Overview

Germany’s 2025 VNR is based on the German Sustainable Development Strategy (GSDS) 2025, provides a comprehensive account of national Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation. The report is organised around six “areas of transformation” and five cross-cutting policy levers, highlighting concrete actions and initiatives. It emphasises a whole-of-government approach, stakeholder engagement through dialogues, citizens’ assemblies, and Voluntary Local Reviews, and updated governance mechanisms such as interministerial transformation teams. Key achievements include expanding renewables to 54.4 % of electricity in 2024, meeting the 0.7 % official development assistance (ODA) target in 2023 (€35.05 billion; 0.82 % of Gross National Income (GNI), and launching strategies such as the GSDS 2025 revision and the Food & Nutrition Strategy 2024. At the same time, the VNR acknowledges areas needing urgent attention, including climate emissions, pollution, and resource consumption. Overall, Germany demonstrates solid progress on many SDGs, though several targets remain off track, highlighting the need for strengthened policies and investment.

Recommendations

Accelerate greenhouse gas reductions: Germany should step up emission cuts in transport, energy, and industry. Carbon pricing and renewable energy expansion provide effective tools to achieve climate targets while maintaining cost efficiency.
Strengthen resource efficiency and circular economy: Policies must be scaled up to reduce raw material consumption and increase recycling. Implementing circular economy frameworks will help decouple economic growth from environmental impact.
Promote sustainable agriculture and food systems: Agriculture policies should continue addressing nitrate pollution and eutrophication, while supporting climate-friendly and economically viable farming practices. This ensures environmental protection alongside food security.
Address social inequalities: Targeted interventions are needed to reduce the gender pay gap, tackle obesity, and improve educational access. These measures will help ensure no one is left behind in the transition to sustainable development.
Enhance governance and coordination: Strengthening local governance, improving cross-ministerial coordination, and promoting inclusive stakeholder participation are vital to implement SDGs effectively and ensure policies are well-aligned at all levels.
Monitor and mitigate international spillovers: Germany should continue tracking the global impacts of domestic consumption and trade, adopting measures such as responsible sourcing and Carbon Border Adjustments to minimise negative effects on other countries.

Conclusions

Germany’s 2025 VNR presents a country advancing steadily on the SDGs, with strong performance in renewable energy, social welfare, education, health, and international cooperation, yet facing clear gaps in climate action, environmental protection, social equality, and sustainable consumption. Nearly half of key indicators were off track in 2023. The GSDS 2025 sets refined targets and governance measures, emphasising data-driven policies, inclusive dialogue, carbon pricing for equitable emissions reductions, circular-economy implementation, and biodiversity protection. Overall, Germany demonstrates solid progress while recognising remaining challenges and committing to strengthened sustainability governance and accelerated action to close gaps before 2030.

SDGs Progress Tracker

Voluntary National Reports

Country Focal Point

Ms Verónica Tomei
Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection
Ms Gabriele Geier
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Mr Ulrich Nicklas
Counsellor
German Mission to the United Nations

Location

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, 11055 Berlin, Germany

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Region

No Poverty

Score 4
Justification	Germany’s GSDS 2025 frames social justice and the reduction of poverty as central to a fair transformation and to “leave no one behind.
Challenges	The VNR highlights persistent pockets of poverty and the need to address social inclusion, with particular attention to groups at risk of exclusion. Relative poverty and income inequality persist despite overall prosperity.
Progress/ Solution	The 2025 Strategy and related measures show policy alignment to reduce poverty; the VNR notes advances in social protection design.
Unsolved Challenges	Vulnerable groups still face risks of social exclusion and unequal access to opportunities.

Zero Hunger

Score :3
Justification	Sustainable agricultural and food systems are one of Germany’s six areas of transformation, recognising food security, biodiversity and climate links. Germany ensures food security and promotes sustainable, healthy diets through national strategies.
Challenges	Transforming agricultural practices, reducing negative spillovers and tackling environmental pressures on food systems are named as core challenges. Rising obesity rates and uneven diet quality remain key health concerns.
Progress/ Solution	Germany cites the Food and Nutrition Strategy and the National Strategy on Biological Diversity 2030 as concrete policy frameworks. The 2024 Food and Nutrition Strategy with 90 measures supports sustainable farming and healthy eating.
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR indicates ongoing issues in shifting agricultural incentives and meeting biodiversity targets. Shifting consumer behaviour and reducing food waste still require greater effort.

