The biggest driver of our ecological deficit is the fossil fuels we continue to extract from the ground in staggering quantities — oil, coal, gas. Burning them releases enormous amounts of CO₂ that forests and oceans simply can't absorb fast enough. Which is why switching to renewable energy sources matters more than ever.

The direction is right. The pace is not.

This shift is already well underway. In 2025, global renewable energy capacity was more than double what it was ten years earlier — and it's picking up speed, according to the latest report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Solar is the biggest driver, with capacity up more than tenfold since 2015. Wind power has tripled over the same period.

The result: roughly a third of the world's electricity now comes from renewable sources. And renewables have long since taken over when it comes to new capacity — according to IRENA, they accounted for more than 85 percent of all newly installed capacity in 2025. Perhaps most striking: the cost of solar power has dropped by around 90 percent over the past fifteen years, making it the cheapest way to generate electricity in many parts of the world.

And yet — it's not enough. Because electricity is only part of the picture. Heating, transportation, industry — the vast majority of global energy demand still runs on fossil fuels, which account for around 80 percent of it. Every day we stick with this energy mix deepens our ecological debt: more CO₂, more resource consumption.

Wind turbines and solar panels need to be built to last

One factor often goes unnoticed: it's not just about how many new installations go up or how cost-efficient they are. It's also about what they're made of. The materials have to withstand extreme conditions, perform reliably for decades — and be recoverable at the end of their life. Without that, the energy transition is only half a promise.

A wind turbine is no simple piece of equipment. Its components are exposed to storms, salt, heat and UV radiation. That demands coatings that hold up. The connection between an offshore wind farm and the mainland has to work reliably — even on the ocean floor.

Solar installations face their own challenges: heat, humidity and constant sun exposure. And in battery systems, one of the biggest hurdles is protecting cells from overheating. None of this would be possible without high-performance plastics.

Specialized coatings, for example, protect rotor blades from wear at the leading edge — one of the most common reasons turbines fail prematurely. Seals and damping materials keep connections tight and absorb vibration. Rugged housings and frames shield the technology inside. Unglamorous, perhaps — but without these solutions, the rise of renewables simply wouldn't be possible.

Materials matter

Keeping these materials in circulation reduces the need for fossil raw materials. That means designing the plastics used in wind and solar installations from the outset so that they can be efficiently recovered, processed and reused in equivalent applications without any loss of quality. Circular plastics reduce the demand for virgin raw materials — and make energy installations less dependent on finite resources.

Covestro develops exactly these kinds of materials: protective coatings for rotor blades, elastomers for underwater cables, framing materials for solar panels. The company is working to bring these plastics back into the loop at the end of their useful life.

Because renewable energy and circular material flows have to be thought of together. Both are needed to reduce resource consumption, curb CO₂ emissions — and push Earth Overshoot Day back where it belongs: later in the year.

The SDGs may face an uphill battle in times of war, confrontation, economic stagnation, and general uncertainty. Yet they remain both right and important. To give the "Agenda 2030" fresh momentum, the UN is placing particular emphasis on science. To this end, it launched the "International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development" initiative in 2024. Its core objectives are to show people the enormous benefits that research and innovation can deliver, to empower them to apply knowledge, and to restore the damaged trust in this sphere.

Two years after its launch, an initial stocktaking is now taking place – at a major conference in Paris attended by over 800 people from politics, science, civil society, and business. This collaborative approach is absolutely the right way forward, and the inclusion of industry is all the more so. For industry is the link between new findings, good ideas, ambitious plans, and their implementation. Turning knowledge into action requires the expertise and commitment of millions of companies around the globe.

The chemical industry offers a prime example of how this can succeed. On one hand, it is science-based and deeply rooted in the academic world –on the other, it is strongly application-oriented and experienced in scaling research successes from the laboratory through pilot and demonstration plants to large-scale industrial production.

From Lab to Market — Faster

However, technology transfer is progressing far too slowly in many places – in industrialized nations such as Germany, Japan, France and Italy, as well as in developing and emerging countries, particularly in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and South America. The reasons range from a weak start-up culture, lack of digitalization and inadequate patent protection to paralyzing bureaucracy. These framework conditions urgently need to change if the Science Decade is also to deliver concrete results that contribute to the SDGs.

