Ecological Modernisation

The Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) has long sought to address the key environmental policy challenges of the 21st century through the ecological modernisation of the German economy. The goal of this project was to identify suitable modernisation strategies and develop proposals for policy implementation.

To this end, a consortium led by adelphi determined the necessary modernisation and investment needs associated with an ecologically-orientated development of the German economy. Subsequently, various paths to ecological modernisation were evaluated in economic terms. Central to this evaluation was the economic and social viability of the necessary structural reforms, as it is of critical importance to determine which factors serve to increase or decrease costs. Finally, selected modernisation strategies were studied with a view to use as policy instruments.