Abstract:

The role of the state in shaping institutions of social transformation has undergone an astonishing change in a relatively short amount of time: From the „overwhelmed state“, which seemed to be barely able to cope with increasingly complex risk situations and was characterized by a variety of „control crises“, and from the „failing state“, which acts helplessly between the presumption of information and inefficient dirigisme, to the „shaping state“, which could provide the necessary changes in order to embark on a new sustainability path. The pandemic caused by Sars-CoV2 since 2020 has significantly contributed to the renaissance of the state: The „pandemic state“, which is showing itself to be powerful and resolute, even seems to offer itself as a role model in terms of climate protection. The article argues that the current pandemic crisis ultimately does not provide a governmental role model for climate protection. However, a window of opportunity remains to be used to set a clear focus on climate protection through substantial government investments in recovery.