Overview

Germanwatch is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation established in 1991 and based in Bonn and Berlin, Germany. It advocates sustainable global development rooted in social equity, respect for nature and economic stability. Germanwatch seeks to influence public policy on climate, environment, development and human rights through evidence-based analysis and advocacy.

Mission and focus areas

The organisation’s mission is to promote sustainable development that is socially equitable, ecologically sound and economically stable. It addresses key issues including climate change mitigation and adaptation, loss and damage, corporate responsibility, world food and land use, sustainable finance, and trade. Germanwatch contributes to sustainability by monitoring policy performance, producing indices and research that inform public discourse and policy decisions, and integrating climate and development concerns into broader sustainability frameworks.

Structure and governance

Germanwatch operates with a structured governance framework that includes named directors and staff across policy and administrative functions. Its organisation chart shows dedicated areas such as international climate policy, communication, corporate accountability, world food and trade, and sustainable finance. The organisation works with a network of volunteers, partners and international collaborators, supporting its advocacy and research work.

Programs and offerings

Germanwatch produces a range of research outputs and resources, including annual indices like the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) and Climate Risk Index (CRI), which assess national climate mitigation performance and the impacts of extreme weather events, respectively. It also publishes policy briefs, reports and analyses on climate finance, sustainable trade and corporate accountability. The organisation engages in climate litigation, contributes to global climate dialogues, and supports sustainable finance discussions, offering valuable tools for sustainability practitioners and policy professionals.

Mission statement

We actively promote North-South equity and the preservation of livelihoods. We observe, analyse and act. In doing so, we focus on the politics and economics of the North with their worldwide consequences. The situation of marginalised people in the South is the starting point of our work. Together with our members and supporters as well as with other actors in civil society we intend to represent a strong lobby for sustainable development.