Deutsche Wohnen supports alliance of German businesses for climate protection in Foundation 2˚
In November, Deutsche Wohnen will become a supporting member of Foundation 2˚- an alliance of German businesses for climate protection. In doing so, Deutsche Wohnen wishes to emphasise the importance of climate protection and also the company’s commitment to its strategic sustainability programme. The company has already contributed its expertise in the past to projects run by Foundation 2˚. As a supporting member, Deutsche Wohnen is the only property company in this alliance.
With its property portfolio, Deutsche Wohnen has important influence in climate policy matters. After all, the property sector generates more than a third of national CO2 emissions. At the same time, property companies are faced with the significant challenge of putting their existing buildings and their new builds on the path towards climate neutrality. By supporting Foundation 2˚, Deutsche Wohnen is underlining its determination to work towards achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
As Michael Zahn, CEO of Deutsche Wohnen SE explains, “Increasingly, the property sector has to take a stance and assume responsibility. Because property has such a long life, we have to lay the foundations now to ensure that carbon neutrality in 2050 doesn’t turn out to be an empty promise. To achieve this, however, we need long-term investment and planning security. Climate protection is a task for the whole of society, one which companies, the state and its citizens need to engage with in equal measure. So, we need an open discussion about how to achieve climate protection in a way that is socially responsible and that involves all stakeholders.”
With its strategic sustainability programme and its specific goals for reducing CO2 emissions, Deutsche Wohnen is setting an ambitious pace. In addition, with its “Recommendations for Strengthening Climate Protection in the Property Sector”, the company adopted a clear stance in favour of better general conditions to support businesses in their efforts to achieve climate protection. In so doing, Deutsche Wohnen became involved in the political process that led to Germany’s Climate Protection Act.
About Deutsche Wohnen
Deutsche Wohnen is one of the leading publicly listed property companies in Germany and Europe with a business focus on managing and developing its portfolio, which consists mainly of residential properties. As at 30 September 2019, the portfolio comprised approximately 169,500 units in total, of which 166,700 were residential and 2,800 commercial. The company is listed in the Deutsche Börse’s MDAX and is also included in the leading indices EPRA/NAREIT, STOXX® Europe 600 and GPR 250.