The Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations is a think-tank focusing on the interface of science

Science

Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...

, politics and the business world. It is based in Berlin, Germany, and it has had a major influence in legislation to enshrine sustainability and intergenerational justice in several constitutions in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. The FRFG published several books in English, including the Handbook of Intergenerational Justice. FRFG is associated with the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Department of Public Information (DPI).

History

In 1997, the organization was founded by a group of European students who worried about the future and wanted to promote intergenerational justice in terms of ecology and economy. To FRFG, intergenerational justice means that today's youth and future generations must have at least the same opportunities to meet their own needs as the generation governing today. Research topics of FRFG include the unprecedented ecological destruction, the pension crisis, what it sees as the disenfranchisement of the young generation, youth unemployment and national indebtedness. FRFG was founded by Dr. Joerg Tremmel, who holds PhDs in sociology

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...

 and philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...

. FRFG has five young board members, whose average age of 30 makes FRFG's board one of the youngest boards of a foundation worldwide.

Activities

FRFG organized several congresses, symposia and meetings, such as a congress with 330 young decision makers from throughout Europe which took place at the World Exhibition (EXPO) in Hanover in 2000. It publishes books and issues policy papers. FRFG publishes a journal called Intergenerational Justice Review, which reaches many thousand of today’s and future decision makers (Members of Parliament of various European countries, numerous managers, journalists and professors, 3000 students from various fields of study).
Through the so called “Generational Justice Award”, endowed with 10,000 €, young scientists are encouraged to take a close look on issues concerning the future.
Numerous politicians asked for FRFG’s advice on questions concerning Generational Justice, among them the German ministers for Work (Reform of the pension scheme), and the minister for Justice (establishment of Generational Justice in the German constitution).

Scientific Advisory Council

FRFG is supported by a scientific advisory council that includes Dr. Mihajlo Mesarovic (Club of Rome), Dr. Radermacher (Club of Rome), Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker

Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker

Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker is a German scientist and politician.He is son of the physicist Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker and nephew of the former German President Richard von Weizsäcker....

 (Club of Rome), Lord Ralf Dahrendorf

Ralf Dahrendorf

Ralf Gustav Dahrendorf, Baron Dahrendorf, KBE, FBA was a German-British sociologist, philosopher, political scientist and liberal politician....

 (UK House of Lords) and Kennedy Graham

Kennedy Graham

Dr Kennedy Gollan Montrose Graham is a New Zealand politician and MP for the Green Party. He has served in the New Zealand Foreign Service for sixteen years, and lectured at the University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington....

(UN University).

Awards

FRFG received the Theodor-Heuss-Medal and the Medal for Good Citizenship of the town of Oberursel for its engagement.