Companies are a key player in climate protection in Bonn. This is why the City of Bonn's economic development department is targeting Bonn's business community with climate protection offers. One important component of this is the so-called climate partnerships for business. Five Bonn-based companies - DHL's Bonn branch, SGL Carbon's Bonn site, Stadtwerke Bonn, LVR Klinik and Qvest Digital - have now been the first to sign the declaration of intent for the cooperation with Mayor Katja Dörner and business promoter Victoria Appelbe.
"With the business climate partnerships, we are focusing on working together as equals. Commitment to climate protection is an investment in the future of companies, the competitiveness and performance of Bonn's businesses and thus in the prosperity of us all," said Mayor Katja Dörner at the signing of the agreement. She thanked the company representatives for their commitment: "I am delighted that Bonn's committed companies see investing in climate protection as an added value for their development. Climate protection is a joint task. With the Business Climate Partnerships, we want to provide companies with an offer to develop and implement tailored climate protection measures," continued the Mayor.
Business promoter Victoria Appelbe emphasized the pioneering role of the companies that have opted for the Business Climate Partnership: "These companies are taking the first step and are pioneers and role models for other companies that will join in the future." As part of the Business Climate Partnership network, companies can learn from each other and get to know new inspirations and solutions on how climate protection can be successfully implemented in companies.
Following the signing of the contract in the Mayor of Bonn's office, the representatives of the five companies took part in a kick-off workshop on the premises of the Economic Development Agency. Sven Schneider, Head of the Service Center Economy, and Christopher Franz, contact person for climate partnerships at the Economic Development Agency, presented the offer in detail. In the workshop, the companies specified their ideas for the collaboration. The first group will start implementation in April 2025.
Who can become a "climate partner"?
Companies can become "Climate Partners for Business" of the City of Bonn if they can demonstrate the strategic anchoring of the topic on the basis of technical suitability criteria. The Climate Partnership for Business support service is free of charge and covers all sectors. The target group are Bonn companies with more than 50 employees. They receive expert advice and support in working groups in which they learn from other companies and support each other. As pioneers in Bonn's economy, climate partners also receive effective publicity and communication support. This also includes the use of a signet that highlights the regional commitment. In return, climate partners undertake to continuously develop their climate protection efforts. This is recorded in a declaration of intent as a voluntary commitment and updated regularly.
In addition to the Business Climate Partnership, the Economic Development Agency also offers business park management and climate protection advice. Further information can be found at www.bonn.de/klimaschutzangebote (opens in a new tab)
Offers are embedded in the Bonn Climate Plan 2035 program
The project "Bonn Climate Protection Offers for Business" is part of the work program of the Bonn Climate Plan 2035. With the Bonn Climate Plan 2035, the city of Bonn has set itself the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2035. An important component of this is the climate-friendly transformation of Bonn's economy. The climate plan was adopted by the city council in March 2023 as a roadmap for a climate-neutral and liveable city of Bonn. As a climate neutrality strategy, the climate plan defines goals and development paths for the period up to 2035 and contains a "Climate Protection Work Program 2023-2025" for the city administration, which will be implemented and continuously updated in the coming years.