The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) advises the Federal Government on issues of sustainability policy. It acts in this capacity as an independent entity, and since 2001 its members have been appointed every three years by the Federal Government. The Council consists of 15 public figures, comprising individuals from civil society, the business sector, the scientific community and the political arena. The Council also carries out its own projects aimed at advancing the topic of sustainability in practical terms. In addition, it helps shape topically focused momentum within policy and societal dialogue. The Council is supported in its activities by an administrative office based in Berlin.
What does the Council do?
The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) was first called into being by the German federal government in April 2001. The Council currently consists of 15 public figures. Since 2023, Reiner Hoffmann, former president of the German Trade Union Confederation, has been the Chair of the Council, deputised by Gunda Röstel, Commercial Director Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH and Authorized Representative GELSENWASSER AG.
The Council is tasked with:
The Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) advises the German federal government on sustainability policy.
The RNE implements its own projects to drive sustainable development in practice.
The RNE promotes political and social dialogue.
In selecting the topics it deals with and the forms of action it employs, the Council operates independently. Results of its ongoing work include the German Sustainability Code; recommendations regarding the German Sustainable Development Strategy, the global Sustainable Development Goals, climate policy, raw materials policy, circular economy and fiscal sustainability. The Council brings mayors together for the ‘Sustainable City’ dialogue and networks stakeholders and citizens through the German Sustainability Action Days. The Council is supported in its activities by an administrative office.
Further details of its work and functioning can be found in its Rules of Procedure.
Council Members
The Council consists of 15 public figures, comprising individuals from civil society, the business sector, the scientific community and the political arena. The Council also carries out its own projects aimed at advancing the topic of sustainability in practical terms. In addition, it helps shape topically focused momentum within policy and societal dialogue. The Council is supported in its activities by an administrative office based in Berlin.
„Sustainable economic reform must go hand in hand with decent work on a thriving planet.“
Reiner Hoffmann
Chair of the Council; Former President German Trade Union Confederation; Member European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
To profile
„For me, sustainability means holding our actions accountable to our grandchildren. Without self-censorship or fear of loss but instead grounded in good ideas and joy for what lies ahead.“
Gunda Röstel
Deputy Chair of the Council; Commercial Director Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH; Authorized Representative GELSENWASSER AG
To profile
„For me, sustainability means living in harmony with nature. We as human beings are able to lead a good life only in balance with the planet’s other living beings.“
Prof. Dr Katrin Böhning-Gaese
Scientific Director of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ; Professor Goethe University Frankfurt
To profile
„Social innovators need greater visibility and support to realise their ideas. These are the people who shape the progress of our society and tackle the challenges of our time.“
Zarah Bruhn
Social entrepreneur; Commissioner for Social Innovation at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); Founder and Managing Director socialbee
To profile
„We will only solve global challenges like the climate crisis if the state, the economy and society pull together to anchor sustainability as a priority and common responsibility.“
Katja Dörner
Mayor of the Federal City of Bonn
To profile
„We will only succeed in transforming our society into a value-oriented and resource-efficient one, if we can manage to consider social and environmental responsibility and economic success together at executive level.“
Saori Dubourg
Chair of the Management Board of Greiner AG
To profile
„Sustainable thinking is a never-ending, demanding process of negotiation on the principle that we only have one world to play with.“
Tanja Gönner
Director General Federation of German Industries (BDI)
To profile
„We can only overcome these individual crises – including the nature and climate crises – if we tackle them holistically. If we neglect or postpone one crisis, we will struggle to tackle the others.“
Jörg-Andreas Krüger
President Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU)
To profile
„How can I shape my life in a way that fosters sustainability? This question links individual action and social transformation. Helping to answer this question, especially through innovative evidence-based approaches, has driven me for years.“
Prof. Dr Mark G. Lawrence
Scientific Director Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS)
To profile
„Gone are the days when sustainability solely meant trying to prevent social or environmental disasters. We must aspire to improve people’s lives and the state of nature. Sustainability should be the promise of a better life!“
Prof. Dr Kai Niebert
President German League for Nature and Environment (DNR)
To profile
„Sustainable development means facilitating the best possible living conditions without compromising the potential for future generations. This is only achievable if we build the right sustainability indicators into our functioning social market economy.“
Hubertus Paetow
President German Agricultural Society (DLG)
To profile
„The greatest challenge in the coming years will be learning to function within planetary boundaries. We need to transform each and every economic process at play to minimise their impact on nature and the environment.“
Myriam Rapior
Vice President German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) – Friends of the Earth Germany
To profile
„Sustainable development requires greatest possible recognition of commonalities as well as acceptance of differences.“
Dr Werner Schnappauf
Lawyer and consultant; Former Minister of State
To profile
„Sustainability – along with peaceful coexistence – is one of the greatest challenges facing us as human beings. Both always start with us and in small ways. And helps us see the big picture and our responsibility for all future generations.“
Dr Franziska Tanneberger
Director Greifswald Mire Centre (GMC)
To profile
„Various transformations need to take place, and the greatest challenge will be shaping these transitions in a way that reduces inequality.“
Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul
Former Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development
To profile
Work programme
Office
Our Berlin-based office supports the Council members in their work.
Rules of Procedure
Here you will find the rules of procedure of the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) in the version of 17 January 2020.