Good Health

Score: 3
Justification	The VNR emphasises strengthening public and global health (One Health approach) and resilient health systems as part of social well-being.
Challenges	Rising health risks from climate change, long-term care pressures and antimicrobial resistance are identified challenges. Ageing population, mental health issues, and climate-related health risks persist.
Progress/ Solution	Reorganisation of the Federal Centre for Health Education into the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG), the Pact for the Public Health Service, the Health Literacy Roadmap 2024 and the Climate Pact for Health are listed as recent advances.
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR signals remaining gaps in long-term care provision and workforce resilience.

Quality Education

Score: 4
Justification	Education for sustainable development is treated as essential to build transformation skills and social participation. Germany prioritises inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning for sustainable development.
Challenges	Integrating ESD across all education levels and reducing early school-leaving remain challenges.
Progress/ Solution	he VNR cites the 2025 “Quality Education for All” strategy, the Curriculum Framework on Global Development (expansion to upper secondary finalised) and a school competition with 33,000 participating pupils as evidence of action.
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR flags early school-leaver rates among the off-track indicators in the year 2023. Regional disparities and skill mismatches still hinder equal learning outcomes.

Gender Equality

Score: 3
Justification	Gender equality is mainstreamed in the GSDS 2025 and the VNR stresses its importance for a socially fair transformation. Germany upholds gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights as core to social justice and inclusion.
Challenges	Closing the gender pay gap, preventing gender-based violence and embedding gender equality across policy areas are underlined challenges. The gender pay gap and unequal leadership representation remain persistent.
Progress/ Solution	The Management Positions (Gender Equality) Act sets a mandatory 30% quota on supervisory boards for listed/fully co-determined companies; the GSDS target goes further to 40% by 2030 and companies covered have already reached 38.5%. Legal reforms, the 4th Gender Equality Report, and higher female board participation show advancement..
Unsolved Challenges	Despite legislative progress, the VNR names the gender pay gap and integration of gender-impact tools (gender budgeting, impact assessment) as outstanding issues to be mainstreamed further. Gender-based violence and pay equity gaps continue to hinder full equality.

Water & Sanitation

Score:4
Justification	Water management and local stakeholder engagement (e.g. National Citizens’ Dialogue on Water) are highlighted as essential for sustainable wellbeing. Germany ensures universal access to safe, affordable water through strong national policies.
Challenges	Ensuring heat-resilient water systems and equitable local water governance are noted challenges. Groundwater nitrate pollution and nutrient runoff threaten water quality.
Progress/ Solution	The VNR points to stakeholder processes and local Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) that include water governance. The 2023 National Water Strategy promotes sustainable water use and wastewater management.
Unsolved Challenges	Persistent agricultural pollution keeps water quality targets moderately off-track. The report recommends improved monitoring and local funding mechanisms.

Clean Energy

Score: 3
Justification	Energy transition and climate action form a major transformation area in Germany’s GSDS 2025. Expanding grid capacity and ensuring energy security remain key issues.
Challenges	Rapidly scaling renewable energy, grid integration and balancing industrial/transport demands are described as key obstacles.
Progress/ Solution	The VNR documents policy measures on renewable expansion and climate action programmes (e.g. Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions and Climate Action Programme 2023) as progress markers. Renewables reached 54.4% of electricity in 2024, targeting 80% by 2030 and neutrality by 2045.
Unsolved Challenges	Delays in grid expansion and coal phase-out by 2038 may slow full transition. The VNR flags that emissions reductions in transport, energy and industry remain difficult.

Decent Work

Score: 4
Justification	Germany promotes decent work through fair wages, strong labour rights, and social protection. Decent work is emphasised in GSDS 2025.
Challenges	Ensuring decent work across sectors, just transition in structural change and labour market inequalities are listed challenges.
Progress/ Solution	Low unemployment and inclusion of collective bargaining in the GSDS show solid advancement. The VNR reports inclusion of collective bargaining coverage in GSDS indicators and ongoing social dialogue mechanisms (e.g. State Secretaries’ Committee, stakeholder commissions).
Unsolved Challenges	Skill gaps and labour market inequality still hinder full inclusive growth. The VNR highlights that some employment-related targets remain off-track

