Entrepreneur initiative from Germany joins Fridays for Future appeal for more climate action

A group of more than 1,000 companies from Germany has joined the appeal by student protest movement Fridays for Future (FfF) for greater climate action efforts. Under the label “Entrepreneurs for Future”, the companies released a statement to officially back the next international FfF protest planned for 24 May and call on other businesses to join the initiative. The group includes a large share of companies active in the “green economy”, with business in renewable energy, efficiency improvement and other concepts associated with climate action. However, the initiative is also backed by many other companies from all over the economy, including larger ones like recycling service provider Remondis and smaller groups such as baby food producer Hipp or chemicals producer Werner & Mertz. “For sustainable energy companies and mobility providers, climate action is just as important as it is for organic food producers and recycling companies.” The companies argue that "a climate-friendly economy is already possible today" and adequate technology, products and services are all available. "But we need conducive political conditions," the companies say. Entrepreneurs for Future say they represent about 100,000 jobs and an aggregate annual revenue of 20 billion euros. The initiative has released a list of climate action demands to the government, including the introduction of a price on CO2 emissions, divestment of climate-damaging subsidies, a transition in the transport and agriculture sectors as well as an “ambitious” Climate Action Law.

The FfF movement has become a regular feature in the German climate policy debate since the protests initiated by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg last summer. It has caused vibrant arguments within parties about how to deal with the movement’s demands, pushing many companies to position themselves on emissions reduction. It has received backing by Chancellor Angela Merkel and also by a large group of scientists who say the demands are in line with Germany’s international obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement.