A pandemic keeps the world in suspense - and pushes climate protection into the background. But experts and companies are demanding that the many billions that are now being spent must benefit the climate. That is what international discussions under German leadership are about.
Berlin (dpa) - The demand for more climate protection in the corona crisis is getting louder. Before international climate talks, to which the Federal Government has invited, more than 60 companies jointly demand that economic and investment programs "be systematically climate-friendly".
These include groups such as Thyssenkrupp and Bayer, the steel manufacturer Salzgitter and Wacker Chemie. The "Handelsblatt" first reported on the call. The President of the German Weather Service (DWD), Gerhard Adrian, told the German Press Agency: "It would be bad if climate protection was put on hold to fight the virus."
How the fight against the pandemic and against climate change can be combined is the topic of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue on Monday and Tuesday. The annual top meeting takes place for the first time as a video conference. In addition to Germany, the host country is also Great Britain, because the next world climate summit is to take place in Glasgow, Scotland.
Ministers from around 30 countries advise "how the global community can emerge from the acute corona pandemic in a more crisis-proof and climate-friendly manner," as the Federal Environment Ministry had announced. Speeches by Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres are expected on Tuesday.
Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze called for economic stimulus programs to advance "jobs, innovation and climate protection". "It would be good if this message was underlined by many in the dialogue and different states show that they are working on it," the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Monday). China is thinking about "green stimulus packages".
"Climate change is advancing no matter what else happens - regardless of the corona crisis," warned weather service chief Adrian, who is also chairman of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). CO2, methane and nitrous oxide emissions would have to be reduced. "If the economic system has to change for this, stimulus programs in the Corona crisis would of course be an opportunity to combine the two."
The Two Degrees Foundation, in which entrepreneurs are organized, organized the corporate appeal to politics. "An ambitious and effective climate policy must remain an elementary component of an economic and industrial policy aimed at resilience to crises," demand Aida Cruises, Allianz, Deutsche Post DHL Group, Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Wohnen, EnBW Eon, IKEA Germany, Tchibo, Unilever Germany and Union Investment.