Industry & Infrastructure

Score: 4
Justification	Research, innovation and digitalisation are a cross-cutting lever in the GSDS 2025 to enable sustainable industrial transformation. Germany drives sustainable growth through innovation, R&D, and modern infrastructure.
Challenges	Decarbonising industry, scaling clean technologies and avoiding negative spillovers from supply chains are major challenges. Digital infrastructure gaps and uneven regional connectivity persist.
Progress/ Solution	Strong investment in green innovation, energy-efficient buildings, and the “Deutschland-Ticket” mark clear gains. Germany advances research for sustainable transformation, digital product passports and innovation policies.
Unsolved Challenges	Digital upgrades and industrial decarbonisation still require faster implementation. The VNR notes that spillover recording remains nascent and that further progress is needed to align industrial policy with global sustainability responsibilities.

Inequality

Score: 3
Justification	The GSDS 2025 places emphasis on social cohesion and reducing inequalities domestically and internationally. Germany maintains strong social welfare and inclusion policies, aiming to “leave no one behind.” Efforts focus on reducing income, education, and opportunity inequalities, alongside social integration programmes.
Challenges	Inequalities in income, access to services and negative spillovers to partner countries are persistent challenges.
Progress/ Solution	Policy measures addressing inclusion, improved social protection, and the integration of decent work.
Unsolved Challenges	Moderate progress in closing inequality gaps despite policy measures. The VNR underlines remaining gaps in measuring and addressing cross-border spillovers that exacerbate inequalities abroad.

Sustainable Cities

Score:4
Justification	Germany prioritises sustainable urban development, guided by the New Leipzig Charter (2020), focusing on climate resilience, integrated planning, and energy-efficient public infrastructure. Municipalities are described as central actors for SDG implementation; Germany has submitted 18 Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs).
Challenges	Urban land-take (new settlement and transport land use) and financing sustainable local infrastructure are highlighted challenges.
Progress/ Solution	Germany supports local action (SKEW, RENN hubs), local reporting frameworks (BNK) used by ~30 local authorities and 265 municipalities signed a local sustainability declaration; 18 VLRs were submitted to the HLPF.
Unsolved Challenges	Land take currently averages 52 hectares per day (the GSDS 2025 target is to limit to below 30 hectares per day by 2030 and net zero by 2050); this remains a major unsolved issue. Ongoing need to improve housing affordability and ensuring inclusive access across all cities and regions.

Responsible Consumption

Score :4
Justification	Germany leads in recycling and resource efficiency, guided by a National Circular Economy Strategy, aiming to reduce per capita raw material use. The circular economy is a named transformation area; resource productivity is central to sustainable consumption.
Challenges	Absolute consumption remains high and recycled material in consumption is low (~13 %). Reducing primary resource use, plastic pollution and problematic product lifecycles are core challenges.
Progress/ Solution	Recycling rates are the highest worldwide and policies support decoupling resource use from growth. The National Circular Economy Strategy, National Bioeconomy Strategy and improvements in raw material productivity (average annual increases cited for 2000–2010 ~1.6% and 2010–2018 ~1.0% per year).
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR stresses that more must be done to scale circular markets and to reduce negative spillovers from German consumption. Full circularity is not yet achieved despite strong policy momentum.

Climate Action

Score:4
Justification	Climate action is a top priority for Germany, targeting 65 % GHG reductions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2045. Climate action is a primary transformation area and the VNR stresses socially equitable greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
Challenges	Transport, energy, and industry sectors face major emission reduction difficulties. Crises like the pandemic and energy shocks add pressure. Large emission reductions are still required in transport, energy and industrial sectors; aligning social fairness with carbon pricing and structural change is challenging.
Progress/ Solution	The VNR refers to carbon pricing instruments, Climate Action Programme 2023 and nature-based solutions (Action Plan ANK 2023) as steps taken. Renewable energy expansion and carbon pricing (ETS) support cost-effective emission cuts.
Unsolved Challenges	he VNR notes greenhouse gas reduction targets remain difficult. Targets are still distant, and continued effort is needed to remain on track.

