Hermann Keimel

Evaluation of Findings on Sustainability Strategies

The German national sustainability strategy and the federal spatial planning policy provide the basis for deriving a concept for sustainable development that corresponds to the object of study in the InfraDem project. Nine indicators of sustainability have been applied in the InfraDem project to evaluate the contribution made by demographic development to sustainable development. These indicators have been chosen according to the object of study. They are not applicable for the evaluation of overall sustainable development in Germany, Hamburg or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This type of evaluation requires additional indicators, referring to factors such as research and development, habitation and the preservation of nature, which are not considered in this study. In order to achieve sustainable development, further measures – substitution and technological progress – as well as a change in behavioural patterns are required (for example, in the case of carbon dioxide emissions). A theoretical concept for the definition of sustainable spatial development, stipulating appropriate indicators and related target values, is required.