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The Chancellor was not about to sound the all-clear when she addressed the Annual Conference of the German Council for Sustainable Development. Sustainability was still a huge task for society, she said.

"We are by no means doing justice to the principle of sustainability at all times and in all places, either globally or at home. We in Germany must again and again be a driving force and overcome apparently insurmountable obstacles," the Chancellor added.

Angela Merkel welcomed the suggestion made by the German Council for Sustainable Development that 4 June 2012 be proclaimed the "Day of Action for Sustainability". The aim was to use the day of action to raise even more awareness for the concept of sustainability.

The German Chancellor drew on the four guiding principles underlying the National Sustainability Strategy to show what the German Government is doing to implement the concept of sustainability. The debt brake incorporated into the Basic Law, for example, is based on the guiding principle of intergenerational equity. It stipulates that from 2016 the Federation will to all intents and purposes have to eliminate the structural deficit. From 2020 it effectively puts a cap on new debt in the Länder (federal states).

From the Chancellor's point of view, intergenerational equity also means we must be careful with natural resources. Prosperity for all in a world of increasing population growth is also very fundamentally linked to how efficiently we use natural resources.

The Chancellor regards energy policy as another example of sustainable added value. The decision to switch almost entirely to renewable energies by 2050 was taken back in the autumn of 2010. The new aspect now is that fossil fuels will be used to a greater extent during the transitional period.

"So as not to miss our climate protection targets we now have to do more in terms of energy efficiency and building modernisation," the Chancellor explained. The switch to sustainable energy structures presented huge opportunities when it comes to exports and jobs, she went on. The Federal Research Ministry will be making 2012 the Year of Sustainability Research. Also, the German Government will shortly be adopting a new Energy Research Programme.

The second guiding principle of sustainability – quality of life – is closely linked to our concept of growth and progress. It was Ludwig Erhard who already pointed out that prosperity was a foundation but not the model for our way of life per se, Merkel reminded listeners. "Our definition of growth must also incorporate the concept of sustainability." The classic benchmark for growth, namely gross domestic product, must be supplemented by other indicators.

The Government's Electric Mobility Programme and the conference to be held tomorrow with the trade unions on what work will look like in the future were examples of how the course was being set in regard to quality of life. "If we explore new avenues, further training and qualification of employees will become very, very important," Merkel said.  

The social market economy model is sustainability put into practice when it is properly understood. Overcoming the international financial and economic crisis provided a good example: Politicians built bridges during the crisis and commercial enterprises and workers had accepted them, Merkel said.

How can the demand for skilled workers be sustainably met in the future? The German Chancellor believes that re-employment of the long-term unemployed is one approach. Older people also held great potential that needs to be tapped into. In addition, immigrants must be better integrated into the job market and the ability to combine family and a job improved. Further, top graduates should be offered better prospects in order to stop the brain drain. Where necessary, Germany would also welcome foreign skilled workers to the country.

Germany is making a key contribution when it comes to helping refugees. "Our country has taken in more refugees than any other industrialised nation," Merkel said. German development cooperation focussed in particular on giving people better prospects in their home countries. Germany's approach to development cooperation meant helping others to help themselves.

In view of the huge ecological challenges we are facing, in the German Chancellor's opinion international policy on sustainability also means expanding the international environmental organisation UNEP to give it the status of a full UN organisation. "Germany should be at the forefront when it comes to strengthening the idea of sustainability in organisational terms within the United Nations."