Politics, economy and society require a long-term orientation. The guiding principle of sustainable development has increasingly developed into an important element of modern action in recent years. Preserving the opportunities of life for the present and future generations constitutes the core of this guiding principle.
"Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
(International Commission for Environment and Development, Brundtland Report, 1987)
Every generation must solve its problems and must not burden future generations with them. However, sustainability also means that the living conditions on the Earth and the ability of humankind to act and react are safeguarded on a long-term basis.
The guiding principle of sustainability is directed at all social actors from the political arena to companies, the scientific community and educational institutions all the way to private households. All of them are called upon to point out possible solutions for sustainability. The more varied these proposed solutions and innovations are, the easier it will be to maintain the ability to take action and be able to tackle the emerging challenges rapidly. This applies to the national as well as to the European and worldwide levels.
The sustainability debate has been international in nature right from the beginning and inevitably requires a global view and internationally based activities and problem-solving concepts. Education and research are central elements of international cooperation since they play a major role in building up problem-solving and action-taking competence.
fona - Research for Sustainabiity
Forschung für Nachhaltige Entwicklungen (only German)
Evaluation ausgewählter Fördermaßnahmen des BMBF im Programmbereich Nachhaltig Wirtschaften 1997 bis 2004 (2008) (only available in German) 
