Sustainable Business Practices And Effective Climate Legislation Remain Priority
In the light of the results of the Copenhagen climate summit, German Ambassador to the US Klaus Scharioth says Germany and the US must continue to keep the fight against global warming at the top of the agenda. In that effort, German and US industry can be powerful partners in increasing their focus on sustainable business practices.
Speaking at an event marking the first anniversary of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge Initiative on Tuesday evening, Ambassador Scharioth said, Energy security, environmental security and economic security are intrinsically linked. This is why it is in our common interest for climate and energy cooperation between the US and Germany to expand in all sectors and on all levels. To achieve this, the buy-in of industry and the corporate world is of particular importance.
Panelists from US firms First Solar and Duke Energy and from German firms Siemens and Deutsche Bank joined the Ambassador at his residence to discuss the economic opportunities inherent in sustainable business practices and the importance of transatlantic cooperation in achieving this.
Maja Wessels from the US solar panels manufacturer First Solar said, Five years ago, First Solar was a start-up company. Today, it is the world's largest solar manufacturer and the low cost leader, and the reason is Germany...Because of the assured market in Germany, companies such as First Solar are able to invest confidently.
The panelists agreed that businesses are waking up to the fact that their customers react positively to sustainable practices.
Dr Sabine Miltner from Deutsche Bank Group cited recent research her company had undertaken which revealed that portfolios containing climate friendly stocks are out-performing the market.
Patricia Sherman from Siemens said the private sector was now stepping up to the plate, but said government support and the appropriate policies were vital.
We can't do it alone. We have to make sure we have all the incentives in place to facilitate innovation. A business won't invest in R&D unless it can see the return on investment.
*Ambassador Scharioth cited Germany's experience that economic growth and emissions reduction are not mutually exclusive. *
Germany has succeeded in reducing its emissions by 24% compared to 1990 levels, whilst enjoying economic growth of 38%. Germany has also created 280,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector alone. This proves that with a sound climate and energy policy we can kill three birds with one
stone: we can create jobs and achieve economic growth, we can enhance energy independence and can contribute significantly to the fight against climate change.
Since the launch of the 'Transatlantic Climate Bridge' initiative by the German government in 2008, Germany has successfully reached out to a large number of players from American business, politics, media and society via a series of policy workshops, academic partnerships and more than a dozen exchange trips of US experts to Germany and German experts to the US.
The message being sent is that a progressive climate and energy policy makes economic sense and that we can only achieve these goals by working together, and with the support of government legislation that sets clear frameworks for businesses to operate within.
For more information on the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, please visit:
www.transatlantic-climate-bridge.org
<http://www.transatlantic-climate-bridge.org/>
Speaking at an event marking the first anniversary of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge Initiative on Tuesday evening, Ambassador Scharioth said, Energy security, environmental security and economic security are intrinsically linked. This is why it is in our common interest for climate and energy cooperation between the US and Germany to expand in all sectors and on all levels. To achieve this, the buy-in of industry and the corporate world is of particular importance.
Panelists from US firms First Solar and Duke Energy and from German firms Siemens and Deutsche Bank joined the Ambassador at his residence to discuss the economic opportunities inherent in sustainable business practices and the importance of transatlantic cooperation in achieving this.
Maja Wessels from the US solar panels manufacturer First Solar said, Five years ago, First Solar was a start-up company. Today, it is the world's largest solar manufacturer and the low cost leader, and the reason is Germany...Because of the assured market in Germany, companies such as First Solar are able to invest confidently.
The panelists agreed that businesses are waking up to the fact that their customers react positively to sustainable practices.
Dr Sabine Miltner from Deutsche Bank Group cited recent research her company had undertaken which revealed that portfolios containing climate friendly stocks are out-performing the market.
Patricia Sherman from Siemens said the private sector was now stepping up to the plate, but said government support and the appropriate policies were vital.
We can't do it alone. We have to make sure we have all the incentives in place to facilitate innovation. A business won't invest in R&D unless it can see the return on investment.
*Ambassador Scharioth cited Germany's experience that economic growth and emissions reduction are not mutually exclusive. *
Germany has succeeded in reducing its emissions by 24% compared to 1990 levels, whilst enjoying economic growth of 38%. Germany has also created 280,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector alone. This proves that with a sound climate and energy policy we can kill three birds with one
stone: we can create jobs and achieve economic growth, we can enhance energy independence and can contribute significantly to the fight against climate change.
Since the launch of the 'Transatlantic Climate Bridge' initiative by the German government in 2008, Germany has successfully reached out to a large number of players from American business, politics, media and society via a series of policy workshops, academic partnerships and more than a dozen exchange trips of US experts to Germany and German experts to the US.
The message being sent is that a progressive climate and energy policy makes economic sense and that we can only achieve these goals by working together, and with the support of government legislation that sets clear frameworks for businesses to operate within.
For more information on the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, please visit:
www.transatlantic-climate-bridge.org
<http://www.transatlantic-climate-bridge.org/>