THE CHALLENGE OF INTEGRATING THE ENVIRONMENT INTO POLICY-MAKING .1. THE GERMAN GOVERNMENTAL VIEW

The paper discusses the recent trends in environmental protection with in an industrial society. The potential conflict between environmental sustainability and economic development is discussed with particular reference to Germany, Environmentally orientated management is conside red to be the most appropriate means of achieving this economical cost -efficiency and ecological sustainability. However, producers have a r esponsibility to achieve these aims against a framework of increasing environmental legislation, both national and international, and widely adopted philosophies such as the polluter pays and precautionary prin ciples, Finally, the paper discusses the relevance of these aspects fo r both industrialized and developing countries.