{"id":98645,"date":"2024-09-09T17:23:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T15:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nachhaltigkeitsrat.de\/ueber-den-rat\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T09:22:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T07:22:11","slug":"the-council","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nachhaltigkeitsrat.de\/en\/the-council\/","title":{"rendered":"About the Council"},"content":{"rendered":"

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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.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t

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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.\n<\/p>

Press release dated 28 January 2026: Council for Sustainable Development newly appointed [German only]<\/span><\/a><\/p> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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What does the Council do?<\/h2>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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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.\n<\/p>

The Council is tasked with:<\/p> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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The Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) advises the German federal government on sustainability policy.<\/h4>\r\n

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The RNE implements its own projects to drive sustainable development in practice.<\/h4>\r\n

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The RNE promotes political and social dialogue. <\/h4>\r\n

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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 \u2018Sustainable City\u2019 dialogue and networks stakeholders and citizens through the German Sustainability Action Days. The Council is supported in its activities by an administrative\u00a0office<\/span><\/a>.\n<\/p>

Further details of its work and functioning can be found in its\u00a0<\/use><\/svg>Rules of Procedure<\/span><\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Council Members<\/h2>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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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.\n<\/p>

Press release dated 28 January 2026: Council for Sustainable Development newly appointed [German only]<\/span><\/a><\/p> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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