Sustainable Economy Summit 2026: tailwind for the economy of the future
This week, Dr. Ulrike Eberle und Dr. Anke Butscher, the managing partners of corsus, attended the Sustainable Economy Summit 2026 in the political heart of Berlin. The summit underscored that, despite current challenges, there remains a strong sense of hope for a shared and resilient future in harmony with planetary boundaries and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The Sustainable Economy Summit, held from the 21 to 22 April, provided a platform for diverse stakeholders from academia, politics, and businesses to present and discuss cross-sector innovations and solutions. In her opening remarks, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, emphasized that “climate action […] also remains a priority in the federal government”. While this is a comforting and encouraging message, recent signals from the Ministry of Economic Affairs have suggested otherwise. Prof. Dr. Maja Göpel, a political economist, transformation expert and sustainability researchers, as well as a member of the German society of the Club of Rome and the World Future Council, highlighted in her speech that economic growth should not be seen as the ultimate goal, rather understood as a means to an end. Göpel emphasized that sustainability is not just about efficiency; it must also be guided by holistic values. A resilient economy for the future requires reflection on what economic activity creates – and what it consumes. It is essential to preserve and strengthen the common well-being and the foundations of societal prosperity by incorporating an ecological, social and institutional approach.
“According to Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, climate protection remains a priority for the federal government. Let us hope that this view also gains traction among the coalition partners and that the course is finally set firmly towards more, not less, climate protection”, underlined Ulrike Eberle.
Additionally, corsus had the chance to gain insights into the workshop “Democracy and sustainable transformations: courage for a future despite polarisation. Which role do corporations play?”, presented by Host Johannes Zieseniß. The workshop concentrated on how entrepreneurs can contribute to strengthening democracy, particularly in polarised times. Discussions centred, for example, on how the rise of right-wing parties can be reconciled with progress in the sustainability transition. Corporate Political Responsibility (CPR) was highlighted as a key element. CPR is understood as a requirement for companies to actively take responsibility for democratic coexistence and for sustainable, resilient and future-proof businesses. Here, companies take on the role of consciously shaping the future and society.
Another highlight of the summit was the keynote speaker Dr. Robert Habeck, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (2021-2025) and one of Germany’s most compelling speakers. At this year’s Sustainable Economy Summit, Robert Habeck provided key input with his distinctively clear, intelligible and passionate communication style. As an influential and experienced leader in economic, energy, and climate protection policy, he emphasized that Europe must jointly consider and include energy security, economic strength and climate protection in order to transform to a more resilient and sustainable society. The energy crisis has shown that geopolitical challenges indicate opportunities for an independent and green energy supply. Today’s task it to set the course for green investment, technologies and innovation.
Anke Butscher emphasized: “I wasn’t surprised by the results of Civey’s Sustainable Economy Barometer, which showed that mandatory sustainability reporting and a standardized supply chain law do not make a significant contribution to achieving a climate-neutral and sustainable economy.”
A particularly noteworthy aspect was that the summit itself became a hub for sustainable solutions. The planning, organisation and provision of sustainable products and food followed the overarching sustainability principle of ‘avoidance – reduction – offsetting’. At the 2023 summit, the catering consistently relied on vegan and vegetarian dishes, regional organic food, and measures such as recyclable packaging and the avoidance of food waste, thereby achieving the greatest CO₂e reductions. Furthermore, the summit was one of the first events to be officially certified with the “Blue Angel” (DE-ZU 236) for events, explained Prof. Dr Katherina Reuter in her opening remarks. The “Blue Angel” – the German government’s environmental label – certifies particularly climate-friendly and resource-efficient events with the DE-ZU 236 label.
The Sustainable Economy Summit 2026 is not only a platform for inspiring discussions and innovative solutions, but also a powerful symbol of courage and hope. For corsus, taking part provided valuable motivation, encouraging the company to shape the path towards a sustainable and equitable future in an even more powerful and tangible way, and to move forward with even greater commitment: carried by the tailwind of an economy that takes responsibility.
