Top-class guests from politics, companies, start-ups and science will discuss in the SZ high-rise how we can – and must – think about business in a sustainable way. All reports on the panel discussions, debates and lectures can be found on this special page.
Economy and climate protection – the tension is sometimes quite high. Heidelberg-Cement is one of the best examples of this dilemma, which affects almost all commercial enterprises. The internationally active Dax company from Baden-Württemberg is one of the largest CO₂ emitters of all. The cement and concrete industry accounts for around six percent of all global CO₂ emissions. And the group from Heidelberg, with a turnover of 18.7 billion euros, is in second place in the industry after its Swiss competitor Holcim. The problem: Making the production of concrete green is technically very difficult and expensive. On the other hand, the world needs concrete, also to create the climate and energy transition.
“For me, the glass is half full. We’re rolling up our sleeves, it’s a once-in-a-century opportunity,” says Dominik von Acht, CEO of Heidelberg-Cement. He doesn’t see himself as a climate sinner, but rather a lot will be done, the lever is big. Two thirds of the emissions from concrete production are chemically related, the CO₂ is captured in the process and then stored or used for other applications, but that costs a lot of money and time. Once concrete, which is already in widespread use, is green, acceptance will continue to increase, says Von Acht – so sustainability is a great opportunity for his company.
“We have come a long way in the past few years,” says Dirk Schmitz about the efforts of the economy to become sustainable. Schmitz is the German head of Blackrock, the world’s largest private equity firm. In January 2020, Blackrock greener Larry Fink wrote in one of his famous letters to the heads of the companies in which the Americans have a stake: “The tectonic shift of capital towards sustainable investments continues to gain momentum.” Incidentally, Fink always drafts these letters over a long weekend in September, then they are discussed internally at Blackrock and always sent out in January.
“Not all problems have been solved by a long shot,” warns the Ifo expert
The consequences are usually significant, here too. Schmitz says that sustainability is no longer an issue for anyone in the company, but for the CEO, as is the case at Heidelberg-Cement, where vonakht pays great attention to it. According to Schmitz, business is no longer a question of whether and why, but only of how. “Only a sustainable company will also be a long-term successful company,” believes the Blackrock Germany boss. So there is a consensus that sustainability is important, almost everyone now has a so-called road map, so a plan how to achieve what it wants. But there is still a long way to go.
Ifo climate expert Karen Pittel is not so optimistic.
(Photo: Alessandra Schellnegger)
Karen Pittel, climate expert at the Ifo Institute in Munich, is not so optimistic. The process is dynamic, but “not all problems have been solved by a long shot”. It is a matter of “thick boards”, the measures must first be implemented. In addition, it will not be linear. It is possible that the 1.5-degree target will be exceeded overall before things go in the right direction again.
Pittel is also skeptical that the war in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis will bring fossil fuels back into play. That would be dangerous if they were to be retained in the long term. After all, the war and its consequences clearly show that switching to sustainable management has a double advantage: it not only protects the environment and makes the climate goals more realistic. The security of supply is also increasing significantly.
Udo Littke from the IT service provider Atos (right) with moderator Marc Beise.
(Photo: Alessandra Schellnegger)
Udo Littke from the IT service provider Atos also stated that there are definitely different speeds. Processes are often reorganized so that the desired effects then appear in leaps and bounds. Atos also advises customers on this path. In any case, climate change would not work without digitization, according to Littke.
Nevertheless: “Not everyone will make it,” warns Schmitz, but adds: “The majority of companies will.” Blackrock expects that some will leave, especially since it invests primarily in companies that have yet to make the turnaround, because these have the most potential. Blackrock also holds a few percent of Heidelberg-Cement – in the firm conviction that the group will turn the tide. In any case, the head of the group of eight is optimistic.