Study commissions

Motion tabled by the parliamentary groups of the CDU/CSU, SPD, ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS and F.D.P.
Setting-up of a Study Commission
Protection of Humanity and the Environment - Objectives and General Conditions of Sustainable Development

The Bundestag is requested to adopt the following motion:

In order to prepare the ground for parliamentary decisions on possible measures for shaping a sustainable industrial society, a Study Commission on Protection of Humanity and the Environment - Objectives and General Conditions of Sustainable Development shall be set up in accordance with Section 56 of the Rules of Procedure of the German Bundestag.

The Study Commission shall continue the work of the Study Commission on Protection of Humanity and the Environment - Assessment Criteria and Prospects for Environmentally-Sound Product Cycles in Industrial Society, which focussed on patterns and paths of development for the industrial society of the future. In order to facilitate sustainable development, it is necessary to design an appropriate economic, ecological and social framework and to examine the options for implementing it on national and international levels.

1. Formulation of environmental objectives for sustainable development
   In the course of orienting the economy and society to a model of sustainable development, structural changes in the economic and social systems will be necessary.
   The preconditions for sustainable development cannot be named without clarifying the consequences of such a form of development. On the one hand, environmental objectives can be formulated only by taking their ecological, social and economic consequences into consideration; on the other hand, social and economic objectives cannot be achieved without considering their ecological impact. The development of new concepts and structures will often prove necessary.
   Limiting the entry of pollutants into the environment, and the emission of substances harmful to the climate, is an essential prerequisite for sustainable development. Owing to the universal nature of the model of sustainable development, account must be taken not only of undesireable local effects of pollution on the ecosystem, but also of its global impact.
   Therefore, when formulating national objectives and the measures for achieving them, the possibility of applying them internationally must be taken into consideration.
   The following tasks must be performed in developing criteria for environmental policy:
   
   • compile an environmental inventory with special reference to pollutant sources and sinks;
   • identify specific problem areas and material flows;
   • further develop primary criteria for assessing the handling of substances, in particular if used in contact with the environment;
   • specify normative environmental objectives and environmental quality objectives;
   • complete the ground work for a national environment plan.

2. Design an economic and social framework for sustainable development

   The following steps must be taken in designing an economic and social framework:
   • The first step should involve analysing and describing the adaptability of the existing social market economy and the existing socio-cultural system. The limits of their adaptability within the framework of sustainable development should be determined, and, if necessary, the minimum requirements for ensuring their long-term stability should be defined.
   • The next step involves identifying the interaction between social and economic aspects and conditions, also in conjunction with environmental objectives.

   • Lastly, the fundamental principles and mechanisms regulating the socioeconomic systems must be analyzed. It is important here to examine how market controls, freedom of contract, and the system of property ownership, as well as the concepts of liberty and justice, can be adapted to the model of sustainable development.

3. The need for social, economic and technical innovation
   Sustainable development can be achieved only by a process of change encompassing both technical and social innovations.
   Ultimately, the model of sustainable development can be successfully implemented only if all actors cooperate on the basis of an enhanced awareness of the problems at hand.
   It is therefore necessary:
   
   • to develop strategies to promote the development of new processes, products and structures which use fewer resources and do not generate harmful substances,
   • to develop scenarios for achieving the primary objective of sustainable development on an international level,
   • to attach priority in education on raising awareness of the concept of sustainable development and imparting the knowledge and skills required for its realization,
   • to create a social and cultural framework which is more conducive to innovation,
   • to analyse the factors which influence the behaviour of consumers and manufacturers, with special reference to how individuals translate their attitudes towards the environment into action,

   • to describe the process of change required for implementing the model of sustainable development, as well as the concomitant reassessment of values, attitudes, patterns of consumption and lifestyles, on the basis of social objectives and available experience.

4. Measures for implementing sustainable development
   In accomplishing its task of creating an appropriate framework for social, economic and technical innovation, the State has various means at its disposal which, however, must be modified, complemented or combined in line with the social objectives derived from the concept of sustainable development. In view of the scarcity of environmental and other resources, it must be examined how the costs of pollution, borne up to now by the general public, can best be turned into internal corporate costs on the polluter-pays-principle.
   In this context, increased emphasis should be placed on the following areas:
   • reviewing and refining environmental policy instruments,
     • proposals for improving the adaptation of regulatory provisions to the demands and possibilities of industry-wide and cross-media environmental protection,
     • examination and evaluation of the scope for applying economic instruments in a social and ecological market economy, on the basis of specific examples from various fields (levies, taxes [e.g. an "ecological tax reform"], permits, liability provisions, etc),
     • review of ways to promote voluntary measures and the provision of environmental information (environmental management systems, ecological auditing, life-cycle balances, environmental performance evaluation, responsible care, etc),
   • reviewing and reassessing governmental revenue and expenditure with respect to their impact on the environment,
   • highlighting the ecological consequences of legislative proposals,
   • refining the methodology of material flow management, taking into particular consideration approaches based on discourse and cooperation,
   • discussing how instruments can be used singly or in combined form in order to achieve specific environmental objectives accurately and efficiently (taking specific examples from various fields).

Dr Wolfgang Schäuble, Michael Glos and parliamentary group
Rudolf Scharping and parliamentary group
Joseph Fischer (Frankfurt), Kerstin Müller (Cologne) and parliamentary group
Dr Hermann Otto Solms and parliamentary group

Reasons