The chemical industry, including the plastics sector, has enormous potential that can still be harnessed much more effectively. Many companies can and want to help achieve the sustainability goals. Covestro, for example, strongly aligns its strategy with sustainable solutions – meaning products that contain non-fossil raw materials or have a lower CO₂ footprint.

The range is diverse – from lightweight plastics to promote electromobility and insulation materials to increase the energy efficiency of buildings, to innovations for agriculture. Seed coatings, for example: these cause crop protection agents to adhere to the grain rather than dispersing into the air – which not only benefits the environment but also reduces harvest losses caused by pests and fungi.

Covestro primarily promotes innovations that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Overall, the company contributes to all 17 SDGs to varying degrees and in different areas – and not only through products, but also through technologies. In the production of the insulation component MDI, for instance, an innovative process (AdiP) is used that significantly reduces energy consumption and, with it, emissions: the CO₂ footprint per tonne of product is up to 35 percent lower.

Building Trust in Science

Industry as a hinge between research and application – in business and science alike, this is common practice. Yet innovation and progress stand on shaky ground. Not only because of the frequently inadequate framework conditions, but also because of the widespread public scepticism towards – and even rejection of – science, which is amplified by internet-driven disinformation, misinformation, and misleading propaganda.

If the world is to achieve a genuine boost in knowledge during the Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, then education and enlightenment are needed. Through facts, and above all through compelling examples of success: people must understand how science and business improve their lives – and what life would look like without them.

Through a home that thinks ahead, supports, and protects. One where the day begins before the alarm goes off. The temperature in the bathroom has already been optimally adjusted, the light in the bedroom is slowly being dimmed up, and the display in the kitchen shows energy consumption, the weather forecast, and upcoming appointments. While the coffee brews, a wearable discreetly measures pulse and sleep quality.

Smart Home – what still sounds slightly extravagant today is becoming the norm for more and more people around the globe. After all, the number of internet-based devices alone is set to double between 2024 and 2030 to around 40 billion.

A good, contemporary life for everyone – that is the central vision of the United Nations. An immense challenge, if only because the global population is steadily growing, as the World Population Day once again illustrates: from the current 8.3 billion to almost ten billion people by 2050. Yet the real dynamic behind these figures lies not in pure growth, but in the shift in purchasing power and lifestyle.

The affluent middle class continues to grow

Because more and more people, especially in the Global South, are making the leap into the middle class. By 2030, around 55 percent of the world's population could already belong to this group – almost two billion more people than at the beginning of this decade. People no longer just want to be provided for; they want to lead a modern life: connected, informed, comfortable, and sustainable. With corresponding expectations of their living environment.

But the apartment or home should not only be appealing, digital, and trendy – it should also help people stay active and independent for longer. Because the world is becoming not only wealthier on average, but also older: by 2050, one in six people could be at least 65 years old. This brings safety, health, activity, and self-sufficiency increasingly into focus.

Taken together, this creates a complex ecosystem: displays, sensors, and routers on one side; furniture, household appliances, wearables, and medical technology on the other – increasingly interwoven in everyday life. Yet alongside all the benefits, there are also challenges.

Because more comfort products and increasing connectivity also mean more emissions, more electronic waste, and greater resource demands. On average, electronic devices are used for only around three years today; at the same time, over 60 million tons of e-waste were generated worldwide in 2024. For the smart home, we therefore need not only superior technology, but also superior products: more durable, safer, more efficient, and better recyclable.

Materials Define Modern Living

Modern living thus becomes a question of materials. How many cycles the washing machine can withstand, how long the display stays clear, and the armchair remains elastic, whether the refrigerator uses energy efficiently, or whether the digital infrastructure works reliably – within one's own four walls, this is also a question of the right materials. They are often invisible, but crucial in bringing together comfort, safety, design, and sustainability.

This is where the plastics industry comes into play. In the electronics sector, for example, casings, displays, or touchscreens can be made particularly robust, lightweight, and design-friendly through the use of polycarbonates. Polyurethane foams contribute to comfort and energy efficiency – for instance in mattresses, furniture, upholstery, or insulation for air conditioning and refrigeration units.

