Sustainable business

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Economic sustainability refers to a dimension of sustainability science and is concerned with the economic aspects of sustainability. In science, this mostly as a "sustainable economy" or "sustainable economics" is called.

History of establishment

Since the late 1990s, is on the development of sustainable economy (initially " New Environmental Economics " called ) research. Since 2002, the non-profit " society for sustainability eV " ( GfN ) supports this process. After some preparatory books published Holger Rogall, high school teacher for Sustainable Economics and Founder and Chairman of the GfN, 2009, the textbook " Sustainable Economy", which summarizes the foundations of this new business school from the findings of the Sustainable Science. In parallel with the creation of the book initiated the GfN the " Network Sustainable Economy". In addition to numerous articles and books today is the yearbook Sustainable economy the most important series of publications, the individual aspects of sustainable economics treated (see institutions). Today, more than 300 people and organizations, including more than 120 professors and scientists support the key messages of sustainable economy.

Background

Over the last almost 250 years was the maximum increase profits and production of goods in the center of the economy. The blatant market failure in the three dimensions of sustainable development ( environmental, economic, social and cultural ) has been excluded or systematically underestimated. Given the global problems at the beginning of the 21st century ( such as climate change, over-exploitation of natural resources, poverty and distribution injustice ), these short-term economics will have to walk in the direction of a long-term economy, the boundaries of the natural carrying capacity and the ethical principles has to respect sustainability and take. It focuses on the questions of how to achieve sufficiently high economic, ecological and socio-cultural standards within the limits of the natural carrying capacity and can realize the ethical principles of sustainability.

Since the 1970s, numerous schools and research approaches have emerged that deal (Sustainable Science called ) with the overuse of natural resources and the conditions of sustainable development. The best known are: ( 0) The neoclassical environmental economics ( originated in the 1970s ), which can only be conditionally referred to as part of the Sustainable Science, but an important precursor, ( 1) Ecological Economics ( 1980 ), (2 ) the New environmental Economy (late 1990s, Holger Rogall, 2000), (3) the Greifswald approach ( GA, Konrad Ott, Ralf Döring, 2004), (4) the integrated sustainability concept of the Helmholtz Association of German research Centres ( HGF approach; Kopfmüller among others 2001; Kopfmüller 2006), ( 5) the Industrial Ecology ( 1990, Isenmann, Michael von Hauff, 2007), (6 ) the post Autistic Economics ( Dürmeier among others 2006), ( 7) the public welfare economics ( Christian Felber, 2010). These approaches are summarized by the Sustainable Economy.

The Sustainable economy builds on the insights of ecological economics, but develops them at key points on. The Ecological Economics focuses her research interest on the question of how the boundaries of the natural carrying capacity can be observed. To comply with the ethical principles of sustainable development of intra-and intergenerational justice and responsibility and sustainability, a sustainable economy must go on and deal with it as sufficiently high standards in all three dimensions can be achieved as part of the natural carrying capacity ( definition of sustainable development but ). As such, the Sustainable economy is seen as a logical development of ecological economics.

Institutions

When essential institutions of sustainable economy can be considered:

1 Teaching: The Sustainable economy is now taught worldwide in many universities (see main representative).

2 Research: The content of sustainable economics is now research at various universities and research institutions (see main representative). In the " Institute for the Sustainability University of Economics and Law Berlin" the work will be coordinated. These include projects on the topics of Sustainable Economy, Sustainability Management, Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR), business ethics and environmental law are carried out. The Institute has regular cooperation with the "Society for Sustainability eV " and " SUSTAINUM ", the Institute for Sustainable Economic in Berlin.

3 publications: The contents of sustainable economics were in numerous articles and books discussed (see bibliography). The most important may be considered:

• Rogall (2013 ): Economics of Social Scientist introduction to a sustainable economics
• Rogall (2012 ): Sustainable Economics - Economic Theory and practice of sustainable development
• Nutzinger, H.; Rogall, H. ( 2012): What remains of the neoclassical theory, in: Rogall, H. et al (eds., Rogall, H. ( 2012) ): Sustainable Economics: Economic theory and practice of sustainable development
• Lord, H.; Rogall, H. ( 2011): From the traditional to the sustainable economy, in: Rogall, H. et al (2011): Yearbook of Sustainable Economy 2011/12, the focal point of "growth"
• Umbach, E.; Rogall, H. ( 2011): Sustainability - concretization of a controversial concept, in: Rogall, H. et al (2011): Yearbook of Sustainable Economy 2011/12, the focal point of "growth"
• Janicke, M. ( 2011) Green Growth from the growth of the eco-industry to sustainable business in: Rogall, H. et al (2011): Yearbook of Sustainable Economy 2011/12, the focal point of "growth"
• Ekardt, F. ( 2011) Ethical issues of sustainable economics in: Rogall, H. et al (2011): Yearbook of Sustainable Economy 2011/12, the focal point of "growth"
• Rogall, H. ( 2011): Principles of sustainable economics - economics for students of the 21st century

How the " Sustainable Network Economy" series initiated in 2010 " Yearbook Sustainable Economy" examines the impact of the economy on a sustainable development and their socio-cultural, ecological and economic dimensions. It deals with the doctrine and the political consequences of the traditional economy and developed on the basis of the key messages of sustainable economic alternative approaches. Here, in addition to the theoretical foundations of strategic approaches in the fields of action are developed sustainable energy, mobility, resources and food policy and sustainability management, and consumer policy. In order for the yearbook is an important contribution to a sustainable economy and life on the principle of strong sustainability.

