Theorie und Praxis starker Nachhaltigkeit

The term sustainability has become the guiding concept of international environmental policy. From the perspective of the theory presented here, its core meaning lies in the long-term, ecologically compatible use of critical stocks of natural capital. The authors assume that it is possible to develop a theory of sustainability. To substantiate this thesis, a level model is presented, which can be seen as the basis of the theory. Then, in the light of existing theories of justice, obligations towards future generations are justified, which are oriented towards an egalitarian-comparative standard. In a second step, a discourse-rational choice is made between competing concepts of sustainability. Following a comprehensive review of the relevant arguments, an overall judgement is made in favour of strong sustainability. Since neoclassical environmental economics and also ecological economics lack an analysis of the problems involved in transferring the concept of capital to animate nature, a proposal for understanding natural capital is developed. In the political-practical chapters, it can be shown that there are a number of coherent programmes on how to reconcile the conservation of natural capital with the protection and use of natural resources. Based on the practical fields of nature conservation, agriculture, fisheries and climate policy, it is shown with a view to political processes how an implementation of the chosen concept could be carried out successfully and efficiently.