Bayer unveils strategy to fight climate change

A man walks near a Bayer logo in Cologne, Germany. Alex Kraus/Bloomberg News

The "Bayer Climate Program", which has been launched across the firm also involves the company launching new solutions to tackle climate change.

Bayer, which will invest 1 billion euros, in climate-related research and development and other projects in the next three years, has already started work on the programs first projects.

These include a global concept for zero-emission buildings for offices and other industrial buildings known as the "EcoCommercial Building", the development of stress-tolerant plants and systems to encourage the effective use of crops for biofuels, and the "Bayer Climate Check" for optimizing production processes.

"We are well aware that we are an emitter of greenhouse gases," said Bayer Chairman Werner Wenning.

"That was why in the past we focused our attention on lowering CO2 emissions."

Between 1990 and 2006 the company considerably cut its absolute global greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent.

In addition, specific emissions per product unit were also lowered as a result of consistent improvements in energy efficiency.

"We want to continue growing, not least because we manufacture innovative products for efficient climate protection and for dealing with climate change," Wenning pointed out.

Bayer products, he said, were making a direct contribution in many different ways to saving energy and conserving resources in our everyday life.

For example, polyurethane insulating materials in buildings and refrigerators help save an enormous amount of energy.

Contribution recognized

For these achievements, independent institutions like the Carbon Disclosure Project have on several occasions awarded Bayer the distinction "Best in Class".

Only recently, the company was included for the third time in a row in the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index - the world's first climate protection index.

It is the only European company in the chemical industry to receive this honor.

Bayer supports the development of effective policies for climate protection at global level, and it has been very much involved in initiatives such as 3C: Combat Climate Change.

For this reason, Wenning appealed to politicians to include major greenhouse gas emitters in a new international climate agreement.

"We need a turnaround with CO2 emissions. The global problem can only be addressed through joint action worldwide, at least by all the major parties responsible for emissions," said Wenning.

"Europe and particularly Germany cannot stop the climate change by adopting an isolated pioneering role. In addition, this could seriously endanger industry's competitiveness".

"We at Bayer take climate change very seriously and regard it as an ecological and economic challenge," continued Wenning.

In its Mission Statement, "Bayer: Science For A Better Life", the company acknowledges and accepts its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen.

"We are not resting on our laurels with the successes we have achieved so far. We want to set new standards".

For the period between 2005 and 2020, Bayer has set new and ambitious emission targets, particularly in view of the achievements it has already made in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

China Daily

(China Daily 11/21/2007 page16)