Climate change – opportunities and risks for the Bavarian economy
Because climate change, says Minister of the Environment Ulrike Scharf, "is a global challenge with regional consequences, including the Bavarian economy". Companies are also increasingly faced with the question of how to protect themselves from the consequences of climate change – and here they have to recognise precisely what affects them and to what extent and when this concern becomes specific. No easy task!
New paths were therefore taken in the case studies with seven business from producing industry, the construction industry and trade: With the help of an innovative workshop concept, the representatives of the participating companies advised each other, with the support of experts of the project partners: bifa Umweltinstitut, the University of Munich and the Bayerischer Industrie- und Handelskammertag (BIHK - the Association of Bavarian Chambers of Commerce and Industry). This approach of "collegial coaching" was new to many of the company representatives and decidedly fertile; because they received plenty of ideas and suggestions, which above all were brought about by this practical "thinking outside the box". The results of this study, unique in Germany, were then summarised in new guidelines. In October it was presented to the interested public at two of the participating companies: by Minister of State Ulrike Scharf in Erding at Huber Technik and by Undersecretary Dr. Monika Kratzer in Augsburg in Modehaus Jung. "Measures for adapting to the consequences of climate change and especially tailored to the participating companies were developed", says the Minister. In this way, risks can be reduced and economic opportunities identified early. Through climate-compatible products and technologies, such as intelligent shading systems, new markets can also be opened up. In the case studies with the companies it was also possible to show that central fields of action for climate adaptation strategies are already emerging. These often involve protecting employees from heat and exposure to the sun. Measures of preventive health & safety, air conditioning or new working hours models were discussed.
Apart from the topic of logistics, a second frequently named topic was sustainable securing or raw materials, e.g. through strategic alliances with suppliers or developing own resource markets Finally, in addition to new or modified business models, protection of buildings and safeguarding production processes were also important topics.
The parameters identified with this study and examples of adaptation measures provide ideas and help for other industries too. The brochure can be downloaded immediately, free of charge as a pdf, from www.bestellen.bayern.de.