Life Below Water

Score 3
Justification	The VNR addresses pollutant-free environment actions and Germany’s international commitments to marine protection. Germany aims to protect marine and freshwater ecosystems, focusing on reducing nutrient runoff and supporting marine conservation.
Challenges	Marine biodiversity, pollutant loads and transboundary impacts of production/consumption are key challenges.
Progress/ Solution	Germany reports implementation of international environmental agreements and pollutant-reduction measures to protect marine ecosystems. Policies promote marine conservation and adherence to international maritime laws.
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR indicates that more work is needed to quantify and reduce negative spillovers affecting marine ecosystems. Stricter fertilizer regulation and intensified measures are still needed.

Life on Land

Score :4
Justification	Biodiversity and land-use are covered under the Food and Nutrition Strategy and the National Strategy on Biological Diversity 2030.
Challenges	Land take and soil sealing threaten terrestrial ecosystems; balancing development and conservation is a major issue. Habitat loss and land take continue to threaten biodiversity.
Progress/ Solution	The VNR documents the Biodiversity 2030 Strategy and specific measures; however, it reports that land take currently averages 52 hectares per day. Ecosystem restoration, expansion of protected areas, and promotion of organic farming (30 % by 2030) show policy advancement.
Unsolved Challenges	The target to limit land take below 30 hectares per day by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 remains unmet. Biodiversity decline persists, and intensified efforts are needed to meet the SDG’s targets.

Peace & Justice

Score:3
Justification	Good governance, rule-making, participatory processes and accountability are foundational in the GSDS and VNR.
Challenges	Maintaining strong participatory institutions across federal, Land and municipal levels and ensuring transparency in governance remain challenges.
Progress/ Solution	The VNR highlights institutional arrangements (State Secretaries’ Committee, Council for Sustainable Development, Parliamentary Advisory Council) and broad stakeholder engagement including citizens’ assemblies and commissions.
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR notes the need to increase transparency of processes and to strengthen channels between governance structures and civil society; precise measures of institutional performance are held in the indicators and stakeholder contributions.

Partnerships

Score:5
Justification	Germany prioritises international cooperation, development assistance, and multilateral engagement to support global sustainability.
Challenges	Addressing negative spillovers of German production and finance on partner countries and ensuring fair global partnerships are central challenges.
Progress/ Solution	Germany cites the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) entering into force in 2023 and forthcoming transposition of the EU CSDDD as steps to strengthen corporate responsibility; it also references international peer-learning and multilateral diplomacy. ODA reached 0.82 % of GNI in 2023, climate finance mobilisation is strong (~€10 bn/year), and Germany actively participates in global SDG processes.
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR states that spillover measurement is nascent and that thresholds and scope of legal instruments leave some negative externalities unaddressed.

SDGs World Progress: Achieved

SDG17

SDGs World Progress: On-Track

SDGs World Progress: Moderately Off-Track

Country Challenges

Climate and environmental targets: Germany is lagging on greenhouse gas reductions and pollution control. The 2023 Off-Track Report highlights GHG cuts in transport and energy, as well as pollutant-free environment targets, as “jeopardised.” High nitrate pollution in water and chemicals such as PFAS demand stricter regulation.
Sustainable agriculture and food: Intensive farming affects multiple SDGs. Achieving nitrate and eutrophication targets depends on fertilizer reforms. Balancing climate-neutral agriculture with economic viability requires consensus, as agreed through federal Commissions.
Resource consumption and circular economy: Although raw material productivity is improving, overall consumption remains high. Recycled materials account for only 13 % of use. Implementing the National Circular Economy Strategy is essential for SDG 12 and 15, but progress needs to accelerate.
Social disparities: Off-track issues include the gender pay gap, obesity, and educational inequality. Ensuring “leave no one behind” remains difficult, particularly for migrants, low-income households, and persons with disabilities, including accessibility in transport.
Governance and multi-level coordination: Effective local implementation remains challenging. Municipalities face funding shortfalls and structural burdens. A “fresh start” and sufficient local investment are emphasised, along with the need for cross-ministerial coordination and long-term commitment beyond legislative cycles.
External crises and spillovers: Crises such as the pandemic, energy price shocks, and global conflicts have slowed progress and increased costs, notably affecting the poor. Germany also recognises the spillover effects of its high consumption: it ranks 4th overall but 146th on the spillover index due to embodied emissions from imports. Addressing these impacts requires international measures, including Carbon Border Adjustments, and global cooperation.

