Priority fields of action:

• Energy/climate
• Environmentally-friendly mobility
• Healthy production and nutrition
• Shaping demographic change
• Innovation
• Reducing land use, conserving open spaces
• Accepting global responsibility.

Concepts, objectives and measures for the first three priority fields of action were incorporated in the strategy as far back as 2002. These include a viable, forward-looking energy supply, environmentally-sound mobility and a reorientation of agriculture and consumer protection.

For the other priority fields of action, the strategy lays out the government's agenda for the coming years, without specifying the measures to be taken. This is a clear indication of the fact that the political mandate to pursue the vision of sustainable development is far from being wound up. Further priorities include demographic change, a new education offensive, economic investment and sustainable human settlement development.

Additional topics were subsequently incorporated, and were included in the 2004 progress report:

• New energy supply structure involving the use of renewables
• Harnessing the potential represented by older people in industry and society
• Alternative fuels and engine technology.

In the publication “Landmark Sustainability 2005 – Appraisal and Perspectives” the German government also presented sustainability strategies in the following areas:

• Modern electricity supply – integrating renewable energies to optimum effect
• Renewable raw materials – for new products and growing markets
• Sustainable forestry – developing economic prospects
• Biodiversity – protection and utilisation

2004 progress report (available for download as a PDF file)

“Landmark Sustainability 2005 – Appraisal and Perspectives” (available for download as a PDF file)

In the 2008 progress report, the German government focuses on climate and energy, the sustainable management of raw materials, the social opportunities posed by demographic change and food for the world.

2008 progress report on Germany’s national sustainability strategy