To mark the 5th anniversary of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda and its 17 goals (SDGs) for sustainable development, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the German Environment Agency (UBA) have published the SDG 12 online database. Goal 12, "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”, aims to bring about the necessary changes in our lifestyles and economic practices. Sustainable consumption and production means consuming and producing today in a way that does not threaten the ability of present and future generations to meet their legitimate needs, while respecting the limits of the earth's carrying capacity and universal human rights.
Germany distinguishes itself with a highly developed political regulatory system, an innovative economy and a vibrant civil society. Together these factors contribute to the implementation of sustainable consumption and production patterns and thus to achieving SDG 12 of the 2030 Agenda. The database already contains more than 120 activities by, with and throughout Germany, such as political programmes and measures, as well as initiatives by civil society and business. In order to make this diversity of implementation activities nationally and internationally visible as examples of good practice, the publicly accessible SDG 12 database in German and English was developed as part of a research project.
The online database was published on 25 September 2020 and can be accessed at https://www.sdg12.de/en.