World Challenges

Country Lessons Learned

Use market instruments and social safeguards: Germany highlights its carbon pricing system (cap-and-trade) as an effective tool for cutting emissions at minimal cost, while recycling revenue into social support. Combining carbon pricing with direct relief such as electricity subsidies and housing grants balances equity with climate ambition.
Adopt integrated, cross-sector strategies: Horizontal coordination in agriculture, like the fertilizer ordinance, simultaneously advances water quality, biodiversity, and climate goals. The National Water Strategy (2023) demonstrates effective cross-sector planning, while multi-stakeholder commissions, such as Future of Agriculture and Borchert, build consensus on food-system reforms. Other countries can replicate these participatory approaches to align farmers, consumers, and policymakers.
Invest in circular economy frameworks: Germany’s National Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Strategies aim to double material productivity and reduce raw material use. Promoting secondary material markets and eco-design helps decouple growth from resource consumption. Structured strategies like these provide a model for other nations to codify circular policies.
Measure and mitigate spillovers: Germany stresses tracking global impacts of domestic consumption. The Spillover Index and EU Carbon Border Adjustment help internalise emissions from imports. Adding national SDG indicators on household resource use and supply-chain labour rights shows the value of designing policies that minimise negative externalities.
Set clear targets on land use: With ongoing land loss (52 ha/day versus a 30 ha goal), Germany emphasises a circular land economy. Updated strategies include soil sealing metrics, strict land-consumption targets, land quotas, urban densification, and brownfield redevelopment, offering lessons for sustainable land management elsewhere.
Strengthen governance, data, and participation: Germany promotes adaptive governance through interministerial transformation teams and evidence-based policies backed by reliable statistics. Societal acceptance is key, achieved through communication, stakeholder dialogue, and shared visions. Cross-departmental working groups, open SDG data, and inclusive consultations, including youth, provide practical lessons for SDG governance in other countries.

World Lessons Learned

Country Contribution

January 2025: The German Sustainable Development Strategy was revised, establishing GSDS 2025, titled “Transformation gemeinsam gerecht gestalten.”
July 2023: The Federal Statistical Office published the Off-Track Indicators Report, finding 33 of 75 tracked sustainability indicators “jeopardised.”
2023: Germany adopted the National Water Strategy and launched the Action Plan for Nature-based Solutions (ANK) with 69 measures. A low-cost Deutschland-Ticket was also introduced, attracting 1 million new public-transit passengers within months.
2023: The Sustainable Development Report SDG Index ranked Germany 4th globally, while the companion Spillover Index placed it 146th.
2023: Germany met the 0.7 % ODA/GNI target for the fifth time (previously 2016, 2020–22), disbursing €35.05 billion (0.82 % of GNI) in official development assistance. The 2024 target is projected at 0.67 %.
2024: Renewable energy accounted for 54.4 % of Germany’s electricity consumption.
2030 Targets (GSDS 2025): Achieve 80 % renewables in power, exit coal by 2038, reach climate neutrality by 2045, limit new land take to under 30 ha/day, achieve net-zero (circular) land use by 2050, and reach 30 % organic farmland.
2045: Germany’s updated target year for greenhouse gas neutrality.

Germany

Overview

SDGs Progress Tracker

Voluntary National Reports

Country Focal Point

Location

Region

No Poverty

Zero Hunger

Good Health

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Water & Sanitation

Clean Energy

Decent Work

Industry & Infrastructure

Inequality

Sustainable Cities

Responsible Consumption

Climate Action

Life Below Water

Life on Land

Peace & Justice

Partnerships

SDGs World Progress: Achieved

SDGs World Progress: On-Track

SDGs World Progress: Moderately Off-Track

Country Challenges

World Challenges

Country Lessons Learned

World Lessons Learned

Country Contribution

World Contribution

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Germany

Overview

SDGs Progress Tracker

Voluntary National Reports

Country Focal Point

Location

Region

No Poverty

Zero Hunger

Good Health

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Water & Sanitation

Clean Energy

Decent Work

Industry & Infrastructure

Inequality

Sustainable Cities

Responsible Consumption

Climate Action

Life Below Water

Life on Land

Peace & Justice

Partnerships

SDGs World Progress: Achieved

SDGs World Progress: On-Track

SDGs World Progress: Moderately Off-Track

Country Challenges

World Challenges

Country Lessons Learned

World Lessons Learned

Country Contribution

World Contribution

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European Union

The European Union’s (EU) 2023 Voluntary National Review (VNR) marks a historic milestone as the first…

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