Adjusting sustainability policy in the context of multiple crises
To achieve sustainability goals, production and consumption patterns must be fundamentally transformed. This goal is firmly anchored in politics and science, for example in the European Green Deal or the German Sustainability Strategy. At the same time, the societal conditions for sustainability policy have changed significantly in recent years. Several crises are occurring in parallel – for example the coronavirus pandemic, wars, social tensions, and the rise of populist movements. This “polycrisis” means that politics often responds to problems in the short term rather than pursuing long-term change. In democracies, it is becoming more difficult to win broad and lasting support for sustainability measures.
The necessary socio-ecological transformation is therefore increasingly becoming a point of contention in society. Shared values and goals are eroding, polarization is increasing, and resistance to sustainability policy is growing. Some researchers are already speaking of a phase of “post-sustainability,” in which the focus is less on transformation than on adapting to crises. Even major climate movements have lost mobilization power. Although sustainability is still seen as important, its previous rationale convinces many people less than it used to.
The research project aims to systematically examine these changed conditions and develop practical approaches for a future-oriented German sustainability policy. The initial focus is on evaluating previous experiences through a literature review and semi-structured interviews with key actors in sustainability policy: Which strategies and approaches have proven effective and strengthened environmental policy? And which fell short of expectations or could not be implemented as planned?
This retrospective analysis is complemented by a forward-looking perspective: Which new options or narratives promise to strengthen environmental sustainability policy, and how can they be implemented? In two workshops with actors from politics, civil society, business, and academia, possibilities for recalibrating German sustainability policy will be prioritized. Subsequently, prototypes will be developed together with actors from three selected fields of action in order to concretize and further develop the strategies and ideas by way of example.