The infrastructure behind the connected home also requires high-performance materials: fibre-optic networks, cables, connectors, housings, 5G base stations, and Wi-Fi components must function reliably and withstand stress over many years. Coatings, resins, and high-tech plastics can help make these systems more resilient and longer lasting.

World Population Day makes it clear: the question is no longer simply how many people live on this planet, but how they want to live – and with what materials we shape this transformation. Because modern living comfort is not created by the next app or the latest device. It is created where technology, design, and materials work together.

True strength, however, always has a mental dimension – it requires an intellectual foundation. It is therefore important and right that the Irish are placing emphasis on the values that define and attract people to Europe: democracy, freedom and the rule of law, tolerance and diversity.

But only those with a solid economic foundation can be truly strong. Europe's, however, is creaking worryingly.

Most dangerous in the long term: our capacity for innovation is declining. Research intensity, patent activity, venture capital financing, talent retention – at the critical levers, the gap with China and the United States is widening. No less alarming: investment activity is increasingly eroding, with more and more companies relocating their operations to other regions or being forced to shut them down in Europe.

A Strong Europe Needs a Strong Chemical Industry

This applies with particular force to chemicals – the mother of all industries. As Europe's second-largest sector, it supplies the basic materials for virtually every other industry – from automotive and pharmaceuticals to agriculture, energy and electronics. Without a strong chemical base, there is no strong industry, and no strong Europe.

Yet since 2022 alone, the chemical sector has already lost around ten percent of its production capacity and 20,000 jobs; nearly 90,000 more are at risk. At the same time, investment in new capacity has fallen by almost 90 percent.

Europe cannot function this way. This is how we become weaker, not stronger.

But there is a glimmer of hope. Ireland has set a clear additional priority for its presidency, alongside values and security: strengthening European competitiveness. For me, that means above all giving companies the regulatory environment without which they cannot operate and thrive – a demand that has been raised time and again, and which must now finally acted upon.

I will not list everything that needs to happen here. Ireland is addressing the right topics – from cutting red tape and ensuring energy security to expanding trade partnerships and deepening the single market.

What I want to emphasize above all is what must not happen. It cannot be that the EU, in a highly dynamic world, still shows so little flexibility. That it clings to principles established long ago under very different circumstances. This applies in particular to climate policy. Of course Europe must fight climate change and curb its consequences, that goes without saying. After all, our continent is warming faster than any other – the current heatwave is a stark reminder of what may still lie ahead.

Climate Policy Without Dogmatism

With the Emissions Trading System (ETS), Europe essentially has the right instrument for climate protection: companies that emit CO₂ must hold certificates to do so – those who emit less save money; those who emit more must buy additional allowances.

But the ETS must not be applied dogmatically. And yet that is precisely what threatens to happen. Continuously reducing the number of certificates, providing energy-intensive sectors like chemicals with ever fewer free allocations, and tightening the "benchmarks" – the conditions governing allocation: these plans strike at the very heart of the basic materials industry.

Because we simply lack what it takes to produce in a climate-neutral way: affordable renewable energy, functioning hydrogen infrastructure, markets for low-carbon products.

And one more thing: the free allocation of certificates is by no means a subsidy instrument – it is protection against carbon leakage. Because when production moves outside Europe, global CO₂ emissions do not fall. They rise. An ETS that tightens faster than industry can transform itself does not drive emissions out of Europe – it drives out investment. And that cannot be the goal.

As currently planned, the ETS could become the gravedigger of industry rather than the driver of the green transformation that Europe – rightly – pursues as a business and export model. Competitiveness – that agenda item could then be abandoned altogether.

Ní neart go cur le Chéile – unity is strength. That is true. But so is this: good intentions do not always make for good outcomes. The EU must not only focus on the right issues. It must have the courage to address them with realism and pragmatism.

Strength requires both.

Yet with every additional challenge, many people feel an increasing sense of powerlessness, growing doubt in their own effectiveness, and a self-perception as a mere cog in the machine. People are aware of the problems, feel the concerns – and yet fail to rouse themselves into action. All the more important, therefore, are impulses that pull us out of the role of spectator: community planting initiatives, clean-up days, open workshops, and initiatives such as the recently held worldwide Sustainable Energy Days, launched by the European Union.

