Top-10 research priorities for sustainable futures: Insights from and for Germany

Sustainability in lifestyles is closely connected to the change of every day patterns of individuals and their approach towards food and consumption, mobility and transport, housing, education, health and recreation with strong cross-linkages with communities and interpersonal relationships. Lifestyles also relate to cultural heritage as well as specifics of natural and economic environment. Hence, sustainability in lifestyles is also determined by the surrounding environment, not only personal needs.

This policy brief presents and reviews Top-10 lists of sustainable research priorities for Europe and for Germany. These priorities have been formed in systematic interaction with citizens and experts. In Germany the sustainability strategy already covers large parts of the topics that came to the fore in the German ranking of the research priorities. Public participation is therefore important. The research priorities also show that citizens consider this important and that it is seen as necessary to enable citizens to participate in all possible ways. The research priorities make clear that access to resources should be a basic human right. Research that helps to support a fair distribution of resources should therefore be encouraged.