Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
The concept of sustainability
The concept of sustainability is a concept for a life that is worthy of human beings for present and future generations. It is an important approach towards the solution of global (environmental) problems.
At the Sustainability Summit of Johannesburg the international community confirmed that the most important global problems could be solved only by way of a balanced development of social, economic and environmental issues.Internationally, Austria is considered to be a country leading the way in the field of sustainable development and initiated the "Global Forum on Sustainable Energy", which has meanwhile become established as an international discussion platform for all social groups concerned. World-wide more than two billion people - mainly in rural areas - do not have access to modern energy services. Having reliable and low-price access to modern types of energy is a precondition of sustainable development and the fight against poverty.
In April 2002 the Austrian Federal Government adopted the “Austrian Strategy for Sustainable Development”. The Strategy comprises totally twenty items that contain the goals most essential for humane living conditions for present and future generations and represents Austria's commitment to pave the way for a future-oriented development of society at the ecological, social and economic levels.
In 2004 the Ministry of Life was the first public administration enterprise in Europe to submit, according to the principles of the “Austrian Sustainable Development Strategy”, a Sustainability Report. It shows the performance of the Ministry of Life in the fields of the economy, environment and social affairs. Another priority of the report is the presentation of the Strategy topics of the Ministry, which aim at safeguarding and further improving the quality of life in Austria.
25.08.2008, Lebensministerium Öffentlichkeitsarbeit