BASIC INFORMATION
GermanyFriday, 23 October 2026
The German Sustainable Development Strategy (GSDS; Deutsche Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie) is the Federal Government’s overarching framework for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. First adopted in 2002, it has been updated regularly, generally on a four-year cycle. The latest version was adopted in January 2025.
The GSDS 2025 identifies six transformation areas where integrated action is considered particularly important:
Human well-being and capabilities, and social justice
Energy transition and climate action
Circular economy
Sustainable construction and sustainable mobility
Sustainable agricultural and food systems
Pollutant-free environment
The strategy also identifies five levers for implementation: social mobilisation and participation; finance; international responsibility and cooperation; research, innovation and digitalisation; and governance.
The GSDS defines long-term sustainability objectives, 82 measurable indicators and governance mechanisms for implementing all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
It follows a whole-of-government approach, treating sustainable development as a guiding principle across federal ministries and policy fields, and recognises the importance of addressing cross-border spillover effects.
Action Plan for Sustainable Development
Following a public consultation process, on 30 September 2026, the Federal Cabinet adopted the Action Plan for Sustainable Development, entitled “Sustainability for a Modern and Future-Proof Germany” (Aktionsplan Nachhaltigkeit – Nachhaltigkeit für ein modernes und zukunftsfähiges Deutschland). Building on the GSDS 2025, the Action Plan is intended to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda by translating strategic objectives into concrete, action-oriented measures and more visible results in people’s everyday lives.
The Action Plan introduces a mission-oriented approach across federal ministries and is organised around five fields of action:
- A future-proof state and sustainable public finances
- A capable and sustainable economy and sustainable growth
- Social justice, equivalent living conditions and social cohesion
- Protection of natural resources
- International responsibility and cooperation
Twenty cross-ministerial missions form the backbone of the Action Plan. They are designed to address specific challenges through coordinated work across ministries and policy areas. The plan is conceived as a dynamic, learning programme that can be adapted and further developed during the legislative period. It complements rather than replaces the GSDS: the strategy provides the overarching framework, while the Action Plan places additional emphasis on practical implementation.
The Federal Chancellery (Bundeskanzleramt) coordinates the implementation and further development of the German Sustainable Development Strategy (GSDS) and chairs the central interministerial coordination process for sustainable development.
Coordination across ministries
The State Secretaries’ Committee for Sustainable Development and Future Issues (Staatssekretärsausschuss für nachhaltige Entwicklung und Zukunftsfragen) is the central interministerial coordination body. Chaired and coordinated by the Head of the Federal Chancellery, it brings together State Secretaries from all federal ministries and supports the integration of sustainability objectives into government policy and legislation. Depending on the topic, external experts may also be invited to attend. The chairs of the Sustainable Development Council and the Parliamentary Advisory Council are also present. A permanent inter-ministerial working-group for sustainable development (chaired also by the Chancellery) prepares for the meetings of the State Secretaries´ Committee.
The Action Plan’s 20 missions reinforce cross-ministerial and cross-sectoral cooperation. The working group on Sustainable Development is also responsible for supporting the implementation of the Action Plan, and for its Monitoring and evaluation.
Sustainability is also taken into account in the preparation and assessment of legislation through sustainability impact assessments. In May 2009, sustainable development was included permanently in the standing orders of the federal government (”Gemeinsame Geschäftsordnung der Bundesministerien”, GGO).
The Federal Government’s Programme of Sustainability Measures aims to strengthen sustainable practices within the federal administration, including sustainable procurement, mobility and the environmental performance of public institutions. Implementation is monitored through periodic reports. These instruments complement strategic coordination and help translate sustainability objectives into administrative practice.
Coordination with the Länder and municipalities
Germany’s federal system gives the 16 Länder important responsibilities for implementing sustainable development. Länder strategies and programmes reflect regional priorities while contributing to the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The regular Federation–Länder Exchange on Sustainable Development (Bund-Länder-Erfahrungsaustausch Nachhaltige Entwicklung) provides a forum for the Federal Government and the Länder to exchange experience, discuss implementation and coordinate approaches. Meetings are prepared and led by the Federal Chancellery together with the Land holding the chair of the Conference of Minister-Presidents.
In 2026, the development of the Action Plan was accompanied by exchanges across levels of government. Several discussions were held with the heads of the Länder State and Senate Chancelleries, and municipal representatives were involved in the process. These exchanges helped bring regional and local perspectives into the development of sustainability policy and complement the wider stakeholder consultation.
The Federal Government and the Länder also cooperate on sustainability monitoring. The Working Group on Sustainable Development of the Statistical Offices of the Länder provides SDG-based indicators and aligns them, where possible, with indicators used in the GSDS. The national Statistics Portal provides access to sustainability indicators for the Länder. This cooperation supports evidence-based policy coordination while allowing Länder to maintain their own strategies and priorities.
