On December 12th, 2015 a new climate convention was agreed upon in Paris. The Chairperson of the DBU Board of Trustees and Parliamentary State Secretary in the BMUB, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, discusses these agreements and their significance for the DBU.
How do you assess the results of the UN Climate Summit in Paris? Did they meet your expectations for the summit?
The results of the UN Climate Summit in Paris far exceed our expectations. We now have, for the first time, an agreement that includes all nations. And this agreement is more ambitious than we had hoped. This is a major success.
How do you view Germany’s role within the framework of global climate protection efforts?
We were “pulse generators” in Paris and are perceived internationally by many as role models. For this reason, it is also so important that, as a strong industrial nation, we show that it is possible to protect the climate, and at the same time to be economically successful.
What do the agreements mean for the DBU’s work in the future?
We are working at a great task – the global transformation to greenhouse gas neutrality. Therefore we are searching for new paths, with innovative concepts and technologies. The DBU can make an important contribution in this process: through resolute research, development and utilization of new, environmentally-friendly technologies and products, especially as they apply to small- and medium-sized business; but also through measures for the encouragement of environmentally-friendly behavior and environmental education. Because ultimately, it depends on everyone being involved.
