The Sustainable Digitalization Community of a German Federal Ministry—intention, Structure and Progress

The major megatrends of our time are digitalization, globalization and sustainable transformation. They are changing the lives of all people. In order for digitalization, which is progressing rapidly, to become an opportunity driver for prosperity, justice and the environment, it needs a social framework. For this reason, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) is working intensively on this topic and, as part of these activities, a central project team is focusing on the orientation, growth and long-term anchoring of the “Sustainable Digitalization” community. In the Community, the Federal Ministry for the Environment brings together stakeholders from the start-up scene, business, administration, local authorities, research and NGOs. In various event formats, they take the opportunity to inform themselves, exchange ideas and network with each other. In addition, the community acts as an enabler of projects, provides experts for various participation processes in the ministry and develops publications and workshop series. The project team relies on a synthesis of traditional and agile project management methods and uses technically supported solutions such as AI-supported data analysis for its project work. This report deals with the work for and by the BMUV Community “Sustainable Digitalization” to raise awareness of these megatrends and how a positive influence for the benefit of the environment is possible.