Science for Sustainability – A Societal and Political Perspective

Abstract

A changing world calls for advanced sustainability thinking. Recently, the notion of sustainability gains ever more momentum in the German entrepreneurial and political context. Science and the humanities can and should increase delivery against the Sustainable Development Goals in the post-2015 development agenda. But still, society needs broader and multiplied hubs for advanced sustainability thinking. Therefore, transformational research schemes must be part of the top agenda. Transformation must be made part of any institution’s performance. Thus, twofold approach suggests fostering both “science for sustainability” and “sustainability in science.” The German Sustainability Code and compatible schemes might be used as reference. More evidence based input into the ways and means societies use for choice editing, e.g., in consumption and production, but also in education and visionary thinking may prove as a major leverage to overcome mental path dependencies.