Here, citizens, communities, organisations and companies have been encouraged to advance the energy transition locally – the overarching global mega-project to curb climate change and secure an increasingly volatile energy supply. From March to June, the aim was not only to explore clean energy solutions through grassroots actions – workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions, interactive experiences – but above all to put them into practice.

Energy Efficiency First

The spotlight usually falls on renewable energies, and there is indeed significant progress here – in 2025, global expansion reached an all-time high. Nevertheless, we should always keep in mind: The best energy is the energy we do not consume in the first place. The EU has accordingly enshrined "Energy Efficiency First" as a political principle. By 2030, the Union is to consume 11.7 percent less energy than projected in a 2020 baseline scenario without additional climate policy.

A key lever for greater efficiency is industry, which accounts for around one quarter of energy consumption in the EU. And it is precisely in this sector that the greatest efficiency gains can be realized in the short term. Studies by the EU Commission and the IEA show that those who utilize waste heat can achieve energy savings of up to 20 percent. And through new production processes, the energy requirements of individual operations can even be reduced by up to 60 percent.

But these are not mere theoretical models, this is lived reality. The step from wanting to doing – industry is taking it, and above all the particularly energy-intensive chemical sector. Covestro has now launched its largest energy efficiency project to date: At its Dormagen site in Germany, a compressor is being installed that heats waste steam and increases its pressure, allowing it to be optimally utilized in other production processes. 

Thanks to this single process innovation alone, the company will be able to reduce its total energy consumption in Germany by two percent per year going forward. In total, Covestro has already initiated more than one thousand such projects, all aligned with its strategic goal: to consume 20 percent less energy per tonne of product produced by 2030 compared to the beginning of this decade.

Hand in hand with this, the company is increasingly relying on renewable energies, which already supply several sites around the globe. Combined with savings, they are intended to help make ongoing operations climate-neutral by 2035. To this end, investments in the in the triple-digit million-euro range are planned by 2030.

Framework Conditions Hamper Implementation

But willing companies like Covestro must also be enabled to act. For them, efficiency and the transformation towards climate neutrality and a circular economy require a business case – in other words, economic attractiveness.

At present, however, many of the framework conditions, particularly in the EU, are structured in such a way that industry can barely advance its transformation. Among other things, there is insufficient renewable energy available at internationally competitive prices, and the EU is considering steps that would once again massively increase the CO₂ costs for companies.

Conclusion: We need inspiration through actions like the Sustainable Energy Days and awards like the European Sustainable Energy Awards, which were just presented in Brussels to companies, municipalities and individuals for outstanding projects. But we also need the right framework in which such projects can flourish. Then we can truly go from wanting to doing.

That is why countries around the globe are investing heavily in next-generation technologies. The United States is driving its industrial transformation through multi-billion-dollar programs, while China is strategically expanding its technological leadership. Europe, too, is focusing on research funding, more innovation-friendly framework conditions, and political initiatives such as the planned European Innovation Act, which aims to strengthen the links between fundamental research, industrial application, and investment.

Germany’s new High-Tech Agenda should also be seen in this context. Its objective is to focus more strategically on key future technologies such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics, and biotechnology. All of this is important and necessary. Yet what truly matters is not only generating new knowledge, but also how quickly discoveries can be translated into concrete applications, industrial processes, and market-ready solutions.

Research Must Deliver Impact

This is precisely where one of the greatest challenges for Germany and Europe lies. A persistent gap remains between excellent research and its industrial deployment. Many promising ideas never progress beyond the laboratory stage because reliable transfer structures, investment incentives, or industrial scaling opportunities needed for market maturity are lacking.

Accelerating innovation requires more than technology roadmaps alone. What is needed above all is a seamless innovation pathway, from basic research and pilot plants to large-scale industrial production. Only if science, industry, and policymakers work closely together in this way can innovations unfold their full economic and societal potential.

Taking a Broader View of Innovation

To build a truly future proof and globally competitive innovation ecosystem, a broad foundation and diverse drivers of innovation are essential. Innovation policy programs such as the German High-Tech Agenda therefore need to be conceived more comprehensively. Business should be more deeply involved – especially the chemical industry. Many key and cross-cutting sectors can only succeed with innovative materials and chemical processes. Whether circular economy, climate-neutral production, battery technologies, semiconductors, or renewable energy – chemistry is embedded in nearly every future-oriented industry and must always have a seat at the table.

