With the Cabinet resolution “Sustainability for a Modern and Future-Proof Germany” in November 2025, the Federal Government further developed the implementation of the German Sustainability Strategy (DNS) and, in the form of an action plan, adopted a more action-oriented approach to achieving the sustainability goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. Unlike the German Sustainability Strategy, which provides the overarching strategic framework, the Aktionsplan Nachhaltigkeit specifies policy priorities through a total of 19 cross-ministerial missions. These are intended to bring about concrete improvements for citizens, businesses, and Germany as a business location, while also contributing to the achievement of the sustainability goals. The BDI participated in the organized public consultation process by submitting a statement.

BDI welcomes the federal government’s aim, as set forth in the Aktionsplan Nachhaltigkeit, to align the implementation of the German Sustainability Strategy more closely with specific missions. However, for the Action Plan to make an effective contribution to sustainable growth, competitiveness, and transformation, it requires a clearer strategic direction, greater consideration of the economic dimension of sustainability, greater coherence among the individual missions, and secure funding for the measures.

Sustainability policy can only be successful if environmental, social, and economic goals are pursued on an equal footing. This also includes leveraging public demand and preference rules in clearly justified exceptional cases and in areas critical to industrial transformation. Leading markets can accelerate investment and strengthen the link between sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience. The action plan should therefore place greater emphasis on industry’s role as a key provider of solutions for decarbonization, resource efficiency, digitalization, innovation, and resilience, and consistently improve the framework conditions for investment and industrial value creation.

At the same time, the planned measures should be backed by a sound financial foundation, aligned with European guidelines, and designed in such a way as to avoid additional bureaucracy and competitive disadvantages. Resilience, security, and technological innovation must be understood as cross-cutting issues and must be more firmly anchored, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and energy supply.
BDI will constructively support the further development of the Aktionsplan Nachhaltigkeit and advocate for sustainability policy to contribute to strengthening Germany as a business location, its industrial base, and its future viability.