Germany has become a European pioneer in green growth policies. Together with Denmark
and Sweden, it shapes the debate on sustainable growth in Europe. This commitment to green
growth proved to be beneficial for the economy as well: according to the German government,
employment in the renewable energy sector increased in 2010 by 129 percent in comparison
to 2004, amounting to 367,400 jobs (BMU 2011a). This note tries to investigate how Germany
married economic success with environmental policies.