On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, AmCham Germany’s Regional Committee Cologne, together with AmerikaHaus NRW e.V., organized an event on the topic "How Zero is Net Zero? – Climate Change Policies on Both Sides of the Atlantic." KPMG generously hosted the event in its Cologne office.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Hermann Knott, Chair Cologne of the AmCham Germany Regional Chapter North Rhine-Westphalia, mentioned the big success of wind and solar projects in the traditionally carbon energy state of Texas.
The speakers represented the industrial, financial and regulatory aspects relevant in shaping and implementing climate change policies. Jacob Werksman, Principal Adviser for International Aspects of EU Climate Policy, Directorate General Climate Action in the European Commission, presented the pillars of the EU initiatives to achieve net zero emissions and emphasized the importance of the intermediate goals on the way towards that definitive target. As a U.S. trained lawyer with significant experience in Europe, he is best qualified to compare the U.S. and EU models.
Dr. Julia Dieckmann, Head of Sustainable Finance Policy, Government and Public Affairs at Deutsche Bank AG, presented the impact of climate policies on funding decisions of banks and – from a global lender’s perspective – compared the more regulation-based approach of the EU with the more incentive-oriented U.S. climate policy.
Jürgen Germann, Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy (DACH Region) and Sustainability (DACH, BE and NL), 3M, explained how 3M with a range of not less than 55,000 different products decided to invest heavily in using green technologies also in Europe, thereby expanding its footprint in the region. He also emphasized that business enterprises should develop a climate-friendly internal culture with everyone sharing in the environmental goals.
The roughly 40 attendants participated actively in the discussion and stayed on for refreshments and finger food afterwards, allowing direct discussions with the panelists in a relaxed atmosphere.
A big thank you to our speakers and the representatives of our co-organizers: AmerikaHaus NRW e.V., represented by Viktoria Harbecke, Director, and KPMG, represented by Katharina Gädeke, Senior Manager.
