Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks has called on industry and society to become more actively involved in supporting sustainable development. "We know that our actions often serve as an example to others. It is only if we pursue environmental protection and sustainable development in a determined way that other countries will do the same" stressed Minister Hendricks at the BMUB event "Where are the steering our planet? - New Goals for a more Sustainable Development".
The new UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 are to be adopted at the UN summit of the heads of state and government in September 2015. Negotiations are currently ongoing in New York. The proposed goals address the three dimensions of sustainable development, namely social aspects, ecology and economy and contain concrete targets, most of them with fixed deadlines.
Minister Hendricks added: "We advocate that the international community adopt an ambitious agenda for sustainable development. This proposal for the new sustainable development goals is a very good and well-balanced document. I would be delighted if these goals were adopted in September without any changes."
Minister Hendricks stressed that these goals not only apply to developing countries but also to industrialised countries. "We must work together to ensure that our planet's ecological capacities are not exceeded. For industrialised countries this means we must change our way of life in such a way that others can reach the same level without permanently damaging our planet in the process." She added that there was no need to worry. "Experience has shown that a consistent environmental policy is a solid foundation for economic success." Minister Hendricks added that businesses and society have shown they are willing to back sustainable development, for example by supporting a new direction in energy policy and that it is now time to set a good example in other areas.