The 1980s
The Oeko-Institut during this time
1980: ‘Energiewende’ study
The Oeko-Institut’s groundbreaking ‘Energy Turnaround’ study shows how nuclear power can be phased out immediately and the use of oil can be halted by 2030 without jeopardising affluence and economic growth.
1980: Reactor safety study
On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Oeko-Institut investigates the ‘residual risk’ of light-water reactors.
1980: Establishment of the Oeko-Institut’s Darmstadt office
1981: Studies of contamination levels
Experts at the Oeko-Institut conduct a study of drinking water which shows that clean drinking water is becoming a scarce commodity in Germany. In a study of breast milk they report on the contamination of breast milk by toxics in the environment.
1982: Membership of the Oeko-Institut increases to more than 4,000
1984: The ‘Öko-Knigge’ is published
Rainer Grießhammer’s manual of environmentally aware behaviour remains in the SPIEGEL bestseller list for over a year and sells more than 250,000 copies.
1984: Launch of the Chemistry & Environment Information Service (ICU)
Until 1997 the ICU is published monthly by the Oeko-Institut, the environmental and nature conservation organisation BUND and the national association of citizens’ environmental protection initiatives BBU; it reports on the risks of using chemicals and on policy-based solutions.
1985: Second ‘Energiewende’ study
The study shows how the transition to sustainable energy can be effected and calls for the remunicipalisation of the energy sector.
1985: The Oeko-Institut decides to base its internal organisation on a divisional structure
1986: Creation of the Genetic Engineering Division at the Oeko-Institut
1986: The call for energy turnaround committees
After Chernobyl the Oeko-Institut calls for the founding of local energy turnaround committees – a success story: around 400 such committees are formed, carry on working for decades and help to drive the energy transition.
1987
Study of genetic engineering and biological control of insect pests
The study focuses on the risks of genetic engineering in agriculture.
1987: Development of comprehensive product system assessment
This method enables a product’s environmental, social and economic impacts to be analysed throughout its life cycle – a milestone five years before the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which in its final declaration calls for unsustainable production methods to be phased out.
National and international events
1980: Global 2000 (USA)
This report on future trends highlights the global impacts of environmental degradation, resource scarcity and population growth.
1981: The discovery of forest dieback
Use of the headline ‘The forest is dying’ in Der Spiegel magazine triggers widespread public debate in Germany of the issue of forest dieback.
1983: The Greens obtain their first seats in the Bundestag
1984: Toxic gas disaster in Bhopal
A disastrous chemical accident in Bhopal, India, causes the death of up to 25,000 people.
1985: Existence of an ozone hole over the Antarctic is proved
26 April 1986: Chernobyl nuclear disaster
The nuclear power plant at Chernobyl in Ukraine goes into meltdown; large quantities of radioactive material are released across Europe.
1986: Creation of the German Federal Ministry of the Environment
17 December 1987: Serious incident at Biblis nuclear power plant
An open valve and mistakes by the operating team almost result in meltdown of the Biblis A reactor.
1987: Brundtland Report published
How can environmentally sustainable development be combined with ensuring that the basic needs of people everywhere are met? This question is addressed by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED).
24 March 1989: The Exxon Valdez oil disaster
An oil tanker that runs aground off the coast of Alaska causes what is then the largest oil spill in history.
Quotes from our associates
»The energy turnaround study laid the foundations for everything that subsequently had to be battled for step by step.«
Erika Romberg, politician and former member of the Oeko-Institut’s Committee
»I would never have thought that books such as the Öko-Knigge could have such an impact, doing more than imparting information and actually shaping many people’s fundamental decisions.«
Prof. Rainer Grießhammer, member of the Oeko-Institut’s executive board
»After the Chernobyl disaster, our phone at the Oeko-Institut was constantly ringing late into the night. We had to set up emergency services in an attempt to channel the calls. We wanted to give people information, but these were difficult times.«
Stephan Kohler, until the end of 2014 CEO of the German Energy Agency (dena)