4 Supporting Organizations:

4a) Society for Sustainability ( GfN eV, founded in 2002 in Berlin): The well-known amongst experts NGO with about 200 members regularly organizes conferences and discussion forums, comments on issues of sustainable development and maintains a number of partnerships with other organizations. The nonprofit organization provides people from all social groups of actors and disciplines who want to contribute to sustainable development, a discussion and action forum.

4b) " Network Sustainable Economy" ( founded in 2009 in Berlin). The network wants to change based on the key messages the traditional economy in a sustainable economics and thus make a contribution to the social transformation process towards a sustainable development. Members are now about 120 university professors and renowned scientists who have agreed to build a new business school with, which is next to the neoclassical Keynesianism and the traditional business administration, as well as over 180 other sustaining members and partner institutions.

Key messages of sustainable economy

The " Network Sustainable Economy" has focused on the following key messages agreed (short version):

First: Strong Sustainability: The current development of humanity is considered to be unsustainable, the Sustainable economy therefore sees the need for a new mission statement and is committed to a position of strong sustainability. Thus, the economy is largely viewed as a subsystem of nature and natural resources as non- substitutable. The three- pillar model, which assumes an equivalence of the target dimensions ( without absolute natural limits), thus rejected, and instead the absolute limits of nature are recognized. The focus is on long-term preservation and not the optimal consumption of natural resources.

Second: Pluralistic approach, demarcation at receiving individual aspects of neoclassical environmental economics: The Sustainable Economy is a methodological pluralism is committed. Thus, it confers certain findings of traditional environmental economics (for example, the socio-economic explanations of the over-exploitation of natural resources and the deduced discussion about the need for political legal instruments).

Third, development of traditional economics and ecological economics for Sustainable Economy: The Sustainable economy calls for a fundamental change in the teaching content of the traditional economy. It starts with the basics (for example, the image of man ) and continues with the statements on national economic policy to the global conditions for a just world society continued. In the field of environmental economics and environmental policy, especially the absolutely set consumer sovereignty, the discounting of future costs and benefits of environmental protection measures, any substitutability of all, including all the natural resources, the position of the weak sustainability are much more be questioned. In contrast, the aspect of justice is to experience a stronger consideration. The key messages of sustainable economy based on knowledge of Sustainability Science (Sustainable Science). The focus is the discussion of how to achieve adequate ecological, economic and socio-cultural standards within the limits of the natural carrying capacity and can realize the intra-and intergenerational equity principle.

Fourth: Controversies of sustainable economics, Growth Question: The Sustainable economy is not a static theory, but sees the need for further discussion process and the expansion of cognitive interest in accordance with the global development. Here are a number of controversies that still needs to be clarified. A central controversy concerns the question of how the traditional growth paradigm can be replaced by a sustainability paradigm. Since an exponential growth with increasing consumption of natural resources for thousands of years is not possible, the replacement of the present growth paradigm by a sustainability paradigm made ​​it necessary for a sustainable development. Over the medium configuration, however there are different opinions ( steady-state approach with constant GDP versus selective area growth, resource consumption despite economic development lowers). A selective growth is to be achieved through the consistent implementation of efficiency, consistency and sufficiency.

Fifth: Ethical Principles: The focus is on the core values ​​of intra-and intergenerational justice and responsibility. It follows, for example, the right to equal resources claims, among other things, in the same emission rights per capita. Add to this the recognition of other important principles: including the precautionary principle, the principle of sustainability and adequacy of participatory and inclusive democracy and the rule of law from which the need for a social discourse and participation process and the inclusion of gender-specific aspects are derived. This is accompanied by the requirement that the one used in the traditional economy, but by numerous studies of behavioral economics and the brain research as unrealistic recognized human image of homo economicus has to be questioned. Instead, a more realistic image of man should be used, more attention is given to the cooperative potential of human action (homo Cooperativus ) and its heterogeneity. Furthermore, the potential for a cultural change to be explored, where the focus is on sustainable consumption, which is to contribute to sustainable production and life.

Sixth Inter- and transdisciplinary approach: The Sustainable economy will go beyond the purely economic point of view and analyze the economic processes in the context of a socio-ecological context. Here, the use of the findings as well as a close cooperation with the other social sciences and the humanities, natural sciences and engineering play a particularly important role.

Seventh: The need to amend the framework through political-legal instruments: With the help of political-legal instruments, the conditions should be changed so that the further economic development adheres to the limits of the natural carrying capacity. For this purpose, the standard price approach and the approach of merit goods are used.

