- Ways out of the current crises
Initial recommendations of the German Council for Sustainable Development for updating the country’s sustainable development strategy and advancing sustainability governance - SDG Summit: A question of money
The world has some catching up to do, was the overwhelming takeaway from the sustainability summit in New York. So how do we get there? The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) calls for urgent reform of the international financial architecture. - HLPF: The international community is still off track
As every year, the High-Level Political Forum saw UN member states and NGOs convene in New York to discuss the lie of the land as the international community attempts to reach the global sustainability goals. We present the key topics that emerged for the forthcoming SDG Summit in the autumn. - RNE calls for mobilisation of global capital to hit SDGs
Further recommendations: reforming the World Bank into a transformation bank, debt relief and reforming the special drawing rights of the IMF - Midway through Agenda 2030: Global community must step up a gear
The mid-term review from the latest Global Sustainable Development Report makes sober reading. Answers are expected at the United Nations SDG Summit in New York in September.
Council Project
Sustainable economic reform must go hand in hand with decent work on a thriving planet.
Reiner Hoffmann
Chair of the Council; Former President German Trade Union Confederation; Member European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
For me, sustainability means holding our actions accountable to our grandchildren. Without self-censorship or fear of loss but instead grounded in good ideas and joy for what lies ahead.
Gunda Röstel
Deputy Chair of the Council; Commercial Director Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH; Authorized Representative GELSENWASSER AG
For me, sustainability means living in harmony with nature. We as human beings are able to lead a good life only in balance with the planet’s other living beings.
Prof. Dr Katrin Böhning-Gaese
Director Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre; Professor Goethe University Frankfurt
Social innovators need greater visibility and support to realise their ideas. These are the people who shape the progress of our society and tackle the challenges of our time.
Zarah Bruhn
Social entrepreneur; Commissioner for Social Innovation at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); Founder and Managing Director socialbee
We will only succeed in transforming our society into a value-oriented and resource-efficient one, if we can manage to consider social and environmental responsibility and economic success together at executive level.
Saori Dubourg
Former Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE
Sustainable thinking is a never-ending, demanding process of negotiation on the principle that we only have one world to play with.
Tanja Gönner
Director General Federation of German Industries (BDI)
We can only overcome these individual crises – including the nature and climate crises – if we tackle them holistically. If we neglect or postpone one crisis, we will struggle to tackle the others.
Jörg-Andreas Krüger
President Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU)
How can I shape my life in a way that fosters sustainability? This question links individual action and social transformation. Helping to answer this question, especially through innovative evidence-based approaches, has driven me for years.
Prof. Dr Mark G. Lawrence
Scientific Director Research Institute for Sustainability, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS)
Gone are the days when sustainability solely meant trying to prevent social or environmental disasters. We must aspire to improve people’s lives and the state of nature. Sustainability should be the promise of a better life!
Prof. Dr Kai Niebert
President German League for Nature and Environment (DNR)
Sustainable development means facilitating the best possible living conditions without compromising the potential for future generations. This is only achievable if we build the right sustainability indicators into our functioning social market economy.
Hubertus Paetow
President German Agricultural Society (DLG)
The greatest challenge in the coming years will be learning to function within planetary boundaries. We need to transform each and every economic process at play to minimise their impact on nature and the environment.
Myriam Rapior
Vice President German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) – Friends of the Earth Germany
Sustainable development requires greatest possible recognition of commonalities as well as acceptance of differences.
Dr Werner Schnappauf
Lawyer and consultant; Former Minister of State
Sustainability – along with peaceful coexistence – is one of the greatest challenges facing us as human beings. Both always start with us and in small ways. And helps us see the big picture and our responsibility for all future generations.
Dr Franziska Tanneberger
Director Greifswald Mire Centre (GMC)
Various transformations need to take place, and the greatest challenge will be shaping these transitions in a way that reduces inequality.
Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul
Former Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development