I N T E R V I E W
„Innovative sustainability concepts require
driving forces in the economy“
The German Council for Sustainable Development produces proposals on behalf of the government regarding targets and performance indicators for further development of its sustainability strategy. It proposes concrete projects for implementing this strategy and advises the government with regard to its sustainability policy.
Dr. Volker Hauff, Chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development and Dr. Herbert Lütkestratkötter, Chairman of HOCHTIEF’s Executive Board spoke to the Sustainability Report’s editorial team about the significance of sustainability.
Dr. Hauff, what are the reasons behind your deep commitment?
Dr. Volker Hauff: I have been involved with this issue for over 30 years. First of all, during my time at the Ministry of Research. The next stage in my personal development was my work with the Brundtland Commission*. In the report we submitted in 1987 the term "sustainable development" was the recurrent theme in all the areas we dealt with. We made a recommendation in the report which we first considered to be of somewhat secondary importance—that an international conference with heads of state and government shoult be held. That was probably our most important recommendation as it led to the "World Summit on Environment and Development" in Rio in 1992. Representatives met again in Johannesburg ten years later. Incidentally, it is then that it began to be known as the "World Summit on Sustainable Development"—its name has changed over time. In conjunction with the development of a sustainability strategy in the run-up to Johannesburg, the German government set up the Council for Sustainable Development—an advisory body with representation from across the wide spectrum of society.There was one straightforward reason for my interest in working toward sustainability: I am firmly convinced that it will be the single most important issue for this century.
What value does HOCHTIEF place on sustainable action?
Dr. Herbert Lütkestratkötter: As a global company we feel an obligation to sustainable action while also leading the way for others in the process. We are still the only construction company in the German-speaking countries which publishes a sustainability report. Why do we do it? On the one hand, because sustainability plays an increasingly important role for us—also for HOCHTIEF’s 50,000 employees, who are proud of their company’s achievements. Furthermore, sustainability is obviously also of financial importance to us. There are numerous instances of this. Our American subsidiary Turner has already built around 200 so-called ”green buildings” in the States. The WestendDuo Tower project in Frankfurt is an example of a particulary energyefficient building. We were able to market the premises in it successfully, despite the fact that over two million square meters of office space were standing empty in Frankfurt at the time. In the field of facility management, we have also taken over the running of a large hospital in Augsburg, in Bavaria, where the first thing we did was to overhaul the entire power supply system—in the future it will produce 17,000 tons less CO2. Sustainability is thus part of our daily business. However, environmental protection is not the only issue of importance to us. From occupational safety through to combining careers with family life, we take all such aspects very seriously and are working on them. This is also recognized by the financial markets—our stock was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in 2006. In September this year we also qualified for 2007/2008.Which strategies do you use to promote sustainable development?
Dr. Hauff: We have a clear remit from the government consisting of three areas. The first: we should provide the government with advice. Secondly, we are to propose specific projects, such as a campaign for sustainable consumption. Thirdly, we are responsible for promoting and leading public debate. In doing so, we work together with schools, organize competitions and hold a large conference every year. Our work has an important basis: We make it clear that sustainability means much more than just environmental protection. It means growth—also economic growth— coupled together with social justice and responsibility toward our natural environment.
