German Almanac of Sustainability Initiatives and impressions on the social reality of sustainability 2017 TEXT NO 52 03.2017 © Photo on the right: Microgen / Shutterstock.com; Photo on the left: André Wagenzik WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? Sus|tain|a’bil|ity Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. […] In essence, sustainable development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations. BRUNDTLAND COMMISSION 1987 CONTENT Foreword _________________________________________________________ 4 Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs How we see the world _____________________________________________ 5 An introduction to this Almanac by Marlehn Thieme The German Sustainable Development Strategy ___________________ 6 How is Germany implementing the 2030 Agenda? 7 Sustainability as a social process 14 What is the German Council for Sustainable Development and what does it do? _________________________________ 19 The first Open SDGclub.Berlin ____________________________________ 21 Social justice in Germany __________________________________________ 27 Part of the sustainability agenda Changing the way we plan ________________________________________ 43 New challenges for our cities Changing our habits of consumption ______________________________ 65 Our decisions for a globally sustainable consumer society Changing the economy ____________________________________________ 83 New coordinates for the economic system The energy transition _____________________________________________ 101 Future lab Germany – a joint effort The Anthropocene concept ________________________________________ 122 Conflict and consensus ___________________________________________ 131 On the road to a green innovation location ________________________ 138 Imprint __________________________________________________________ 145 FOREWORD Sigmar Gabriel Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs This Almanac contains concrete examples of sustainable thinking and action, which is ever more important for our societies. Dear readers, There are countless impressive examples of Various crises in our world stem from the lack sustainable action in our country. Moreover, of sustainability when it comes to concrete German companies operate sustainably abroad. action. That is why all three pillars of sustainable With their products and services, they are suc- development – economic, ecological and cessfully mastering the economic, ecological social – are fundamental principles of German and social challenges of our time, thus showing foreign policy. We can only achieve lasting peace that sustainable development offers our busi- and security if we safeguard the basic economic ness community and society great opportunities. conditions in which people live, protect our environment and strengthen social cohesion. This Almanac contains concrete examples of However, no one will be able to master alone sustainable thinking and action, which is ever the transformation which the international more important for our societies. Over the community has decided to carry out on the years, this awareness has become the political basis of the 2030 Agenda: we all have to work guiding principle in Germany. This is made together as partners on this. evident, for example, by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the The 2017 German Almanac of Sustainability 2016 National Sustainable Development sets out model procedures from which we Strategy. Sustainable development has become can all learn and be inspired. This work contains the focus of attention. This is the only way to information about outstanding initiatives ensure the well being of future generations. and projects which serve as examples of sustainable development “made in Germany”. 4 HOW WE SEE THE WORLD How we see the world An introduction to this Almanac by MARLEHN THIEME Chairwoman of the German Council for Sustainable Development We can look at the world from different perspectives. Depending on the perspective and focus, we see different things. When we look at the short term, we see refugees “Sustainability – Made in Germany” is still not and displacement, nationalism and populism, well enough known outside of Germany. That societies with many old or many young people. we are more tolerant and cosmopolitan than When we take a longer-term perspective, over- ever might be appreciated by many, as are use of nature, heating of the atmosphere, social the buzzwords transition to a new energy segregation between poor and rich and north system, resource productivity, sustainability and south come into focus, as does dead-end strategy. But too little is known about what growth searching within itself for a purpose. is behind it and makes it possible. That is why However, we also see the opportunities of we made this Almanac. With practical examples change offered by the concept of sustainable and threads, it shows how society as a whole development. Many people in Germany now in Germany is responding to the topic of consider this change important. sustainability. The government’s actions and responsibilities remain highly important, Sustainability: fulfilling the needs of people but are not the main subject of this book. living today in a way that gives future gen - erations a fair chance at an intact world, How we manage our economy, how we consume, a healthy life, the beauty of nature and and how we live and do business in Germany and positive coexistence. with our international partners, not only affects us and our prosperity, it also affects the lives of Old thought patterns must yield to efforts to people in many parts of this world, and affects find solutions in partnership. The sustainability nature and resources. Our responsibility does not of traditional concepts of economy and society end at our national borders. To reach the goal of must be re-evaluated. This is the starting point sustainable development in Germany, we must for giving sustainability the necessary vitality. also actively take on global responsibility. A purely superficial, fashionable and sensationa- The process of sustainable development has list communication of the concept of sustainable led to a great response by society, that goes development can be damaging. Such communi- beyond mere government responsibility. cation must be opposed. However, there is The Almanac aims to present this clearly, another communication deficit. in depth and critically. By no means claiming to be exhaustive, it tells concrete and tangible stories. The goals of sustainable development are an opportunity for everyone. 5 © Photo Thieme: German Council for Sustainable Development THE GERMAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY © trabantos / Shutterstock.com GERMAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY How is Germany implementing the 2030 Agenda? The German Sustainable Development Strategy What is the German Sustainable The strategy brings together sustainability Development Strategy? contributions by various policy areas, en- courages greater coherence and resolves the For the German Government, the pro- conflicting goals that arise from the large motion of sustainable development is number of systemic interdependencies. a fundamental goal and the yardstick of In this way, the strategy provides guidance our governance. The German Sustainable for globally responsible, intergenerationally Development Strategy defines the rele­ fair and socially integrative policies. vance of sustain able development to government policies and determines Revised in 2016 – sustainability in, specific goals and measures across the by and with Germany entire range of political issues. It thus provides the framework for the required The Sustainability Strategy revised by long-term direction of sustainable deve l - the German Federal Cabinet in 2016 op ment policies. The strategy is based provides an essential framework for the on an overarching, integrative approach: Federal Government’s national imple men- Stable long-term solutions will not be tation of the 2030 Agenda. It represents achieved unless the interaction between the most comprehensive advancement the three sustainability dimensions of the Strategy since its inception in 2002 is taken into account. and shows Germany’s commitment to the ambitious, far-reaching imple mentation Sustainability is the yardstick of the 2030 Agenda and its constituent of our governance. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sustainability Strategy aims to pro- The 2016 German Sustainable Development mote efficient economic, socially balanced Strategy details the measures taken to and ecologically compatible development, implement the 17 SDGs at three levels: with the planetary boundaries of the earth Measures with a national impact in and the principle of human dignity pro- Germany are joined by measures with viding unconditional guidelines for all an international impact effected by political decisions. Germany as well as Germany’s support of other countries in the form of bilateral cooperation (measures imple mented in conjunction with Germany). 7 GERMAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY SUSTAINABILITY – A JOINT PROCESS MANAGEMENT RULES The Federal Government’s revised Strategy The general requirements applying to edition focuses