Eighth: the need to operationalize the concept of sustainability, new measurement systems: a loss of meaning of the concept of sustainability is to be prevented by the formulation of principles, management rules and new measurement systems for the degree of sustainability and quality of life. Unlike the traditional economy, quality of life and prosperity equates (as measured by GDP per capita ), a sustainable economy requires appropriate target and indicator systems.

Ninth: Global Responsibility: among others recognized as key conditions for sustainable development: implementation of a global framework ( with regulation of financial markets, taxes on global environmental goods and financial transactions as well as socio-ecological minimum standards and many others). Reduction of global resource consumption is accepted by 50 % by 2050, that industrialized countries due to the historical development and greater efficiency must play a leading role in the implementation of intra-and intergenerational justice, global sustainability and fair trade relations and therefore their resource consumption by 80-95 must reduce % by 2050. This responsibility must be reflected in appropriate financial and technological support.

Tenth: Sustainable ( social-ecological ) market or mixed economy: Representatives of sustainable economics reject a capitalist market economy as well as from a central planned economy. They are convinced that only market-based systems are fit for the future with a sustainable regulatory framework. After that, the policy must actively intervene to ensure sustainable development and to reduce the consequences of market failure. To this end, the known targets of the German Stability Act are supplemented by a number of other goals and a sustainable restructuring of global economies required ( transformation). In addition, institutional and ownership change reminders are issued and discussed. A number of representatives of the sustainable economy calls for the strengthening of cooperative and municipal enterprises and calls for a fundamental reform of company law, so as to reduce the growth imperative and the profit maximization principle. In the long run some of the (re - ) allocation of assets into registered shares and bearer shares ( Binswanger, 2009 ) or the conversion of public limited companies in foundations is required ( Binswanger2009; Hauchler 2009). Furthermore, they are in favor of municipal ownership of public utilities (for example, to buy back the power grids ). Another central question deals with how the economic power concentration can be decreased and the transparency and lobby control can be increased ( Lacher 2009).

Fields of action: In order to accelerate the transformation of industrial society in a sustainable economy, central fields are selected in which this transformation process is driven by way of example with the aid of efficiency, consistency and sufficiency (sustainable energy, mobility, resource -protect, product design, agricultural policy ). Another key fields of action, sustainability management and consumer policy are considered. The need for institutional ownership and legal changes will be accepted on the reform of the monetary system is discussed.

Main representative

Editors and editorial board members of the yearbook Sustainable economy are: Holger Rogall (GF, Berlin ), Hans Christoph Binswanger ( Sankt Gallen), Felix Ekardt ( Greifswald), Anja Grothe (Berlin), Wolf -Dieter Hasenclever (Hildesheim ), Ingomar Hauchler (Bremen), Martin Janicke (Berlin ), Karl Kollmann (Vienna), Nina V. Michaelis (Münster ), Hans Nutzinger (Kassel ), FJ Rademacher (Ulm ), Gerhard Scherhorn (Wuppertal), Viviane Scherenberg (Bremen ), Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker

Other professors of the network are: Ottmar Edenhofer (Potsdam), Gerd Michelsen ( Lüneburg ), Rolf Kreibich (Berlin), Malte Faber (Heidelberg ), Armin Grunwald (Karlsruhe ), Ulrich Hampicke ( Greifswald), Niko Paech (Oldenburg ), Armin Mueller ( Ingolstadt ), Gisela Kubon - Gilke (Darmstadt), Jerzy Śleszyński (Warsaw), apl Eberhard Umbach (Osnabrück ), Michael Wörz (Karlsruhe ), Bernd Reef ( Kassel ), Wolfgang Buchholz ( Regensburg ), Thomas Ziesemer (Maastricht ) Helge Peukert (Erfurt ), Utz Reich ( Mainz ), Harald Hagemann ( Hohenheim), Ing Robert Holländer (Leipzig), Torsten Graap ( Ingolstadt ), Alexander Thumfart (Erfurt ), Lorenz Jarass (Stanford ), Bernd Meyer, Angelika Zahrnt, Silke Bustamante (Berlin ), Ulrich Förstner (Hamburg ), Thomas Sauer ( Jena ), Andreas Lenel ( Rhein-Main ), Karl Heinz Ruckriegel (Nuremberg, Germany ), Christian Felber (Vienna), Cleber Dutra (Fortaleza ), Felix Fuders (Chile), Maike Sippel (Konstanz ), Tobias Popovic (Stuttgart ), Dirk Oesselmann (Freiburg ), Martin Müller (Ulm ), Jens Pape ( Eberswalde ), Kora Kristof (Dessau ), Therese cherry (Münster), Jörg Sommer (Berlin ), Ulrich Hemel (Tübingen ), Claus Dierk Meier (Dir. Global Ethics Institute ), Markus Wissen (Berlin ), Claudia kemfert (Berlin ), Jürgen Grahl (Würzburg ), Andrea Pelzeter (Berlin), Ingo Balderjahn (Potsdam ), Jürgen Freimann (Kassel ), Jan Jarre (Münster ), Frank Stolze ( Detmold ), Ulrich Wicher ( Detmold ).