Deutsche Wohnen commits to new climate protection legislation
Deutsche Wohnen gets involved in Foundation 2°’s Climate Protection Act Business Initiative. The aim is to work together with politicians to bring about effective climate change legislation. As part of the initiative, Philip Grosse, Deutsche Wohnen’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), met with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the CDU party leader, to discuss the issue.
Over a third of CO2 emissions in Germany come from buildings and their occupants. The construction sector therefore plays a key role in meeting the Paris Climate Agreement target of a virtually climate-neutral building stock by 2050. That is why Deutsche Wohnen is getting involved in Foundation 2°’s Climate Protection Act Business Initiative.
Position papers on climate protection legislation
In recent months, members of the Climate Protection Act Business Initiative have been working on multi-industry and sector-specific position papers with specific recommendations on achieving climate protection targets – the papers are set to be published soon. In addition to those from the construction sector, experts from industry and transport also took part.
To find out how discussions were going, Foundation 2° invited executives from the businesses involved to talks with the leader of the CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Besides the planned climate protection legislation, the discussion – attended by Deutsche Wohnen CFO Philip Grosse – focused on the carbon tax, a current hot topic.
Companies made it clear to the CDU that business is ready to lead the way on climate policy and invest in new technologies. However, from their perspective, politicians need to quickly create reliable framework conditions and incentives for environmentally friendly business practices. A carbon price must act as an incentive to succeed with the most eco-friendly products and services possible.
Kramp-Karrenbauer demands planning security for businesses
In the discussion, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer made it clear that she was in favour of carbon pricing and clear framework conditions for businesses. The CDU leader made the case for a fundamental redesign of the system of taxes, duties and levies in the energy sector – not due to insufficient taxation, but rather because of too little direction with regard to CO2 reduction. Ultimately, there had to be a concept that would promote CO2 reduction, would give businesses security in planning and would be accepted by the majority of the population.