Covestro provides a practical example of what this looks like. In electromobility, for instance, the company’s materials help make vehicles lighter, more efficient, more affordable, and easier to recycle – paving the way for mass-market adoption. Another field of the future is humanoid robotics, where artificial intelligence is enabling ever more capable systems. High-performance plastics, films, and coatings developed by Covestro bridge the gap between digital intelligence and physical action: they give robots structure and fine motor skills, reduce weight, and ensure the durability required for continuous industrial use.

What connects these examples is clear: material innovations are not niche topics but enabling technologies indispensable to nearly every industrial future area. Yet for these levers to achieve their full impact, more than isolated pioneers are needed. What is required is collective action across industries and sectors.

Innovation needs a holistic approach – this is also what Made for Germany stands for, a unique initiative bringing together around 130 companies from virtually every sector: from mechanical engineering and automotive manufacturers to energy providers, financial services companies, software developers, and chemical specialists. Covestro is also part of the initiative and has contributed concrete proposals, among other things, to strengthen technology and education.

Above all, the goal is to overcome silo thinking. Only then will good ideas move beyond theory and make a real world impact.

On Europe Day, May 9th, I ask myself: How much is this idea still worth, how enforceable is it still in a world changing so rapidly? Much has happened since my time as a student. The enlargement of the European Union brought more diversity, but its deepening also brought more complexity. And currently we are witnessing the shift from a multilateral to a multipolar order, in which international and supranational institutions and principles seem to be losing significance and influence.

But I remain convinced: cooperation and rules-based thinking and action are – and will ultimately remain – the key to success, to overcoming challenges and advancing humanity, in Europe and everywhere else in the world.

The question of capacity to act remains. In my current job as a "lobbyist" in the chemical industry, I often discuss the question: What can we control, what can we influence – and what do we have to let go? Applied to the EU and the European idea, this means: one must define one's sphere of influence and make decisions about the allocation of resources. In short, the EU should focus even more on its strengths.

Focus on strengths

And for me, that means above all strengthening the capacity for innovation. The EU and its 27 member states are full of ideas – with industries and companies boasting decades or centuries of experience, with start-ups driven by talent from renowned universities and practical expertise.

European countries still contributed to over 40 percent of global patent applications in 2024, with a clear focus on industrial sectors including transport, medical technology, biotechnology, and green technologies. This is clear evidence of the capacity to act. The chemical sector in particular has a high innovation potential.

In my day-to-day working environment, I see progress especially in contributions to creating a sustainable world – a top priority for Europe itself, where climate change is now making itself felt in full force. Companies like Covestro demonstrate how a climate-neutral and circular future can work: by designing products for circularity from the outset, manufacturing them with non-fossil raw materials, and ultimately recycling them using innovative technologies such as chemical recycling.

Europe has the ability to drive change, to produce new solutions for the continent and the world. And that is precisely what matters: showing the world that the EU is useful and delivers, that the European idea of diversity and cooperation is the very opposite of an outdated model.

But this also requires a deepening of cooperation. At the political level too, this means the institutional expansion of EU competences – for example in common industrial policy, energy and raw material security, the capital markets union, and a genuine European digital and innovation strategy.

Enhance cooperation

Industries and companies also need more cross-border networks and innovation projects, partly funded by the EU, that bring together companies and universities for a common purpose. In the chemical sector, we see this for example in European consortia for developing new battery materials, in joint pilot plants for hydrogen technologies, or in scaling innovative processes for climate-neutral basic chemicals.

But even beyond individual research projects, companies could cooperate more broadly – to invest, build up reserves, and jointly manage production, transport, and supply networks.

The European Union can help create the framework for this. One example: for the chemicals and plastics industry, there is currently too little certainty and too few incentives to invest in circular solutions. The proposals for how this can be changed are on the table. With the Circular Economy Act, the European Commission can still provide the decisive impetus this year – provided it does not limit the scope to critical (inorganic) raw materials.

Uphold the European project

Yet as important as the right political framework conditions are – what is decisive is that all actors are aware of the value of the European idea and actively contribute to upholding belief and trust in the European project. All member states joined the European Union with the promise of peace and prosperity, through the single market, based on social rights and environmental protection.

