Looking back, the study "Sustainable Germany" served a historic function. It specified, what sustainability could imply for an industrialized country like Germany. Plus, it suggested to implement the agenda adopted on the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 on all levels, from the municipal to the federal level, and to discuss how society and politics can become fit for the future.
Accomplishments of this study include the transformation of the sustainability debate from an academic one into a public one as well as making the vision of sustainable development vivid and discussible – with the concept of environmental space, the demand for environmental justice, the reduction goals for environmental consumption including the necessary instruments, but above all with its visions of an alternative way of living and economic management.
Many statements and objectives of the first study are still valid. Friends of the earth Germany (BUND) refers to that with emphasis in its new key concept. Nevertheless we do need a new study, because
- we simply have to update the data;
- economy, politics and culture are becoming increasingly globalised and the question remains open, how a policy of sustainability can be implemented under the conditions of globalisation, or, in others words, how these conditions should be changed;
- world trade has become increasingly important for the relationship of and development in the North and in the South;
- sustainability has to be discussed again based on facts and interests, devoid of sustainability rhetoric and romantic fantasies about a union of ecology, economy and social affairs;
- with all due respect for win-win situations: conflict issues have to be specified too;
- the efficiency-enhancement hype in using energy and resources needs to grounded, and we have to change our lifestyle to reduce consumption to the degree actually required;
- we need a new debate on economic growth; contrary to common beliefs, ecological boundaries (e.g. in climate policy) did nothing to restrain the economy; instead politics and economy put climate protection under "growth reserve";
- promises of growth don’t provide work for four million unemployed people;
- what twelve years ago had been a supposition ("if all Chinese people drove as much cars as we do…") has started to become reality;
- shortage of resources has become palpable and virulent for security issues;
- we need a new focal point for the sustainability debate;
- we need visions of global and generation-spanning justice, to get and keep on going.
Hence, Friends of the earth Germany (BUND), Bread for the World (Brot für die Welt) and Church Development Service (EED) have jointly commissioned a new study called "Sustainable Germany in a globalised World" at the Wuppertal Institute.
Just like twelve years ago, we want to bring together development and environmental organisations with ethically committed groups (inside and outside the churches) and to combine the two key issues of our century: global justice and ecological responsibility.
