Wald-Klimarat conference: Taking responsibility together - under stars and standards

As we all know, it "takes a village" to raise a child. In principle, it is no different with a newly founded company. I have had the privilege of accompanying eva for over 3 years now and am - if you like - the mayor of the small "village", which in eva's case is called the "Wald-Klimarat" (WKR).

Eva was founded with the aim of developing a European forest carbon standard that is digital, transparent and, above all, easy to use. Our claim: both forest owners and buyers of CO₂ certificates should be able to take responsibility for the forest together - pragmatically, credibly and comprehensibly.

What makes eva special - and sets us apart from other standards - is our multi-stakeholder approach. We believe that a good standard can only be developed in dialog with those who will later apply or evaluate it - which is why we have involved our most important target groups from the outset. This resulted in the creation of the Forest Climate Council (WKR) - a body that brings together representatives from the forest, market, science & technology and the public & civil society.

Why are we going down this path? Because sustainable climate protection only works together. Because CO₂ certificates are only credible if they are based on the knowledge, experience and consent of various stakeholders. And because complex questions - such as technical feasibility, EU compatibility or practical impact in the forest - can only be answered meaningfully if all relevant perspectives are included.

Of course, it is not always easy to keep this "village" together. But this is precisely where the strength of the WKR lies: in diversity, in disputes, in the struggle for the best solution. And in the shared vision for the future of European forests.

In March 2025, it was time again: the WKR usually meets once or twice a year to advise eva on the methodological development of the standard. 35 invited experts discuss - often at length and emotionally, sometimes controversially - technical requirements, regulatory framework conditions and market-related expectations.

This year, the results of the two public consultations, in which the IPCC was actively involved, were on the agenda. In addition, experiences from the pilot projects were presented, the applicability of the methods in practice was reflected upon and it was discussed how the Forest-Climate Standard can also be applied outside Germany in the future.

For us at eva, this exchange is often challenging - but above all, it is central. Because we believe that the credibility of our certificates depends on the principle of multiple eyes. From open dialog. From the willingness to share responsibility. The WKR is not just an advisory body - for me, it is the heart of our development process. Even if the discussions sometimes present us with challenges, they not only produce sustainable results, but also strong cooperation and many inspiring moments.

Not only during the conference, but also on the evening before, intensive discussions took place in the cozy monastery café - until late in the evening. Even as a forester, I always learn something new in the midst of so much concentrated expertise. It was already late and tiredness made itself felt when our guests suddenly found themselves on the old monastery wall on the way to their hotel rooms - with an unobstructed view of the clear night sky over Fulda.

Raimund Friedrichs, a long-standing member of the Technical Committee and the Forest Climate Council - and also a proven expert in astronomy - seized the moment for a spontaneous stargazing session. We witnessed the so-called winter triangle, saw the double star of Venus and Jupiter and the reddish shimmer of Mars in the sky.

What happened next was a moment that even I couldn't plan for - and that I had never experienced in this form among our WKR members before: absolute silence.

A moment of silence - and clarity.

Perhaps it was precisely this moment under the starry sky that made us all realize once again why we gather here, discuss, argue, listen and challenge each other: Because it's about more than methodology or markets - it's about responsibility, trust and a future that we can only shape by working together.

And that's exactly why I enjoy doing this job so much, because it shows me that real change is possible when people come together with a common goal.