On the way to a sustainable society

Progress has been made, but there's plenty to accomplish yet: 20 years after the first Earth Summit, world leaders met in Rio to deliberate solutions to global problems. One of the major themes was the mission for a worldwide green economy. But Rio+20 is just one stop on the road to sustainable prosperity for everyone. The struggle surrounding food and energy, the depletion of natural resources - these issues can only be remedied by adopting the principle of sustainability in our economies and lives. The BMBF is working towards this transformation with, for example, the High-Tech Strategy and the comprehensive Research for Sustainable Development Programme (FONA). In this interview, BMBF-Online speaks with Federal Research Minister Schavan about sustainable research policy.

For more information on FONA - Research for Sustainable Development, click here.

Ms. Schavan, with the current year of science dedicated to sustainability, you've given a clear sign of how important this topic is to you. At the same time, citizens seem to struggle with this cumbersome term. What is the political message behind the Year of Science "Project EARTH: Our Future"?

Schavan: These days, we're all looking towards Rio de Janeiro and the "Rio plus 20" UN Conference on Sustainable Development. At the conference twenty years ago, participating states formulated an international mission statement for sustainable development. Today we know that we're on the right course, but still have a long way to go. Policy-makers must continue their efforts to anchor a political concept of sustainability in our societies and adjust the relevant parameters. With the Year of Science "Project EARTH: Our Future," we want to open a year long discussion with citizens, along with many other socially active groups and institutions, about how we want to live and do business in the future, and how we can protect our natural environment.

We all know that we need to significantly lower carbon emissions to combat global climate change. Replacing scarce and environmentally destructive oil with renewable resources is a declared objective of the National Research Strategy Bio-Economy 2030. For this reason, my innovation-oriented summer trip will include a visit to the Süd-Chemie plant in Straubing near Munich, where they can make biofuel out of agricultural waste and byproducts. We're providing around 5 million euros in funding to this pilot plant, which represents an important milestone on the path to commercializing this technology.

A great deal carbon dioxide - and money - can be saved, for example, in public buildings by renovating energy systems, or through construction and modern technology. This is precisely what we're doing with our new BMBF building in Berlin, which will be certified with the highest possible "gold" rating according to the national standard for sustainable building. This includes, for example, a smart grid and an LED lighting system. On the whole, we can't forget that using energy efficiently has major conservation potential. It offers economic advantages not just for businesses, but for individuals as well. In Germany, the growth rates of green technologies, for instance, are considerable. Projections place annual growth at around seven per cent - we expect 470 billion euros in sales and 1.1 million new jobs by 2020. However, I'm convinced that technical innovations alone are not enough - individual behaviour must change as well.

What do you see as the challenges along the way to a sustainable society?

Schavan: For me, the essential question is: how we can lead a good life without threatening the livelihood of future generations? This question is on many minds and is simultaneously the key challenge in research for sustainable development. The goal of leaving behind a liveable earth requires every individual to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use fewer resources. This means that we will need to change the way we build and live, eat and drink, get around and communicate. I am certain that many people are already aware of these things. For many citizens, a more sustainable lifestyle is no longer seen as going without, but rather as an opportunity to increase their quality of life. And of course, people also expect sustainable actions in politics. I consider it necessary, for instance, that we better integrate knowledge from the humanities and social sciences with new technologies.

How do you personally implement sustainability in day to day life?

Schavan: I make an effort to act responsibly as a consumer. I purchase green electricity and often cycle in my free time, for example to run errands. I try to buy regional products and look for fair-trade labels and certificates when shopping. Every individual can inspire sustainable development in industry through his or her own shopping behaviour.

With the BMBF framework programme "Research for Sustainable Development," you will be providing over 2 billion euros in funding by 2015 for the development of sustainable innovations. What's the next step?

Schavan: In Rio, the international community wants to integrate environment and development policies with economic and industrial policies, as well as establish a new form of economic activity called "Green Economy." We're organizing a congress in autumn in order to transfer the results of Rio into a national agenda. We've already formulated some ambitious goals. This includes the further expansion of Germany's position as a technology leader in the areas of climate protection and adapting to climate change, sustainable resource management, and innovative environment and energy technologies. Germany's move towards green energy provides major leverage for this. Innovation policy means sustainability policy. For this reason, we're supporting the development of leading markets for sustainable growth and thus new jobs. Technologies, products, and services for climate protection which are "Made in Germany" are already leading internationally in many areas.

Sustainability strategy at the BMBF

The BMBF has consistently geared sustainability research towards the goals of alternative energy and has introduced the guiding principle of sustainable prosperity, taking into account social, ecological, economic, and cultural matters. BMBF funding in this area has almost doubled from 234 million euros in 2005 to now 429 million euros. In addition, over 300 million euros in institutional funding is provided for sustainability projects at the Helmholtz Association as well a further 98 million euros for research in renewable energies and energy efficiency.

The BMBF consistently applies the Federal Government's sustainability strategy in its own economic activities. The new BMBF building in Berlin-Mitte is certified with the highest "gold" rating according to the national standard for sustainable building. Priority is given to the most energy efficient products using the "blue angel" criterion. 98 per cent of paper used is recycled paper. Ministry vehicles have an average emission rate of 132.42 g CO2/km. The goal of 130 g CO2/km is to be reached by 2015. An electric vehicle is already in use at the BMBF offices in Berlin, and various electric and hybrid vehicles are currently being texted at the BMBF offices in Bonn. With the provision of almost 350 JobTickets, the BMBF is encouraging around a third of its employees to use local public transportation to come to work. Many others walk or bike to the office.