Climate-neutral housing and construction must become the standard if we want to prevent the collapse of our climate system and meet political goals. But how do we get everyone on board? How can we ensure that rents remain affordable for low-income groups, that resources are conserved, and that the quality of living is improved? One thing is clear: There is no way around the turnaround!

We discussed at the conference how we can reconcile the social, ecological and technical challenges, which possible solutions exist, and what role the circular economy and digital technologies play in making climate-neutral housing and construction possible for everyone.

In the Ecornet Berlin research partnership, five Berlin institutes of transdisciplinary sustainability research were jointly providing impetus for Berlin's transformation. Their annual conference, "Knowledge. Change. Berlin. 2021" brought current research findings into dialogue with experiences from other cities and the voices of Berlin's practitioners and civil society – for a social and ecological capital.