Municipalities are important actors in local implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including through local sustainability strategies and SDG-related initiatives.
Coordination with other stakeholders and civil society
Stakeholder participation is an integral part of Germany’s sustainability governance. Public consultation and dialogue formats have accompanied major updates of the GSDS and the development of the Action Plan. The GSDS 2025 was developed through a broad dialogue process involving events, online consultation and workshops with stakeholders from different parts of society.
Also in 2026, several consultations were conducted in connection with the Action Plan for Sustainable Development. Following the first draft, around 80 statements were submitted by representatives of civil society, business and academia. In addition, discussions with representatives of the Länder and municipalities brought subnational perspectives into the process. These formats complement ongoing participation by civil society, researchers, businesses, social partners, youth organisations and other stakeholders.
Key institutions and mechanisms include:
The German Council for Sustainable Development (Rat für Nachhaltige Entwicklung, RNE), which advises the Federal Government and promotes dialogue across society. Its members are appointed by the Chancellor. It is composed of 15 members from various social groups, the business sector as well as from the science and research community.
The Parliamentary Advisory Council on Sustainable Development and Future Issues (Parlamentarische Beirat für nachhaltige Entwicklung und Zukunftsfragen, PBnEZ), which contributes to parliamentary scrutiny and examines sustainability-related issues, including sustainability assessments of legislation.
The Science Platform Sustainability 2030 (Wissenschaftsplattform Nachhaltigkeit 2030, wpn2030), which connects research, policy and society and provides scientific expertise for the implementation of the GSDS and the 2030 Agenda.
Citizen dialogues, online consultations and stakeholder exchanges that contribute to strategy development, implementation and reporting. The Joint Action for Sustainable Development platform (Gemeinschaftswerk Nachhaltigkeit) also seeks to make sustainability engagement by citizens, municipalities, businesses, initiatives and organisations more visible and to support networking.
Spillover effects and international responsibility
Germany recognises the international dimension of sustainable development and the cross-border effects of domestic policies. The GSDS includes international responsibility and cooperation as a strategic lever and considers spillover effects.
The current GSDS comprises four indicators concerned with a reduction of overall resource consumption – domestically and abroad – by domestic society: total raw material productivity (Indicator 8.1) and global environmental uptake by private household consumption – measured in terms of raw material use, energy consumption and CO₂ emissions (Indicators 12.1.ba-bc).
International responsibility and cooperation are also one of the five fields of action of the 2026 Action Plan.
“Voluntary sustainability reporting of companies in line with the German Sustainability Code (DNK)” and “Sustainable textile procurement by the federal administration” are not only indicators in the GSDS 2025 but are also part of the 20 missions of the Action Plan.
- Action Plan — background and consultation process
- Federal Government — cooperation between the Federation and the Länder
- Overview sustainable development of the 16 Länder
- Parliamentary Advisory Council on Sustainable Development and Future Issues
- German Council for Sustainable Development
- Science Platform Sustainability 2030
- Joint Action for Sustainable Development
- Federal Government — stakeholder participation in the GSDS process
National indicator framework
Implementation of the GSDS is monitored through a national sustainability indicator framework coordinated by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). The indicators are linked to the 17 SDGs and nationally defined sustainability objectives. Destatis publishes indicator data and reports that provide an evidence base for assessing progress and informing policy development.
The 20 missions of the Action Plan are also aligned with specific targets, which will be equipped with packages of measures, milestones, and – where applicable – performance measurement in the subsequent process of its development.
Monitoring the Programme of Sustainability Measures
The Programme of Sustainability Measures provides a complementary framework for improving sustainability within the federal administration. Monitoring reports track implementation of these measures, including action on procurement, buildings, mobility and other areas of administrative practice.
Progress reporting on GSDS and SDG implementation
The Federal Government reports on the implementation and further development of the GSDS through strategy updates and progress reporting. These reports combine policy developments with statistical monitoring and identify areas where additional action is needed.
The Federal Statistical Office publishes the status of the GSDS indicators every two years. The Office conducts the assessment independently and on its own responsibility. This underscores the importance of objective review of the SDGs by a competent and independent expert body.
Germany’s VNRs
Germany has presented three Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) on implementation of the 2030 Agenda:
- 2016: First Voluntary National Review following adoption of the SDGs.
- 2021: Second Voluntary National Review, reviewing progress and governance developments.
- 2025: Third Voluntary National Review, published in June 2025 and presented at the UN High-Level Political Forum in July 2025.
The 2025 VNR reports on Germany’s progress since 2021, the GSDS 2025 and national arrangements for implementing the 2030 Agenda. Its preparation involved federal ministries and participation by stakeholders and actors at different levels of government. Germany also participates in international exchange and peer learning on sustainable development.