Engaging Members of the Bundestag: The Parliamentary Event “The Climate Impact of Methane – An Underestimated Threat”

Key points at a glance

• Parliamentary events such as breakfasts or evening events allow scientists to engage directly with members of the German Bundestag (federal parliament) during session weeks, present policy options, and contribute to evidence-informed policymaking
• Events held on the premises of the Bundestag require a a member of the Bundestag to serve as host – ideally the parliamentary group spokespersons for the respective topic; what matters most is not so much the number of participating members of the Bundestag but their expertise and political influence (e.g., rapporteurs and chairs of the relevant committees)
• Short, clearly understandable presentations with concrete recommendations for action – supplemented by a take-home fact sheet – are particularly well received by members of the Bundestag
• A coalition of several scientific organizations (e.g., Helmholtz SynCom and Leopoldina) increases visibility and impact; the dialogue can be continued after the event in bilateral follow-up meetings
• For parliamentary events to be effective, they must be part of a broader dialogue process

How does the format work?

During the German Bundestag’s session weeks, numerous parliamentary events take place: for example, at the German Parliamentary Society, in the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus cafeteria, or in the restaurants in and around the Reichstag building. Since many interest groups organize events simultaneously, scientific organizations and interest groups compete for parliamentary members’ attention. Having a member of the Bundestag with thematic expertise as a patron ensures access and relevance. For parliamentary events to have an impact, they must be part of a broader dialogue process.

Example: Parliamentary breakfast “The climate impact of methane – An underestimated threat”

On October 17, 2024, Helmholtz SynCom and Leopoldina hosted a parliamentary breakfast at the German Parliamentary Society. The topic was chosen because of its political relevance and at the suggestion of politicians. Under the patronage of Dr. Konstantin von Notz, and Lisa Badum, bothmembers of the Bundestag, 34 scientists and policymakers gathered (the venue’s maximum capacity). Politicians from the relevant committees were invited.

The agenda for the 1.5-hour session: Following the opening remarks by the patron and welcoming addresses by the vice presidents of both scientific organizations (10 minutes), three 8-minute scientific keynote presentations were given: on methane concentrations in the atmosphere, the energy sector, and agriculture as the largest source of methane emissions in Germany. In the subsequent 40-minute discussion with the members of pthe Bundestag, topics such as the transformation of agriculture, upstream emissions from imported LNG, regulatory options, and future challenges like leaks from hydrogen networks were explored in depth. A fact sheet containing the scientific community’s recommendations for action was distributed to the Bundestag members present.

In the evaluation, participants particularly praised the “clearly organized facts” as well as the “short, clear, and understandable” presentations with “concrete possible solutions.” Following the event, the dialogue continued in further exchange meetings between researchers and policymakers or ministry representatives.

Tasks and resources

Scientists

Scientists prepare short, accessible keynote presentations with concrete recommendations for action and contribute to the creation of a fact sheet. The time required for content preparation and delivery is approximately three days; organizational tasks take about one hour. Follow-up bilateral meetings with lawmakers or ministries may result afterward.

Transfer and communication staff (support staff)

Staff in the areas of transfer and communication are responsible for the bulk of the organizational work (approximately 1.5 weeks): They secure sponsors, book the venue, identify, and invite relevant members of the Bundestag, coordinate the program, contribute to the creation of the fact sheet, and conduct the evaluation.

Policymakers

Ideally, members of the Bundestag serve as patrons, including delivering the opening remarks or a welcome address. The time commitment ranges from two to eight hours, depending on whether they serve as a host with a reception address and whether follow-up meetings take place.

References

Leopoldina and SynCom, Helmholtz Earth & Environment (2024), The Climate Impact of Methane – An Underestimated Threat. Fact Sheet. pp. 1–4, https://doi.org/10.48440/leopoldina_syncom.2024.001.

Heidenreich, Marie; Brunner, Almut; Meyn, Andrea; Sielemann, Katharina (2024), Navigating uncertainties: collaborative approaches to science-policy dialogues, Frontiers in Earth Science, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2025.1602005.

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de