How much green is the economy? | Economy | '
Once a year the Federation of German Industries invites you to its most important and biggest event. At the "Day of Industry", top managers meet top politicians. This time in a Berlin event location with old industrial charm, but without air conditioning. It was hot, humid and stuffy and yet the rows of seats in the large hall were still densely occupied, as shortly before 14 clock after many previous political speakers, the Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock entered the stage. Her dress: color-matched in black and cream, but in a striking graphic pattern. She herself: Smiling, self-confident, full of energy. But not overbearing, but in a positive, kind way.
Who had expected that Baerbock would start immediately with the green favorite topic – the climate protection – but had been wrong. She spoke of Europe, the common market, economic power, relations with the US and China, artificial intelligence and 5G. Her message: Of course, companies would have to make money. Although the economy was later followed by ecology. But also in a way that was well received by the managers.
Not against, but with the economy change something – Green boss Baerbock in the day of industry
Senior teacher – that was yesterday
Instead of risks, the Greens speak of opportunities rather than costs of return expectations that would provide climate protection and sustainability. "What we propose, in the area of competition, in the field of ecology into the center of the economy, in the field of climate protection as a driver of innovation, in the field of diversity: that is not all completely absurd, but we have worked on these concepts for years," said the economic spokeswoman for the Green Bundestag faction, Kerstin Andreae. "Nobody can really drive us to cart, because we make things very evidence-based, very fact-oriented."
We have learned a lot, says Green Kerstin Andreae
The Greens have come a long way. Gone are the days when the Cologne carmaker Ford a bicycle factory are made, or the gasoline price of 1.50 D-mark should be raised to five D-Mark. "We had some ideas that did not fit into the economic policy context," says economist Andreae in an interview with ‘.
Troublesome detail work
Over the years, the party has learned. Research expertise has been gathered, studies analyzed and commissioned. "We have painstakingly worked this out in small work and nowadays have an economic component in our demands, which pays off." The relationship between the Greens and the economy today is a "fundamentally different" than in the past, says Andreae.
This is clearly visible in Baden-Württemberg, where the Greens have been governing for eight years. "It was also said at the beginning that the economy was dying and the opposite was the case." But that does not mean that the eco-party for the managers is now the desired candidate on the government bench. As far as it can give at all.
Green Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann has governed for eight years
The economy loves reliability
"As far as politics is concerned, we are color blind" has been the credo of the Federation of German Industries for years. The lobbyist association avoids taking sides. It works with those elected to the Chancellery and ministries. If you follow the current opinion polls, the Greens could soon be there. Climate and environmental protection would then get even more importance.
That is why it is important for the economy to listen and argue with the Greens about political content. Recently, BDI President Dieter Kempf and party leader Baerbock made a double interview for the magazine Wirtschaftswoche, "The interests of industry and ecological progress are not opposites," stated Kempf.
BDI President Dieter Kempf does not just want to exchange niceties
German companies are in demand worldwide as problem solvers. In dealing with the Greens is now important not only to exchange "niceties". "We also have to admit where we are still very far apart."
Intersections and differences
Roughly speaking, this is the case everywhere where the economy fears restrictions, requirements and rising costs that would be detrimental to companies in international competition. The Greens call for Europeans to lead by example, setting standards in climate protection, occupational safety and sustainability, for example, and then enforcing them worldwide. BDI President Kempf countered, that was naive. One must search for partners worldwide and find solutions together, ie compromises.
Economy and ecology should not be a contradiction
If you ask Kerstin Andreae for similarities, then the first keyword is immigration. There is a "mistaken agreement" on the right to stay for refugees, because the economy is now suffering not only from a lack of specialist but in general to workers. But there are also topics where the intersection is zero. So in the demand for women's quotas in the executive levels of the economy. "They can not find an advocate," says Andreae.
Requested debating circle
Since last October, such topics have also been explored in the Economic Advisory Council of the Green Bundestag faction. In addition to the economic politicians sit there managers and entrepreneurs from all directions. From the founder through the managing director of a traditional family business to the CEO of a DAX company. They invited those who were "open to change". "It's all confrontational," says Andreae. "We really want to develop and test things and make things better."
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By the way, if it becomes concrete, it shows that the trenches are not just between politics and business. For example, the Greens are proposing to charge CO2-loaded steel from abroad across Europe with a countervailing charge, a so-called "climate duty". The steel industry finds this good, the BDI counters, customs duties and trade barriers are protectionism and will be answered by other countries accordingly.
The billing is final
"I would say that the last word has not been spoken yet, so how do you elaborate it in detail," says Andreae. There was nothing gained if the basic industry left Germany. "On the one hand, we need them within the value chain, and on the other hand, we simply shift the climate problems beyond our borders, and that does not help the climate either."
They have become pragmatic, the Greens of today. The economy appreciates this and hopes for clear political guidelines that give planning certainty. The businessmen fear nothing more than insecurity. However, they will measure the Greens by implementing their environmental agenda. You can demand a lot from the opposition. At the government bank, many things often look very different.
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