IIASA Director General at NEW bauhaus 2026

The festival will focus on the fundamental transformation facing the built environment in response to the climate crisis, resource scarcity, and digitalization. Through discussions, exhibitions, and demonstrations of new technologies and materials, NEW bauhaus aims to connect innovative ideas with practical solutions for a more sustainable and resource-efficient building culture.

Schellnhuber will take part in the closing high-level discussion on the first day of the festival under the title, New ways of thinking, new ways of acting: How do we shape the transformation of our society? He will join Minister-President of Thuringia Mario Voigt and KUKA Systems CEO Timo Heil for a conversation on how society can successfully navigate and shape far-reaching transformation.

The discussion connects closely with Schellnhuber’s work at IIASA on systemic approaches to the climate crisis and the transformation of the built environment. A particular focus of his recent work has been the potential to shift construction away from carbon-intensive materials towards renewable alternatives such as timber, allowing buildings to store carbon while helping to meet growing demand for housing.

Visit the official festival website for further information (in German)