Economy

The last years have shown that technological progress and efficiency gains alone are not enough to considerably reduce our resource use and energy consumption. Relative savings in resource use due to efficiency increases are often offset and overcompensated by absolute increases in production and consumption levels. Therefore, sustainable policies must not end with the promotion of efficiency gains –despite their importance.

We understand ecological economic policy as the sum of all economic and ecological policy measures that aim at dematerialising highly industrialised economies, without negatively affecting socio-economic goals (such as increasing employment and quality of life). Essential political actions that set the course for the sustainable conversion of our economic system are, for instance, an eco-social fiscal reform, tradable permits for resources and emissions, redistribution of income and work, and flexible working time models. A crucial point for a successful implementation is the balanced interaction of all measures and policies.

At the end of the day, the question is how we can rearrange the economic system in order to achieve an absolute reduction of our energy and resource consumption that endogenous market forces cannot tackle alone. In order to find answers to this question we develop sustainable economic and socio-political concepts, offer solution-oriented and holistic consultancy services and highlight alternative ways for economic manners and ways of living that satisfy people’s needs in an innovative and comprehensive manner and with less resource use. With our work we aim to support political decision-makers in search of sustainable solutions.