"We are looking for ideas which demonstrate a holistic, efficient and practical implementation of the social, ecological and economic dimensions of the notion of sustainability," explained Marlehn Thieme, Deputy Chairwoman of the German Council for Sustainable Development, at the Council's annual conference.
Quite a number of the first ideas already to have received an award from RNE stand out not just for the innovative approach to sustainability that they have shown but also for their high degree of citizens' action: one case in point is the Munich-based "Nachhaltige Nachbarschaft Aktiv" project aimed at establishing a proactive sustainable neighbourhood in which citizens and neighbours collectively look for more climate-friendly lifestyles. Another is the Hamburg-based drinking water initiative, "Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli", which is devoted to improving the supply of drinking water in developing countries.
"Werkstatt N" marks the further development of the Council's current "Mission Sustainability" idea platform.