ESMT Climate Lunch
Review of the final Climate Lunch 2010
Climate protection as a driver of sustainable economic growth
On November 3, 2010, around 70 guests joined the final ESMT Climate Lunch of this year to discuss climate protection goals as a trigger for sustainable economic growth. Moderated by ESMT president and member of the steering committee of the National Platform for Electric Mobility, Prof. Lars-Hendrik Röller, the panelists – Eberhard Brandes, chairman, WWF Deutschland; Jochen Homann, state secretary, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology; Dr. Felix Matthes, coordinator energy and climate policy, Öko-Institut; and Dr. Werner Schnappauf, director general, BDI – Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie – agreed that the often diverging goals of economic growth and climate protection are coming together more and more.
The new German energy concept was seen by all engaged in the debate as a right step forward. Challenges remain in making policies transparent to the public to gain higher acceptance, in implementing suggested changes, and in establishing smart frameworks for innovation research and development. Panelists agreed that – on a global level – international climate protection targets are needed to create a level playing field.
State secretary Homann and BDI director general Dr. Schnappauf emphasized that investments into climate protection have to be affordable for business and government and that there actually are innovative technologies available to support climate protection and CO2 reduction. WWF Deutschland chairman Eberhard Brandes pointed out that for those technologies “time to market” still needs to be improved. He also highlighted that Germany is a role model for many other countries, therefore the country’s strategy for climate protection and CO2 reduction is being observed very closely.
Previous Climate Lunches
On October 6, ESMT hosted the third climate lunch in cooperation with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and BDI (Bundesverband der deutschen Industrie) on the energy efficiency in buildings. Read review
Video from Climate Lunch on October 6, 2010
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