10 European business leaders plan to invest €100 billion (£86 billion/$119 billion) in decarbonising their companies and products as part of their corporate strategies by 2030. They’re also calling for far-reaching climate protection measures.
The 10 business leaders in the CEO Alliance e include Jörn Rosengren (ABB), Thierry Vanlancker (AkzoNobel), Francesco Starace (ENEL), Leonhard Birnbaum (E.ON), Ignacio Galán (Iberdrola), Søren Skou (Maersk), Christian Klein (SAP), Henrik Henriksson (Scania), Jean-Pascale Tricoire (Schneider Electric) and Herbert Diess (Volkswagen).
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This CEO Alliance was formed in 2020 against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and the historic decisions on the European Green Deal. Their common goal is to make the EU the world’s leading region for climate protection while unlocking investments, driving innovations in tomorrow’s technologies and creating future proof jobs.
Within the list of 10 is one of the world’s leading electric car producers Volkswagen, who plan to offer 27 electric models around the globe by 2022 based on their MEB electric platform. Other vehicle and transport companies include Scania, who have launched an electric truck range, along with Maersk who are investing in carbon-neutral ships
ABB is a leading global technology company that’s helping to create a more sustainable future through electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio. Along with all of the companies in CEO Alliance they’re looking at working together to create a cleaner better future for Europe.
The plan will see a gradual introduction of a cross-sector CO2 price and ambitious phase-out dates for coal. A joint position paper with ambitious proposals has been published. They state that they firmly believe that the EU Green Deal and Next Generation EU will put Europe’s innovation and business ingenuity to the service of the global climate cause. It also will kick-start a wave of investments into sustainability and will create future-proof jobs across the EU.
The CEOs encourage European policymakers to take bold steps towards climate neutrality. These include continuing to pursue a standardised cross-sector CO2 price and setting end-dates for carbon-intense technologies.
The CEO Alliance wants to work together for cross-EU charging infrastructure for heavy-duty transport, integration of EU power systems, digital carbon footprint tracking, sustainable healthy buildings, e-buses for Europe, green hydrogen value chain and rapid build-up of battery production.
They also aspire to work with their companies across sectors to find practical solutions for effective climate protection. In doing so, they strive for ongoing constructive dialogue with the EU Commission.
Frans Timmermans, executive vice president, said: “Making Europe climate neutral by 2050 is a huge challenge. The European Commission will propose legislation to put sectors like transport and energy on the right track. Our long term plan includes investment in charging infrastructure, battery production, renovation and renewable energy production.
“The NextGeneration EU recovery fund will help make this possible. Our goal is not any transition, it’s a just and fair transition, leaving no one behind. I welcome the CEO Alliance’s commitment to Europe’s green recovery and share their conviction that their companies have what it takes to build a sustainable future.”
