A central theme of the UN conference on sustainable development "Rio plus 20" in June 2011 was how the global community can develop an environmentally friendly, resource-saving and energy-efficient green economy. A green economy enables industrialised nations as well as developing countries to ensure prosperity in a way that respects ecological limits. While building a green economy is a challenge for the whole of society, industrialised nations have a particular responsibility to drive forward the ecological modernisation of the economy.
To this end, the Federal Environment Agency planned to conduct more intensive dialogue with businesses, politicians and consumers on ways to establish green markets of the future and had commissioned adelphi with the organisation and implementation of the conference “Green Markets – World of Sustainable Products” on 29-30 September 2011 in Berlin. The international conference provided an important boost to the green economy debate and the necessary impetus to set the political course.