German businesses demand sustainability and digitalisation reforms from next government
Clean Energy Wire
German businesses want to see digitalisation and sustainability reforms from the next federal government, says a new survey conducted by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). Asked what policymakers should tackle first, aside from the coronavirus pandemic, 61 percent of the 3,500 businesses surveyed pointed to digitalisation. Better administrative processes followed in second place (41%) and competitive climate policy came third (39%). "Without an efficient digital infrastructure and fast administration, companies will not be able to cope with their major future tasks in this country as well as in global competition," said DIHK president Peter Adrian. "It is all the more urgent that we remove obstacles now." In climate policy, there must be joint action by the EU, the United States and China, he added.
The companies surveyed also said high energy costs in Germany slow down investments. The national CO2 price drives up the costs further and puts a strain on competitiveness, the DIHK writes. "This slows down investments in climate-friendly drives, technologies and production facilities," Adrian said. At the start of the year, the German government introduced a CO2 price on fuels in the heating and transport sectors, starting at 25 euros per tonne of CO2 and set to rise in the coming years.
