Alongside 154 internationally active companies, Symrise is sending a clear message. Governments are currently putting together measures in an effort to get their economies back on growth track after the COVID-19 pandemic. These reconstruction measures should take into account the latest findings of climate science and the goals of the Paris Climate Convention – this was the unanimous opinion of a joint declaration under the leadership of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition. The signatories point out that the coronavirus and climate must be seen together.
For a long time now, Symrise has firmly anchored sustainability in its corporate strategy. The company has recognized the high relevance of sustainability for business and society, as well as biodiversity, and is thus consistently pursuing its ambitious sustainability objectives. This includes being climate positive by 2030. Social responsibility toward future generations is another important motivator.
This is why, along with 154 companies, Symrise signed the Science Based Targets initiative’s declaration "Recover Better", the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition. The signatories are all members of SBTi and are pursuing ambitious climate goals derived from the guidelines of the Paris Climate Convention. Symrise belonged to the first German companies to apply to be a member of the Science Based Targets initiative and was one of three German companies to meet the ambitious targets of the initiative beginning in 2018.
Symrise is convinced that these climate targets should also be kept firmly in mind in the context of economic reconstruction during the coronavirus crisis, because climate change threatens livelihoods and must be further curbed.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is putting the strength of the global economy to a test,” says Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG. “In addition to economic strength, climate protection remains ab important goal, and also that we want to promote biodiversity more.”
Climate-oriented economic development for sustainable growth
The signatories of “Recover Better” ask governments to align their plans for economic reconstruction with climate targets. In addition, long-term incentives and increased investment in pioneering and sustainable technologies must be created.
“We must maintain the momentum of international climate protection efforts also in times of the pandemic,” Dr. Bertram explains. “Economic development packages should be geared toward the future and besides crucial measures for the economic recovery and the preservation of jobs, promote climate-friendly approaches.
The following websites contain more information about the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition:
sciencebasedtargets.org
www.unglobalcompact.org
www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org