The Federal Chancellor during his speech at the opening of the Hanover Fair.
(Photo: Reuters)
Hanover Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to open the planned climate club to emerging and developing countries. As the current President of the seven largest industrial nations (G7), he wants to set up the club, he said on Sunday evening at the opening of the Hanover Fair. “It is open to all countries that have committed themselves to certain minimum standards for climate protection.”
The aspiring emerging and developing countries would have to be involved in climate protection in order to achieve competitive equality. The fight against climate change can only be successful together. It is wrong to draw the conclusion from Russia’s war against Ukraine that globalization is the wrong way.
Countries that are promoting climate-friendly industry are to join forces in the climate club, even if this initially means higher costs. This is to avoid distorting competition. It is also considered an alternative to the border tariffs envisaged by the EU Commission, which are intended to protect European companies from competition with lower climate standards, for example from Asia. German industry considers such tariffs to be almost impossible to implement and also dangerous because they could trigger a global economic conflict.
Scholz made it clear that, in addition to the fight against climate change, a move away from fossil fuels was also necessary for reasons of national security. But Germany will have to change for this, for example with faster approval processes for green electricity projects. But he is certain: “The energy transition will become a location advantage.” Renewable energy is already the cheapest form of energy. As a technology country, you have a good chance of becoming a pioneer in the change to green processes. “Germany really has all the prerequisites to become one of the first climate-neutral industrialized countries.”
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praise for the industry
Scholz also commented on the Ukraine war and welcomed industry’s support for the sanctions against Russia. The Hanover Fair is also taking place against the background of Russia’s “terrible war” against Ukraine, said Scholz.
“It is therefore very important to know that business, industry, is behind the measures we have taken to convince Russia to end this war, including the sanctions, for example.”
The consequences of the attack and the debate about safe energy made it all the more clear that economic transformation had to be advanced, said Scholz. This requires new procedures and processes. “This trade fair shows that this is possible and that we will achieve it at great speed.”
Scholz again spoke out against turning back international trade because of the current crises. “At the same time, what we are experiencing today is a sign that we must work together and advance the economic transformation of our society.”
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) made a similar statement: “Let’s stick to it, but let’s realign it,” said Habeck on globalization. “We must not enter into the language of a new nationalism. Then at some point we will end up with Brexit and Donald Trump.”
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