Federal Environment Minister delivers speech at B20 summit in Berlin
Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks promoted a climate and environment-friendly economy in Berlin in front of 700 business representatives from 30 countries today: "Climate action and environmental protection are important drivers of modernisation for our national economies - that will have positive effects for our competitiveness, the labour market, social cohesion and political stability", Hendricks said in her speech at the "Business 20 Summit". The meeting is the G20's economic dialogue i.e. a dialogue among the 20 most important industrialised countries and emerging economies; it is thus part of Germany's G20 presidency.
Hendricks: "Those who still say that economic development is best advanced by abolishing environmental regulations have not understood the signs of the times and are jeopardising the prosperity of future generations. Those who wish to maintain obsolete structures are missing out on the future. This applies to states and also to each and every company."
B20 demands include mitigating climate change and consistently implementing the Paris Agreement. The members of the G20 are to present their long-term strategies to achieve their nationally determined contributions. The B20's proposals also include a strategic dialogue on global mechanisms for CO2 prices and on abolishing inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels. The B20 is also calling for the transformation of the energy system to be pushed forward by means of a joint innovation agenda.
In its recommendations, the B20 summit also supports the Federal Environment Minister's initiative for a G20 partnership on resource efficiency.