The WBNK advises the Federal Environment Ministry on issues of natural climate protection, which combines the protection of climate and nature. In this way, it counteracts the ecological double crisis of global warming and species extinction.

Member
Prof. Dr. Mariele Evers (University of Bonn) has been a member since March 2024.

The German Council for Scientific Information Infrastructures has been active in the current composition of its members since November 2022 (third mandate term). The 24 members were appointed by the Joint Science Conference (GWK) for a term of four years and work in an honorary capacity. They represent a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines, actors and institutions. The Council monitors transitions in the German academic system at large and gives practical recommendations to academia and the government. 

Member
Prof. Dr. Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider (University of Bonn) has been a member since 2022.

The WBGU is made up of nine scientists from various disciplines and was established jointly by the Federal Environment and Federal Research Ministries in 1992. It is supported by an interministerial committee consisting of representatives from all Federal Ministries and the Federal Chancellery.

Member
Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge (Director of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability IDOS in Bonn and Professor of Global Sustainable Development at the University of Bonn) has been a member since 2020.

The Scientific Advisory Board on Agricultural Policy, Food and Consumer Health Protection (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat für Agrarpolitik, Ernährung und gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz – WBAE) is an interdisciplinary body that advises the Ministry in the development of its policies in these areas. The WBAE works on a voluntary basis, is independent and draws up expertises and statements on subjects that it selects itself. All board members are appointed by the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture.

Members
Prof. Dr. Thomas Döring (University of Bonn, Institute of Crop Sciences and Resource Conservation, Department of Agroecology and Organic Farming)
Prof. Dr. Ute Nöthlings (University of Bonn, Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Chair of Nutritional Epidemiology)

The Scientific Advisory Board on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat für Biodiversität und Genetische Ressourcen) performs the task of advising the BMEL on general and fundamental matters concerning the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Members
Dr. Hannah Jaenicke (University of Bonn, Institute of Crop Sciences and Resource Conservation)
Dr. Ernst Tholen (University of Bonn, Head of the Working Group Domestic Animal Genetics of the Institute of Animal Sciences, Member of the Advisory Board "Pig Production" of the NRW Chamber of Agriculture)

The Board of Academic Advisors (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat beim Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz) gives the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action independent advice on all aspects of economic policy. The 41 academics meet five times a year, discuss topics of their own choice, and then publish their findings in the form of expertises.

Members
Professor Dr. Christian Bayer (Chair of Macroeconomics, University of Bonn)
Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Christoph Engel (Director at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods)
Professor Dr. h.c. mult. Martin Hellwig (Ph.D., Director (em.) at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods)
Prof. Dr. Axel Ockenfels (Director at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods and Professor at the University of Cologne)
Professor Dr. Carl Christian von Weizsäcker (Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods)

The Central Ethics Committee for Stem Cell Research (Zentrale Ethik-Kommission für Stammzellenforschung, ZES) is an interdisciplinary, independent committee of experts from the fields of ethics, theology, biology and medicine, which reviews applications under the Stem Cell Act (StZG) with regard to the high priority of the research objectives, the sufficient preliminary clarification of the research project and the probable necessity of using human embryonic stem cells (hES cells). It evaluates whether the research project is ethically justifiable in this sense. This commission is located at the Robert Koch Institute. Members are appointed for a period of three years. 

Members
2020-2023: Prof. Dr. Dr. Jochen Sautermeister (University of Bonn, Faculty of Catholic Theology)
2020-2023: Prof. Dr. Hartmut Kreß (University of Bonn, Faculty of Protestant Theology)

As an independent advisory body to the German federal government, the Bioeconomy Council develops recommendations for action to implement the national bioeconomy strategy. The bioeconomy has great potential for sustainable production and climate-neutral economic processes, which must be expanded. We therefore want to establish the bioeconomy as the basis for a socially sustainable transformation.

Former Members

2012-2020: Second Bioeconomy Council; Prof. Dr. Joachim von Braun, Director of the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn, was one of the chair persons.

