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Nachhaltige und direkte Demokratie journal article

Theoretische Argumente und praktische Erfahrungen

Wolfgang Kahl

Zeitschrift für Europäisches Umwelt- und Planungsrecht, Volume 15 (2017), Issue 4, Page 272 - 294

The implementation of the principle of sustainable development in politics and legal acts is, at all levels, still insufficient. In this context, governmental institutions and proceedings play an essential role in alleviating this deficit of sustainability. This paper analyses whether the introduction of direct democracy on the German federal level contributes to optimise the sustainability of the political system (more precisely: of the outcomes of the latter). Therefore, it examines the major theoretical arguments (“pros and cons”) and draws comparisons to the latest practical experiences (Switzerland, German federal states) with referenda. Finally, the paper asks which concrete instruments of direct democracy are (not) recommendable as a complement to the parliamentary democratic system in Germany.


Der Grundrechtsschutz zukünftig Lebender journal article

Wolfgang Kahl

Zeitschrift für Europäisches Umwelt- und Planungsrecht, Volume 14 (2016), Issue 4, Page 300 - 312

From a normative point of view, neither sustainable development nor intergenerational justice in general (i.e. apart from the environmental aspect) is explicitly anchored in the German Constitution (Grundgesetz) as a legal principle or state aim. Nevertheless, future generations are not unprotected by the Constitution. This paper argues that future generations have no subjective rights, but the constitutional guarantee of fundamental rights already contains an objective legal duty (“Schutzpflicht”) of the state to protect life and health of future individuals today.




Ex-situ-Biodiversitätsschutz in Botanischen Gärten journal article

Wolfgang Kahl, Valentin Roden

Zeitschrift für Europäisches Umwelt- und Planungsrecht, Volume 13 (2015), Issue 4, Page 280 - 292

Due to the persistent problems related to the conservation of biological diversity, conservation strategies for both plant species and their genetic material should not be restricted to their natural habitats (in situ), but should also include ex-situ-conservation under the protection of botanic gardens. The article illustrates the existing regulations for the conservation of plant species in botanic gardens in a multi-level governance system. In contrast to the commitments in Article 9 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), EU Environmental Law, such as the Habitats-Directive (92/43/EEC), and the German Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) restrict the collection of plants, their exchange between different botanic institutions and the application of specimen to habitats. In general, both levels of regulation focus on in-situ-conservation, while the existing regulations provide an insufficient legal framework for the use of ex-situ conservation measures in support of in-situ-conservation. The article develops proposals for the strengthening of ex-situ-actions without compromising the fundamental right of academic freedom, Article 5 para. 3 of the German Constitution (GG), of botanic institutions as mostly university research facilities.


Kommunale Wärme- und Klimaaktionspläne journal article

Wolfgang Kahl, M.A. Und Marcus Schmidtchen

Zeitschrift für Europäisches Umwelt- und Planungsrecht, Volume 11 (2013), Issue 3, Page 186 - 196

The heating sector still comprises a significant potential for climate protection by the use of renewable energies. Due to the decentralised market structure in the field of heat supply, it is essential to make especially municipalities use their legal options. The authors therefore propose and draft a provision which creates a duty to develop plans of action, in which the potentials of renewable energies as well as precise actions of cities and mu