Changing the German Constitution in Favor of Future Generations – Four Perspectives from the Young Generation

Abstract

In Berlin, 100 Representatives of the Bundestag have introduced a bill to add the principle of intergenerational justice to the Constitution (http://dip.bundestag. de/btd/16/033/1603399.pdf). Since autumn 2003, the Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations (FRFG) has fought both inside and outside of Parliament for this bill. In more than a dozen workshops between autumn 2003 and spring 2005, representatives of the foundation met with young Representatives to work on its formulation. The proposed bill (16/3399) was introduced by 27 Representatives of both the CDU und SPD, as well as 25 Greens and 21 Representatives from the FDP. The first reading took place in October 2007. As a result, the bill was transferred to the legal committee. At present (Feb. 2008), it awaits further examination. With a new Article 20b, the state will be bound to better protect the interests of future generations. The text is as follows: “The state must consider the principle of sustainability and must protect the interests of future generations in its decisions”. In addition, Article 109 of the state’s financial guidelines would also be expanded to limit the national debt.