Since 2020: Appointment Third Bioeconomy Council; Prof. Dr. Imme Scholz (former Deputy Director IDOS, Hon.-Prof. Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Executive Director Heinrich Böll Foundation) is a member.

The task of the Federal Government’s Data Ethics Commission (“Datenethikkommission”) will be to build on scientific and technical expertise in developing ethical guidelines for the protection of the individual, the preservation of social cohesion, and the safeguarding and promotion of prosperity in the information age. It has until autumn 2019 to provide the Federal Government’s lead ministries in this area – the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community and the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection – with recommendations for action and suggestions for possible legislation.

Member
Prof. Dr. Christiane Woopen (Heinrich Hertz Professorship in the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Individuals, Institutions and Societies" & Director of the Center for Life Ethics at the University of Bonn) was co-spokesperson.

In accordance with its legal mandate, the German Ethics Council shall address the questions of ethics, society, science, medicine and law and the probable consequences for the individual and society that result in connection with research and development, in particular in the field of the life sciences and their application to humanity. 

Former Members

2008-2016: Prof. Dr. Christiane Woopen, Heinrich Hertz Professorship in the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Individuals, Institutions and Societies" & Head of the Center for Life Ethics at the University of Bonn, was a member

2012-2016: Prof. Dr. Christiane Woopen, was Chairwoman

The Monopolies Commission is a permanent, independent expert committee which advises the German government and legislature in the areas of competition policy-making, competition law, and regulation. Its reports are published. The staff office of the Monopolies Commission is located in Bonn.

Former Members

2000-2004: Prof. Dr. Martin Hellwig, Executive Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Research of Collective Gopds (emeritus since 2017), was Chairman of the Commission

2012-2016: Prof. Dr. Daniel Zimmer, Professor of Commercial and Business Law at the University of Bonn, was Chairman of the Commission

The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) advises the Federal Government on issues of sustainability policy. It acts in this capacity as an independent entity, and since 2001 its members have been appointed every three years by the Federal Government. The Council consists of 15 public figures, comprising individuals from civil society, the business sector, the scientific community and the political arena.

Former Members

2013-2022: Prof. Dr. Imme Scholz (former Deputy Director IDOS, Hon.-Prof. Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, University of Applied Sciences, Member of the Board Heinrich-Böll-Foundation) was member and temporarily Deputy Chairperson

Since 2023: Katja Dörner, Lord Mayor of the City of Bonn, has been a member

The German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) is an expert advisory body whose mission is to describe and assess environmental conditions, problems, and political trends and to point out solutions and preventive measures. As set out in its mandate, the SRU submits an Environmental Report to the German federal government every four years. The report describes and assesses environmental policy developments and provides in-depth analyses of selected topics.

Former Members

2008-2016: Prof. Dr. Karin Holm-Müller, Head of the Chair for Resource and Environmental Economics at the University of Bonn, was member

The German Council of Economic Experts is an academic body that advises on economic policy issues. Set up by law in 1963, it is mandated with the task of providing an impartial expert view in the form of periodic assessments of macroeconomic developments in Germany, thus helping economic policymakers and the general public to make informed decisions. The Council is fully independent in its advisory role and operates in a transparent manner. It describes the current economic situation and its likely future development, highlighting any adverse trends and possible ways of averting or mitigating them.

Former Member

2014-2019: Prof. Dr. Isabel Schnabel, Professor of Finance at the University of Bonn and affiliate member at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Common Goods, was a member

The WBGU is made up of nine scientists from various disciplines and was established jointly by the Federal Environment and Federal Research Ministries in 1992. It is supported by an interministerial committee consisting of representatives from all Federal Ministries and the Federal Chancellery.

Former Members

2016-2020: Prof. Dr. Ulrike Grote, Director of the Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade at the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University of Hannover and Senior Fellow at the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, was a member

2004-2019: Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner, President of the Federal Environment Agency, former Director of the German Development Institute (DIE, today IDOS), former Director of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) was a Member
2009-2013: Vice-Chair
2013-2019: Co-Chair