"The markets of the future are green" - State Secretary Dr. Andre Baumann spoke at the invitation of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce on sustainable management
V.li.: André Olveira-Lenz, Head of the Innovation and Environment Division at the IHK Südlicher Oberrhein, Andreas Truttenbach, Deputy President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, First State Official Dr. Nikolas Störmer, State Secretary Dr. Andre Baumann and IHK Managing Director Dr. Dieter Salomon
Picture: IHK Südlicher Oberrhein
"Sustainable management – the greatest challenge of our time?" This was the title of the IHK event yesterday evening in Offenburg with keynote speaker Dr. Andre Baumann. But the State Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy quickly put it in a nutshell that he has other ideas: "Challenge is far too passive for me." For the Green politician, it is clear that the topic is a must, especially for Baden-Württemberg. "Who, if not us, in the land of engineers, inventors and world market leaders in every Black Forest valley, can create the change?"
Andreas Truttenbach, Deputy President of the Southern Upper Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce and owner of RMA Pipeline Equipment in Rheinau and Kehl, explained the importance of sustainability for a long time in his welcoming address: "We entrepreneurs are currently not asking ourselves the question of turnover or profit. Rather, our questions revolve around whether the business cannot be made greener, more sustainable and more responsible."
The State Secretary sees the Ortenau at the forefront when it comes to sustainability. At least he began his remarks with praise in the direction of the first state official in the Ortenau district, Dr. Nikolas Störmer. "With regard to sustainable energy generation, things are going better here than in other districts." And he and the state government also want to contribute to making things even faster: "We have shortened the approval of wind turbines by one year with the deletion of the opposition procedure. In the long term, we aim to halve the time from seven to three and a half years."
The natural conditions in the region, the biologist with a focus on nature conservation and ecology was pleased, would also offer ideal conditions for sustainable management. "There is a lithium deposit in the Upper Rhine Graben. This would allow us to make ourselves independent of South America," says Baumann, looking to the future. And immediately puts a warning on top: "If we do not act now, it will be expensive. Fossil fuels will never again become as cheap as they were before the crisis." That's why he expects companies to see the challenge as an opportunity and to actively tackle it, "without miserliness and not because they have to". With a proverb, the Secretary of State summed up the necessity of trade: "If you don't cook along, you will eventually be on the menu."
Although Baden-Württemberg's share of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide is very low, the Green politician knows other reasons for companies to tackle the change. "The markets of the future are green." Now it is important to create jobs and generate prosperity with sustainable management. Baumann: "We have to show that we can do it! If we can do that, we will quickly find imitators." Smiling from the approximately 40 listeners, the expert reaped for another incentive: "It is our big task that Tesla sees the taillights of Mercedes!"
The State Secretary also addressed consumers in his keynote speech. "It is important that the energy transition is carried out in a socially acceptable manner. Eco must not be a question of the purse." A scenario like in France with the yellow vest movement should not exist in this country. That's why Baumann sent an urgent appeal to the entrepreneurs present: "It doesn't work without you. It's only possible with you." Therefore, it is urgent that the economy interferes in the political debates in order to communicate its view of things.
In the ensuing discussion, the participants followed the politician's request directly. "Why isn't there a photovoltaic system on every administrative roof for a long time?" or "Why doesn't politics use the lever of legislation much more?" were two of the questions to the speaker from Stuttgart, who did not owe an answer. In his opinion, a photovoltaic system only makes sense if the roof is redone, not before. It became clear that Baumann hopes for the insight of the business community: "Legislation must not be strangling, but must be motivating." The State Secretary agreed to the demand for more honesty: "Yes, we are experiencing the greatest economic restructuring since the industrial revolution. There will be losers. But this group must be as small as possible." André Olveira-Lenz, Head of the Innovation and Environment Division at the Southern Upper Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce, addressed the issue of de-bureaucratisation and questioned the obligation to report in some places. This was followed by the State Secretary's request to formulate these points in a letter to him: "Because if the companies only fill out something, they have not yet achieved anything in the field of sustainability."
Yesterday's event was the prelude to the "Week of Sustainability" of the IHK Südlicher Oberrhein with more than 20 online events on the topic, which will follow from 16 May. "The free impulses never last longer than one or two hours, so they can be easily integrated into everyday working life," explains Dr. Dieter Saloon, Managing Director of the IHK Südlicher Oberrhein. "All three areas of sustainability are addressed: ecological, economic and social sustainability."
All information under www.wochedernachhaltigkeit-freiburg.de.
(Info: IHK Südlicher Oberrhein
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