The German Federal Association for Sustainability

Sustainable development is a societal shaping process

About the German Federal Association for Sustainability

Who we are

The German Federal Association for Sustainability (BVNG) is an independent association bringing together actors from civil society, business, education and academia. Since its foundation, BVNG has been committed to understanding sustainable development not as a static end state, but as a societal development process that requires active shaping.

Sustainable development does not only require concepts and frameworks, but also voice, visibility and presence within political decision-making processes.

At the core of our work lies the question of how human development can take place within ecological limits – while fostering social participation, respecting cultural diversity and assuming long-term responsibility.

Our self-understanding

For us, sustainable development is not a normative programme, but an open-ended shaping process. This process is characterised by uncertainty, transformation and the coexistence of diverse interests.

BVNG understands itself as a connecting platform that creates spaces for dialogue, learning and shared development. We foster mutual understanding across different perspectives and support the translation of knowledge into responsible and actionable practice.

Our understanding of sustainability

The classical three-pillar model of sustainability (ecology, social affairs and economy) describes desirable target states. However, it provides only limited guidance for the design of development processes under real-world conditions.

The German Federal Association for Sustainability therefore starts from a different point. We understand sustainability as a developmental task, grounded in three core principles:

  • Participation
    Sustainable development can only succeed when people are actively involved in decision-making and shaping processes. Participation fosters acceptance, shared responsibility and the capacity to learn and adapt.
  • Cultural embeddedness
    Sustainability is not a purely technical or economic project. It is culturally shaped and requires values, narratives and social practices that enable responsible action within specific contexts.
  • Balance orientation
  • For us, development means continuously recalibrating the balance between human interests and ecological limits – consciously, reflectively and in a context-sensitive manner.

This understanding forms the foundation of our work across education, business, policy and civil society.

Our way of working

BVNG works in a way that is

  • participatory rather than top-down,
  • dialogue-oriented rather than instructional,
  • and long-term rather than driven by short-term project logic.
We initiate and accompany processes in which people learn, reflect and act together – for example through educational formats, exchange platforms, publications, and cooperation at both national and international levels.

Our approach

Sustainable development as a learning process

The work of the German Federal Association for Sustainability focuses on the design and facilitation of sustainable development processes. Our thematic priorities emerge from this approach and include, among others:

In doing so, we combine subject-matter expertise with dialogue-based and participatory formats.

Legal mandate and organisational form

The German Federal Association for Sustainability (BVNG) is a registered non-profit association under German law. The purpose of the association is to promote sustainable development through education, dialogue, networking and public outreach.

In particular, the statutory mandate includes:

  • the promotion of sustainable development processes,
  • the strengthening of societal participation,
  • the facilitation of knowledge transfer and orientation,
  • as well as the support of actors in the implementation of sustainable development.

BVNG is independent, non-partisan and non-profit-oriented.

From perspective to practice

The German Federal Association for Sustainability connects attitude and action. Our work on balance orientation, participation and systemic thinking forms the foundation for concrete cooperation, projects and strategic approaches.

Further insights can be found on our thematic page Systems of the Future.

Sustainable development is not a condition to be achieved, but a path that societies shape together – with an awareness of their limits, their diversity and their responsibility.

Statutory purposes

General promotion of the democratic system of government

The German Federal Association for Sustainability supports and advises state and social bodies and institutions in the implementation of sustainable or balance-oriented action in legislative, planning and decision-making processes by providing expertise, highlighting optimisation potential and through statements, publications and its own events.

It participates in the professional and public debate on this subject area through publications, statements and its own events, also in co-operation with other appropriate bodies.

The German Federal Association for Sustainability is involved in the establishment of sustainability-related committees in society, politics and administration and supports their work.

Promotion of development cooperationt

The association supports the implementation of international sustainability strategies by sensitising society, politics and administration to global issues and the need for development cooperation, as well as by promoting and initiating private, municipal and regional One World commitment.

Promotion of nurturer, education and vocational training

The Federal Association for Sustainability provides all social players with the opportunity to inform themselves on the subject of sustainability / balance orientation through lectures and teaching events, discussions, symposia, congresses, publications and similar activities.

Promotion of science and research as well as art and cultur

The German Federal Association for Sustainability promotes and supports the dialogue between art and science as a means and expression of sustainable knowledge transfer.

Excerpts from the Articles of Association

Preamble

In line with the German government’s National Sustainability Strategy, the German Federal Association for Sustainability is committed in the long term,

 

  • to anchoring sustainable behaviour in social, ecological and economic terms in all areas of society ,
  • to raise awareness of the connections between human activity and its effects on natural processes in the sense of a balance-orientated human-nature interaction,
  • to introduce a holistic approach as the key to sustainability as a decisive consideration in legislative and planning processes, and
  • that the public, politics, business and administration are advised and supported in this regard.

Duties

The association carries out its activities by

 

  • effectively and consistently representing its objectives in relevant legislative projects at federal and, where applicable, state level,
  • using all its journalistic resources to promote the ideas of sustainability and a focus on balance,
  • disseminating knowledge about solution requirements and approaches through e.g. own publications, lectures, conferences, congresses, training courses and exhibitions,
  • being committed to ensuring that parliaments and governments strive for research that takes greater account of sustainability,
  • actively supporting education in the responsible use of natural resources and education for sustainable development in schools and extracurricular activities, e.g. by providing teaching materials,
  • liaisions with institutions, associations and individuals pursuing similar goals and also working closely with them at international level,
  • actively integrating art and artistic expression into the transfer of knowledge about sustainability,
  • creating foundations and providing donations that anchor awareness of human behaviour and its impact on natural processes in all areas of society in the sense of a balance-oriented human-nature interaction in social, ecological and economic terms.
  • The German Federal Association donates the “Federal Sustainability Award” as an award for particularly sustainable actions and behaviour in society, politics, administration and business.