At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, 178 governments voted to adopt Agenda 21, the programme for development in the 21st century that is environmentally and ecologically sustainable as well as equitable. It was agreed that environment and development must be regarded as a unit and require joint solutions. It was also agreed that the production and consumption patterns of the industrialized countries had to change. What are the practical implications of such an accord for a Western industrialized country like the Federal Republic of Germany? In 1996 the study »Greening the North« answered this question with facts, objectives, measures and models. Co-editors BUND and MISEROR, the Catholic organization for development, jointly commissioned the Wuppertal Institute of Climate, Environment, and Energy to carry out the study.
In this study the publishers initiated a broad public discussion (1000 events in 1996 alone) as well as a numerous Local Agenda 21 programmes. With its concept of environmental space, and the ethical claim that all people have the same right to use of global environmental properties, the study has shaped the discussion on sustainability. Today international climate negotiations are based on this concept.
So, what prompted an environmental organisation like BUND, and the development organisations »Bread for the World« and the Church Development Service to join forces again and commission a new study at the Wuppertal Institute? Haven’t Al Gore and Bob Geldof made climate change and African poverty topics of everyday conversation with their documentary and concerts, respectively? Certainly serious political measures have been attempted with the sustainability strategy, the climate protection scheme, the biodiversity strategy on the national level and the Convention on [Climate and] Biodiversity on the international level, have they not?
Well, that is one view. The other side of the coin is that no fundamental changes have been achieved. Biological diversity continues to disappear in Germany, Europe and all over the world. The CO2 content of our atmosphere keeps increasing; climate change is in full swing and its effects have become apparent.
Yet there are some remarkable developments in the North-South relationship, like the discussion on debt relief (thanks to recognition of the negative effects of our policies on trade and subsidies) and political attention to the Millennium Goals. Certainly, the facts are sobering here, too: most developing countries are marked by poverty; economic recovery in the newly industrialized countries is accompanied by massive environmental destruction and growing social inequality.
Moreover it seems that fighting climate change employs strategies that redeploy our problems in the countries of the South, where they are aggravating the destruction of nature as well as social issues. Examples for this are the cultivation of biomass for biofuels and the use of genetically modified energy crops, which entail new, unsustainable risks.
But there are positive developments as well, like the boom in renewable energies, and the many local community activities in both North and South, in towns and in the country, proving that sustainability is not just a theory, but can be realized in practice.
Still the dramatic course change towards a policy of sustainability so far has yet to be charted on the national or on the international level. It becomes increasingly obvious that small changes of tack are not enough. But it looks as if major changes in direction are not a policy goal. Sustainability becomes assimilated and domesticated as another qualified feature of our previous economic and political course: sustainability strategy for politics, corporate social responsibility for the economy, organically fair products for the consumers. It shows willingness without demanding any sacrifice. The implicit hope is that the ecological modernization of industrialized society will solve environmental problems via technological innovations; our export trade will benefit, and the developing countries can be directed to grow accordingly thanks to the process of globalisation. The message is that the industrialized countries will keep on growing along with newly industrialized and developing countries, and that this very growth will solve the problems of environment change and poverty.
Well, the study "Sustainable Germany in a Globalised World" challenges this idyllic stroll down "sustainable economic growth" lane. The model of unlimited material growth in a physically limited world is outdated. The study takes a look at a fundamental change: what changes are necessary to make Germany fit for the future and capable of contributing its share to the world’s sustainability? What international and national rules and institutions are required; what changes are needed in politics, economy, consumption, products and lifestyle, at work and leisure, in technology, social co-existence and in our culture? The study stimulates, suggests, conceptualises, and outlines visions. Thus the dimension of the task becomes apparent, as do the opportunities to become active; making the study a sober and critical book that still offers motivation for change.
The publishers wish to initiate a broad social discussion with the study "Sustainable Germany in a Globalised World", one that does justice to the historic challenge of sustainability and advances resolute action by the public on all levels in the future. A window of only ten to fifteen years remains to reduce climate change to a more or less sustainable degree. It is high time to change course.
The development of the study was accompanied by an intensive process of dialogue within the organisations of the co-editors BUND, "Bread for the World" and EED.
Agreement on the basic statements of the study does not rule out the possibility of different views on individual topics. Scientific responsibility for the study’s contents lies with the Wuppertal Institute.
Many people have accompanied this study’s progress with references, criticism and suggestions, some working full-time and others on an honorary basis. The editors would like to express their gratitude to all of them. We also would like to thank the members of the Scientific Advisory Board, who provided much important advice regarding a sustainable Germany, especially during the initial phase of the project: Professor Martin Jänicke, Reinhard Loske PhD., Konrad Raiser PhD., and Professor Klaus Töpfer.
Friends of the earth germany
Professor Dr. Hubert Weiger, Chairman
Dr. Angelika Zahrnt, Honorary Chairwoman
Bread fort he World
Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, Director
Church Development Service
Dr. Konrad von Bonin, Chairman of the Board
