Towards an ambitious environmental policy in Germany and Europe

"Sufficiency refers to an aspiration of living more fairly and within ecological limits, in line with our values," says Prof. Wolfgang Lucht. "It is undeniable that, in ecological terms, we are living beyond our means. At the same time, many people do not have sufficient access to energy and resources. So how can our civilization become more ecological and just at the same time? Dealing with such questions is not easy, but in view of the crises, part of an indispensable learning process."

Sufficiency is often discussed as an individual lifestyle issue. However, the development of sustainable economic and lifestyle practices is a shared social and political responsibility. Strengthening sufficiency requires political and economic framework conditions that promote environmentally friendly social practice - instead of making it more difficult, as is often the case.

"The polarized debate between 'green growth' and 'post-growth' is getting us nowhere," says Prof. Claudia Kemfert. "One thing is clear: sectors that harm the environment and the climate must not continue to grow indefinitely. There has been a consensus for years that welfare is more than gross domestic product. However, this is still not reflected enough in practice."

"The circular economy contributes to sufficiency because it is much more than just recycling: it aims to make products durable, repairable and recyclable, thereby reducing the consumption of raw materials and avoiding waste," says Prof. Christina Dornack. "At the same time, however, circular economy also requires sufficiency: it is neither technically possible nor economically viable to keep constantly increasing material flows in a cycle - especially as energy, quality and sometimes material losses always occur."

Further information is available from Dr. Julia Hertin, Tel.: +49 30 263696-118, email: julia.hertin@umweltrat.de

The German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) has been advising the German government on environmental policy issues for more than 50 years. The Council's composition of seven professors from different disciplines ensures an independent and comprehensive assessment, both from a scientific-technical and a social science perspective.

The current members of the German Council on the Environment are:
Prof. Dr. Claudia Hornberg (Chair), University of Bielefeld
Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert (Vice Chair), Leuphana University Lüneburg
and German Institute of Economic Research
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christina Dornack, Dresden University of Technology
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Köck, Leipzig University and
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lucht, Humboldt University Berlin and
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Prof. Dr. Josef Settele, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg and
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
Prof. Dr. Annette Elisabeth Töller, University of Hagen

German Advisory Council on the Environment
Luisenstraße 46
10117 Berlin

Phone +49 30 263696-0
E-Mail info@umweltrat.de