Most of the parties agreed on one point even before the general election: The German economy must be restructured towards more sustainability and less consumption of resources in order to slow down climate change and protect the environment.

Not only at the IAA Mobility in Munich are the companies currently outbidding each other with new "green" offers and models.

How quickly this transformation will happen and what exactly it should look like, however, will first have to be agreed with the new government.

A process that, depending on the government constellation, can be tedious and lengthy.

Sven Astheimer

Editor responsible for corporate reporting.

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Half a dozen female managers have already made a remarkable contribution to speak up about what needs to be taken into account during this transformation for a Germany that is fit for the future. In essence, with their six-point agenda, they are concerned with the question of how, in view of the high time pressure, an open discussion about the preservation of the economy and prosperity can be ensured.

The industry is currently working in more than 100 new fields of innovation on solutions with hydrogen, recycling, e-mobility and much more, according to the thesis paper.

“We have about three to five years to take advantage of these opportunities and thereby develop a leadership position worldwide before others do,” warn the authors.

“It is not dogmas that help, but openness to technology and competition.” They say that only those who test and try out a lot will find the best solution in the end.

Dubourg, braid longer and Jäkel

The group of business women consists of the BASF board member Saori Dubourg, the financial expert Christine Bortenlänger, Julia Jäkel (until recently managing director of Gruner and Jahr), the economist Ann-Kristin Achleitner, Hauke ​​Stars (ex-board member of Deutsche Börse) and Stephanie Schorp (Managing Director at Comites).

In addition to a future-oriented educational program, a faster pace of digitization and the fight against climate change at European level through market-based CO2 pricing, the authors also plead for more honesty in the energy transformation. More storage, better networks and more intelligent control systems would be required in the future. "This cannot be done without an honest dialogue with citizens about how we can make compromises together," it says.

Finally, the managers also go into the financial feasibility of the large-scale project. "To do this, we need above all private investments via the capital market." The state must create technology-open and predictable conditions for this. "Lifting the debt brake will put a strain on the future of our children," is the warning with regard to the plans of, for example, the SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz, whose finance ministry is already working on corresponding plans. The authors also speak out against the redistribution of wealth and tax increases, such as those planned by the Greens and the Left Party.

“With our appeal, we want to give an impetus to set off,” says Ann-Kristin Achleitner about the motivation for the joint appeal. Julia Jäkel believes that everyone feels that things have to change fundamentally in Germany. “Now a window is opening due to important elections.” BASF board member Dubourg emphasizes that together we want to make an active contribution to a positive future.