The green transformation of Germany’s economy has become the key theme for the upcoming general election. All major parties promise to tackle climate change, although they differ in their means towards this objective.
The transformation will have a massive impact on many aspects of economic policy. The conversion of Germany’s key automotive industry and the greening of brown industries could uproot companies and their workers. Higher carbon taxes could weigh on firms and households, affecting their international competitiveness and requiring new transfers. Significant investment needs—estimated at more than 1 trillion euros—will weigh corporate balance sheets and public debt. The transformation will also have ramifications for Germany’s trading partners, as supply chains need to be greened or curtailed, and a European carbon border tax could be levied on imports.
How will a future government approach these challenges? What will this all mean for Germany’s role in Europe and the world?
Speakers
Jochen Andritzky
Moderator
Jochen Andritzky served as the secretary general of the German Council of Economic Experts from June 2015 to April 2018.
Ottmar Edenhofer
Speaker
Ottmar Edenhofer is director and chief economist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
Otto Fricke
Speaker
Otto Fricke is a member of the German Parliament and the Bundestag, and is budgetary spokesman for the Free Democratic Party (FDP) parliamentary group.
Maja Göpel
Speaker
Maja Göpel, a political economist, is director of research at the New Institute in Hamburg.
Carolin Schenuit
Speaker
Carolin Schenuit is the managing director of the Forum for Ecologic-Social Market Economy (FÖS).
Wolfgang Schmidt
Speaker
Wolfgang Schmidt is state secretary at Germany's Federal Ministry of Finance.
Kai Whittaker
Speaker
Kai Whittaker is chairman of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) working group on the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Sustainable Development and is a member of the parliament committee for labor and social affairs.