German Academic Exchange Service
Coffee - Chat Discussion - 9 December 2025
​
Weaponisation of energy systems and policy: Rethinking Security, Policy, and Our Future.
​​
Dear students,
​
You are cordially invited to a unique online discussion featuring a presentation and an open student dialogue.
​
Who we are
Bridges in Dialogue is an initiative led by Dr Sandra Ingelkofer, the DAAD long-term lecturer at Taras Shevchenko National University. It is a platform that facilitates collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mentorship among students, academics, and professionals from Ukraine, Germany, the UK, and beyond.
About the Event
Dr. Yevgen Gerasymenko, Vice-Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Law at Taras Shevchenko National University, will open the session with a welcome address. Following this, Dr Sandra Ingelkofer will deliver a 30-minute keynote presentation to establish the framework for our discussion. The session will conclude with an open dialogue, moderated by Dr Ingelkofer.
​
Event Details:
Format: Online (Link will be provided upon registration)
Date: 9th of December 2025
Time:
Ukraine (Kyiv): 16:00 - 18:00 (EEST - UTC+3)
Germany (Berlin): 15:00 - 17:00 (CEST - UTC+2)
United Kingdom (London): 14:00 - 16:00 (BST - UTC+1)
Kazakhstan (Astana): 19:00 - 21:00 (ALMT - UTC+6)
We are eager to hear your voice and learn:
-
Your perspective on the topic.
-
Your ideas: Your ideas for building resilient and equitable energy systems. Let's collaborate on solutions.
Registration: To register, please send an email to bridgesindialogue@gmail.com with your name and a picture/scan of your student ID. We will then send you the secure link to join the event.
We look forward to meeting you and to a stimulating and constructive discussion!
Warmly,
Dr Sandra Ingelkofer
DAAD Long-Term Lecture at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
Join us!
​
Read following cases and bring your thoughts!
Germany: The Landmark ‘Klimaurteil’ and the Power of Fundamental RightsIn 2021, the German Federal Constitutional Court delivered a historic ruling known as the “Klimaurteil” (climate judgment), brought forward by a group of young plaintiffs represented by the nonprofit organization Germanwatch. The plaintiffs argued that the government’s 2019 Climate Protection Act, while setting emissions reduction targets, left insufficient clarity and urgency for action beyond 2030. This, they claimed, would force younger generations to bear disproportionate burdens in the future, violating their constitutional rights to life, personal freedom, and equality under the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz).The court agreed. It ruled that while the government could legislate climate policy, it must do so with sufficient clarity to protect the fundamental rights of future generations. The judgment mandated the German government to adopt more detailed, binding, and enforceable emissions reductions targets for the period after 2030. The court’s emphasis on intergenerational equity established a powerful legal precedent, recognizing climate protection as a constitutional imperative.This ruling has had far-reaching consequences, both in German politics and across Europe, inspiring young activists and legal challenges elsewhere.
For further reading: German Federal Constitutional Court decision (English summary):
​
​
My Netherlands: The Ongoing Legacy of Urgenda
​
Long before Germany’s Klimaurteil, the Netherlands made legal history with the 2015 Urgenda case. Brought by a group of 886 Dutch citizens, including many young people, the lawsuit accused the Dutch government of failing its duty of care by not implementing sufficient climate measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2019, the Dutch Supreme Court upheld lower court decisions ordering the government to reduce emissions by at least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, a target that was far more ambitious than government plans at the time. This ruling was revolutionary: for the first time, a court legally compelled a government to increase climate action based on human rights and environmental obligations.
The Urgenda case continues to inspire new legal actions and activism across Europe, including youth-led efforts to extend climate protection beyond national borders to the EU and internationally.
For further reading:
Urgenda Foundation’s legal battle and Supreme Court ruling: https://www.urgenda.nl/en/themas/climate-case/
Discussion for Coffee-Chat: Youth in Germany and the Netherlands: From Legal Challenges to Political Change
Legal experts note these cases illustrate a new paradigm: the fusion of constitutional rights, human rights law, and climate science creates a potent tool for youth activists to hold governments accountable. While political processes can be slow and fraught with compromise, courts provide a venue for urgent, rights-based demands that transcend electoral cycles
AI Issue to Discuss​EU AI Act: Setting Global Standards for Trustworthy AI
The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) was adopted on 13 June 2024 and entered into force on 1 August 2024, following its publication in the Official Journal on 12 July 2024 Artificial Intelligence Act.This landmark regulation establishes a unified, risk-based framework for AI across the EU.
It categorizes AI systems into four distinct risk levels - unacceptable, high, limited, and minimal - and introduces a specific category for general-purpose AI models, each with tailored legal obligations:
Unacceptable-risk systems, such as social scoring systems or real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces, are explicitly banned
High-risk systems - including those used in healthcare, education, or law enforcement—must meet rigorous standards for quality, transparency, human oversight, and undergo conformity assessments.
General-purpose AI models (e.g., large “foundation models” like ChatGPT) must comply with transparency requirements.Particularly powerful models are subject to additional evaluations based on their compute capabilities.
Read more https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng​
​
Germany’s AI Regulatory Landscape: Implementation in Progress
​
Germany does not yet have a dedicated federal AI law. Instead, AI regulation currently falls under general legislation - such as the Civil Code, Product Liability Act, and data protection laws (e.g., GDPR and BDSG).December 4, 2024, Germany published the first draft of the KI Market Surveillance Act (KIMÜG), aimed at implementing the provisions of the EU AI Act. It is expected to be adopted by the German federal government in the second half of 2025.Key implementation structures are also emerging. In an early version of the law, the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) was proposed as Germany’s market surveillance authority responsible for enforcing AI compliance, though other data protection bodies may also play roles Clyde & Co..​
