More and faster climate action best response to energy crisis – business initiative

Germany should respond with more and faster climate action to the energy crisis exacerbated by Russia’s war against Ukraine, said the German CEO Alliance for Climate and Economy (formerly Stiftung 2°). The initiative has published proposals aimed at establishing better climate protection and resilience in the country’s economy, ahead of the government’s finalisation of a climate action programme. The proposals have been developed in cooperation with multiple major companies and contain 18 concrete measures for industry, buildings and transport. They include new building standards, the renovation of energy-inefficient buildings and an immediate stop to new fossil fuel heating systems. In terms of transport, the foundation is calling for “courageous and long-term” investments to be made in the rail networks, changes to company car taxation and an emergency speed limit for times of fuel shortage.

"Many companies are setting up their business models to become more climate-friendly at high speed. They now need planning security and concrete political measures to secure their competitiveness and innovative strength," said Frank Stührenberg, Chairman of the Board at Phoenix Contact, who worked on the proposals. Other companies involved include Deutsche Bahn AG, Deutsche Post DHL Group and Allianz SE.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Russia's war against Ukraine must not lead governments to neglect future crises, such as climate change, and that countries should cooperate closely – “now more than ever” – as the move to climate neutrality has become more importan. Renewables are key to ending dependence on Russian fossil fuels, he said.