Sustainable development in Germany

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Sustainable development in Germany refers to a report by the Federal Statistical Office in which sustainability policy is assessed and monitored with the help of sustainability indicators. The report appears every two years.

basis

On the basis of Agenda 21, the federal government has developed a strategy to meet the model "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of today's generation without endangering the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." [The World Commission for Environment and Development (" Brundtland Commission ", 1987)].

Since then, these indicators have been regularly evaluated by the Federal Statistical Office . Based on the “Perspectives for Germany - Our Strategy for Sustainable Development”, published by the Federal Government, there is a subdivision into four chapters with respective sub-chapters. The Council for Sustainable Development accompanies the national sustainability strategy.

construction

In total, the following 21 indicators were defined:

Intergenerational justice

1. Resource conservation - use resources sparingly and efficiently

a. Energy productivity
a. Raw material productivity

2. Climate protection - reduce greenhouse gases

a. Greenhouse gas emissions (Kyoto gases) in CO 2 equivalents

3. Renewable energies - expand sustainable energy supply

a. Share of renewable energies in energy consumption

4. Land use - sustainable land use

a. Increase in settlement and transport area in hectares per day

5. Species diversity - preserve species, protect habitats

a. Species diversity and landscape quality, indices

6. National debt - consolidate budget - create intergenerational equity

a. Government deficit

7. Economic provision for the future - create good investment conditions - secure long-term prosperity

a. Ratio of gross fixed capital formation to GDP

8. Innovation - Shaping the future with new solutions

a. Private and public spending on research and development (as a percentage of GDP)

9. Education - Continuously improve education and qualifications

a. 18 to 24 year olds without a degree
b. 25 year olds with a university degree
c. Freshman rate.

life quality

10. Economic prosperity - increase economic performance in an environmentally and socially compatible manner

a. GDP per inhabitant at 2000 prices

11. Mobility - secure mobility, protect the environment

a. Freight transport intensity
b. Passenger transport intensity
c. Share of rail transport and inland waterway transport

12. Land management - produce in an environmentally friendly way in our cultivated landscapes

a. Nitrogen surplus (total balance) kg / ha
b. Organic farming (share of the area in%)

13. Air quality - maintaining a healthy environment

a. Air pollution in relation to 1990

14. Health and nutrition - live healthy longer

a. Premature mortality (before the age of 65)
b. (free)
c. Smoking rate among adolescents and adults
d. (free)
e. Proportion of people with obesity (obesity)

15. Crime - further increasing personal security

a. Home burglary, cases recorded

Social cohesion

16. Employment - increase employment levels

a. Employment rate

17. Prospects for families - improving the compatibility of family and work

a. All-day care for children, proportion of the age group in%

18. Equality - Promote equality in society

a. Earnings gap between women and men

19. Integration - integrate instead of excluding

a. foreign school leavers with a school leaving certificate

International responsibility

20. Development cooperation - supporting sustainable development

a. Share of public development expenditure in gross national income

21. Open markets - improve trade opportunities for developing countries

a. German imports from developing countries (in €)

Current trends

Based on the current edition, which appeared on July 16, 2009, the following selected trends can be seen:

Resource conservation area

By acting sustainably, the federal government aims to double energy productivity by 2020 compared to the base year 1990. In 2008, energy productivity was a factor of 140.7% compared to 1990 (an improvement of 40.7%). This clearly indicates an already greatly improved efficiency of use. However, the total energy consumption only fell by 6.1%. If the current trend continues as before until 2020, the goal will not be achieved, predicts the Federal Statistical Office.

In the area of ​​raw material productivity, the aim is to double by 2020 compared to the base year 1994. A resource productivity increase of 35.4% had been implemented by 2007. This indicator is measured in terms of the consumption of abiotic resources (imported and self-generated) to produce one unit of gross domestic product. Here, too, the goal will not be achieved if the trend remains the same.

Area of ​​climate change

The German goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020, compared to the base year 1990. Between 2008 and 2012, the base year is to be undercut by 21% (value specified in the Kyoto agreement). The condition for this is that by 2020 total EU emissions are reduced by 30% compared to 1990, that is, other countries must push ahead with similar goals. In 2007 it was already possible to fall below the value required by 2012. In 2007 it was possible to reduce emissions by 22.3% compared to 1990. In 2008, the figure fell below 23.3%.

Renewable energies

Indicators here: "Share of renewable energies in total primary consumption" and "Share of electricity from renewable energy sources in gross electricity consumption".

Target by 2010: primary consumption should consist of 4.2% renewable energies, the share of electricity generation should be 12.5% ​​from renewable energy sources. By 2020 the share of primary consumption is to increase to 10% and that of gross consumption to at least 30%.

The target for 2010 was already achieved in 2005 (for primary consumption) and 2007 for gross electricity consumption. Further areas are detailed in the report of the Federal Statistical Office.

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