According to a survey by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, sustainability issues such as corporate financing are gaining in importance for German companies abroad. DIHK foreign trade chief Volker Treier said on Wednesday that companies around the world are preparing to make their financing decisions and the search for suppliers dependent not only on market opportunities, but also on criteria such as environmental and climate protection.
According to a special evaluation of a survey of more than 3,200 companies, almost two-thirds of companies worldwide see themselves challenged by sustainability criteria when it comes to financing.
A controversial proposal by the EU Commission provides for gas and nuclear power plants to be classified as “green” investments under certain conditions. The so-called taxonomy defines which areas of the economy are considered climate-friendly.
Treier said the companies were preparing for various legislative projects, such as the German supply chain law or a possible CO2 border adjustment mechanism in the EU. For many German companies, sustainability has already become part of their “DNA”. (dpa)