(166) On the basis of the above theological and ethical statements and agreement on a new basic consensus for a sustainable society, the question now is what actual changes can be made. What are the appropriate and necessary responses to present and future challenges? It is not the churches' job to give a detailed description of means and ends. Rather, they want to point the way forward. They want to encourage action and so make it clear that there are ways of finding solutions.

There is little agreement in Germany on goals and ways to reach them. It is therefore not enough merely to raise legitimate demands. It must be recognised that the implementation of these demands is in the enlightened self-interest even of those of whom they will require sacrifices or cutbacks. A political and social consensus can form a sound framework in which the interested parties can wrestle with the problems and argue - as indeed they must - about suitable courses of action.

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