The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) provides independent advice to the Federal Government on matters of sustainability and future policy and has been newly appointed every three years since 2001. It consists of 15 public figures from business, civil society, science, and politics. The RNE provides impetus for political and social dialogue. In addition, it conducts its own projects through which sustainability is advanced in practical terms. The Council is supported by an office based in Berlin.
On 28 January 2026, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz reappointed the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE), which welcomed eight new members, while seven remained on board. At its inaugural meeting, the Council elected Gerald H. Haug as Chair, and former-Chair Reiner Hoffmann as his deputy. Read on for profiles of all RNE members.
What does the Council do?
The Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) consists of 15 public figures from business, civil society, science, and politics. It was first appointed by the Federal Government in April 2001.
The Council is tasked with:
The Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) advises the German federal government on sustainability policy.
The RNE implements its own projects to drive sustainable development in practice.
The RNE promotes political and social dialogue.
In selecting the topics it deals with and the forms of action it employs, the Council operates independently. Results of its ongoing work include the German Sustainability Code; recommendations regarding the German Sustainable Development Strategy, the global Sustainable Development Goals, climate policy, raw materials policy, circular economy and fiscal sustainability. The Council brings mayors together for the ‘Sustainable City’ dialogue and networks stakeholders and citizens through the German Sustainability Action Days. The Council is supported in its activities by an administrative office.
Further details of its work and functioning can be found in its Rules of Procedure.
Council Members
On 28 January 2026, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz reappointed the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE). At its inaugural meeting, the Council elected its new leadership: Gerald H. Haug as Chair, with former-Chair Reiner Hoffmann as his deputy. Read on for profiles of all RNE members.
Prof. Dr Gerald H. Haug
Chair of the RNE; Director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry; Full Professor at ETH Zurich
To profile
Reiner Hoffmann
Deputy Chair; Former President of the German Trade Union Confederation; Deputy Chair of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES)
To profile
Prof. Dr Stefan Bayer
Head of Research at GIDS (German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies)
To profile
Countess Bettina Bernadotte af Wisborg
President of the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings; Chair of Mentor Germany
To profile
Carolin Boßmeyer
Head of Liaison Office Berlin at Heidelberg Materials AG
To profile
Prof. Dr Fatma Deniz
Vice President for Digitalisation and Sustainability at TU Berlin; President of TU Berlin as of April 2026
To profile
Tanja Gönner
Managing Director of the Federation of German Industries (BDI)
To profile
Thomas Kufen
Lord Mayor of Essen
To profile
Prof. Dr Mark G. Lawrence
Scientific Director Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS)
To profile
Dr Katrin Leonhardt
Chair of the Board of Sächsische Aufbaubank – Förderbank
To profile
Prof. Dr Kai Niebert
President of the German League for Nature and Environment (DNR)
To profile
Hubertus Paetow
President of the German Agricultural Society (DLG e.V.)
To profile
Dr Myriam Rapior
Vice President of the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND)
To profile
Dr Werner Schnappauf
Lawyer and consultant; Former Minister of State
To profile
Achim Steiner
Senior Fellow of the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford; Chair of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference
To profile
Work programme
Office
Our Berlin-based office supports the Council members in their work.
Rules of Procedure
Here you will find the rules of procedure of the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) in the version of 17 January 2020.
