DEUTZ and 67 major German companies have called on policymakers to combine measures to manage the consequences of the coronavirus crisis with ambitious climate policy.
The call came at the launch of the 11th Petersberg Climate Dialogue, a broad alliance of 68 large companies from all sectors of the economy address political representatives in a business statement.
The private sector is prepared to assume societal responsibility in the crisis and stick to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. To achieve this, governments must act decisively now and restore urgently needed investment security with climate friendly long-term economic stimulus programmes.
The participating companies include other representatives from the mechanical and automotive engineering sector, heavy industry, the chemical industry, the financial sector, and large companies from the building and transport sectors.
They say the focus should be on safeguarding investment in secure jobs, domestic value creation, the efficient use of resources, and health and safety.
“The coronavirus pandemic has shown us how fragile our globalized economic system is, but it has also highlighted how important it is not to lose sight of our climate policy goals,” says Dr. Frank Hiller, Chairman of the DEUTZ Board of Management.
“That is why DEUTZ continues to embrace new technologies, even in these challenging times, as this is the only way we will be able to help to achieve carbon-neutral transport in the future.
Sabine Nallinger, managing director of Foundation 2°, adds, “Any medium and long-term economic policy measures in response to the coronavirus crisis must form part of a financial stimulus package that respects the need for climate protection and contributes to our common goal: a resilient economy and society that achieves carbon neutrality through a high level of innovative strength and competitiveness.
“Companies will continue to need certainty for their planning and investments after the coronavirus crisis, as they have already started to make their business models more climate-friendly.”
