German Sustainability Action Days

The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) launched the German Sustainability Action Days on the occasion of the United Nations World Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012.

The German Sustainability Action Days 2025 will focus on the topic of nutrition - with the motto: ‘Can we eat the future?’. Photo: Pexels/Kampus

The German Sustainability Action Days 2025 have come to an end – but the movement continues! In 2026, all committed initiatives, organizations, and individuals are once again invited to demonstrate how the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be creatively and actively put into practice in everyday life – locally, within communities, or across Germany.

To the press release: “Nachhaltigkeit bundesweit sichtbar: Aktionstage 2025 mit starker Beteiligung” (in German)

The goal of Action Days

The goal of Action Days is to showcase exemplary commitments throughout Germany, raise public awareness of sustainability and encourage more people to embrace sustainable practices.

Everyone can make a positive change. With this in mind, the German Sustainability Action Days are open to private individuals, clubs, associations, initiatives, foundations, schools, nurseries, universities, churches, companies, social institutions, environmental and development organisations, municipalities, public utilities, authorities, offices and ministries.

Visibility for role model projects

We publicise the campaigns on social media channels and include them in the ‘Joint Action for Sustainable Development’ database. There is also the chance to be highlighted as a particularly inspiring lighthouse project.

Since 2015, the Action Days have formed part of the European Sustainable Development Week, an initiative launched by Germany, France and Austria in which people from all over Europe can participate. From 2022 to 2024, the German Sustainability Action Days were directly linked to the ‘Joint Action for Sustainable Development’. The fact that, as of 1 January 2025, the ‘Joint Action for Sustainable Development’ will be implemented by Engagement Global rather than the German Council for Sustainable Development does not change this. More information can be found here: https://gemeinschaftswerk-nachhaltigkeit.de/en/aktions-tage.

German Sustainability Action Days 2025

With broad participation from all federal states, the German Sustainability Action Days 2025 have successfully come to an end. A total of 1,630 activities were registered – initiated by schools, associations, municipalities, companies, and private individuals. All of them used the Action Days to make their concrete contributions to greater sustainability visible.

Each activity was assigned to one of the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Leading the way, with around 40 percent of all actions, was Climate Action (SDG 13).

To the press release: “Nachhaltigkeit bundesweit sichtbar: Aktionstage 2025 mit starker Beteiligung” (in German)

Action Days on social media: LinkedIn Instagram