, 2022, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the seventh discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to take action when nation-states have been unable to make progress due to political polarization and partisan gridlock. This trend has also characterized transatlantic relations and the German-American partnership.
Agriculture is of crucial importance for the economy, society, the environment, and the future of the planet. An environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable agriculture can contribute to protecting natural resources, preserving biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and ensuring global food security. It also plays a significant role in promoting the future prosperity of rural areas and strengthening social cohesion. At the same time, the sector faces significant challenges due to rising population growth, declining biodiversity, new training demands, and the need to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Russia’s war against Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have added stress to supply chains and led to rising investment costs, price volatility, and global trade conflicts. How can U.S. states and German Länder address these issues and shape the framework for a more sustainable agricultural future?
We discussed these issues with Representative Sydney Carlin (Democrat), Member of the Kansas House of Representatives, Senator Russ Goodman (Republican), Member of the Georgia State Senate, Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo (Democrat), Member of the New York State Assembly, and Elrid Pasbrig MdL (SPD), Member of the State Parliament of Saxony-Anhalt.
This event is part of the State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue which the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany have launched to provide a platform for subnational exchange amongst German and American state legislators and a broader audience on common transatlantic challenges. The project builds on Aspen Germany’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative, a transatlantic exchange program for German and American state legislators.
