Rule of thumb: Every generation must solve its own problems rather than passing them on to the next generation. At the same time it must make provision for foreseeable future problems. This applies to conserving the natural resource base on which life depends, to economic development and to social cohesion and demographic change.

The ten golden rules: 

1. Citizens, producers and consumers, industry and trade unions, the academic community, churches and associations are important stakeholders in sustainable development, along with the government. They should all be involved in the public dialogue about the vision of sustainable development, and should independently gear their decisions and actions to the goals of sustainable development.
   
   
2. Private businesses are responsible for their production and their products. This includes providing consumers with health- and environmentally-relevant information about their products and about sustainable production methods. Consumers are responsible for selecting the products they buy, and for using them in a socially and ecologically acceptable manner.
   
   
3. Renewable natural resources (such as forest stands or fish stocks) may only be used on a scale which allows them to regenerate. Non-renewable natural resources (such as minerals and fossil fuels) may in the long term be used only where they cannot be replaced by other materials or fuels. The emission of substances or energy may not in the long term exceed the ability of ecosystems to adapt accordingly, e.g. climate, forests and oceans.
   
   
4. Any threat to human health and any unacceptable risks must be avoided.
   
   
5. The structural change triggered by technical developments and international competition should be made economically successful and ecologically and socially acceptable. To this end, the various policy fields should be integrated such that economic growth, high employment, social cohesion and environmental protection go hand in hand.
   
   
6. The consumption of energy and resources must be decoupled from economic growth, as must the volume of transport. At the same time, every effort should be made to ensure that the growth-related increase in demand for energy, resources and transport services is more than offset by efficiency gains.
   
   
7. Public budgets too shall respect the concept of intergenerational equity. Federal, laender and district governments should balance their budgets at the earliest possible time, and should then go on to reduce their debts on an ongoing and consistent basis.
   
   
8. Sustainable agriculture must be compatible with nature and the environment, and take into account the imperatives of responsible animal husbandry and the tenets of consumer protection, in particular in terms of human health.
   
   
9. In order to strengthen social cohesion, poverty and social marginalisation should be prevented as far as possible. All sections of the population should be given the opportunity to become involved in economic development. They should all participate in societal and political life.
   
   
10. The international framework should be shaped such that people in all countries are able to live in dignity in line with their own visions, and that they can participate in economic development. The environment and development must be seen as one whole. An integrated approach is to link poverty reduction with human rights, economic development, protection of the environment and good governance.