DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) – Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken out in favor of a new understanding of the term “sustainability”. “We have to talk about sustainability differently. It never convinced me to equate sustainability with doing without,” said the SPD politician on Friday evening in Düsseldorf at the presentation of the German Sustainability Award. “Growth and progress are inherent in us – but not as less, but above all as smarter and better,” said the Chancellor. Sustainability is the key to growth and progress, “the key to long-term success and the transformation of our economy and society”.
He hopes that the economy will quickly seize the opportunities that currently exist, “that Germany will become a CO2-neutral industrial country in just under 25 years”. This is only possible if the employees throughout the company develop concrete solutions.
The annual German Sustainability Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of sustainability in business, municipalities and research. The winners were to be announced at a gala on Friday evening. Honorary awards are also given, for example to the French singer Zaz for her social and ecological commitment. Prince Albert II of Monaco was honored as the founder of an environmental foundation. Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) is the patron of the evening. The German Sustainability Award was presented for the 15th time on Friday./tob/DP/jha