To fulfil these promises, it takes an optimistic will to make a difference, to make things work. It is about the ability to act and the awareness of that ability.

Europe does not run on autopilot. It is a choice – made anew every day. A choice for cooperation over isolation, for progress over stagnation, for courage over fatigue. If we make this choice, then the European idea will not merely stay alive. It will become the driving force of our future.

The region is warming twice as fast as the global average. In 2025, temperatures across at least 95 percent of Europe were far above the normal range, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns. And it simultaneously emphasizes what is now most urgent: a massive expansion of the circular economy.

Deliberations in Brussels

The warning comes at the right moment. A pivotal decision is currently being made within the EU: the College of Commissioners is deliberating on the direction of the Circular Economy Act – a landmark legislative initiative planned for this year that aims to accelerate Europe's transition to circularity.

That it must be advanced swiftly for environmental reasons alone is made abundantly clear by the WMO warning. But we should not promote the circular economy solely on environmental grounds. We must also recognize it as a strategic lever capable of strengthening Europe's resilience in the geopolitical arena – and at the same time as a major opportunity to drive the EU forward economically.

The circular economy holds enormous untapped economic potential – in Europe and worldwide. As the recently published Circularity Gap Report highlights, an estimated 25 trillion euros in value is lost globally every year due to the continued dominance of the linear economy – nearly one third of global GDP.

Untapped Potential

Germany, the EU member state with the highest material consumption, could also benefit enormously from a consistent and comprehensive introduction of the circular economy: the country’s gross value added from the circular economy could more than double from around 60 billion euros today to up to 125 billion euros by 2045. This is the finding of a comprehensive study by the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and Boston Consulting Group.

Covestro, with its expertise in materials science, contributed to the study. Among other things, we are working on innovative technologies to enable the large-scale recycling of plastics – for example, polyurethane foam used in mattresses, of which an estimated 40 million are discarded and sent to landfill across Europe every year.

Chemical recycling can change this. Our "Evocycle^® CQ mattress" process makes it possible to break down the foam into its two core components and reuse them at high quality to produce new polyurethane.

This is part of a holistic approach in which we look not only at recovering products at the end of their life, but also at the very beginning of their creation – with design that incorporates circularity from the outset, and with renewable raw materials such as plant-based biomass instead of crude oil.

Priorities for Europe

Especially when it comes to raw materials, it becomes clear that the circular economy not only boosts economic strength but also increases resilience. Those who use materials for longer, more efficiently, and in closed loops reduce dependencies on raw material markets, supply chain risks, and price fluctuations. This also reinforces key areas such as energy and defense – two of the EU's most exposed flanks.

In Germany alone, consistent recycling and remanufacturing could reduce import dependency for rare earths by 20 percent and for strategic battery materials by 10 percent by 2045.

This is another reason why we should make 2026 the year of the circular economy and unlock its full potential. As the Commission deliberates on the Circular Economy Act, it should, in my view, be guided by three priorities.

First, create an efficient European market for secondary raw materials with as little administrative burden as possible. Second, set incentives to drive greater demand for and use of alternative raw materials, including recyclates – for example through tax benefits and greater consideration in public procurement. And third, improve investment security and thereby lay the foundation for technological expansion in the circular economy by ensuring that chemical recycling, in particular, is widely recognized in regulation.

Those who implement the circular economy consistently will gain ecologically, economically, and geopolitically. The Circular Economy Act offers the opportunity to turn this triple win into reality – and in doing so, to strengthen the long-term viability of both Europe and Germany.

Having drinking water of good quality, available at any time, is a luxury we should be conscious of in a country like Germany. In many regions of the world, the situation looks very different: one in four people has no access to safely managed drinking water.

At the same time, water is becoming scarcer worldwide. 3.6 billion people – nearly half the world's population – experience at least one month of water scarcity every year. A challenge that increasingly affects the Global North as well.

The European Union has long been focused on both aspects – quality and availability. The Water Framework Directive, in place since 2000, states: “Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such.”

I am glad that this essential issue for humanity has been framed so clearly. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the goals cannot be achieved overnight. The latest revision of the EU directive, entering into force on May 10, aims for a "good status" for water bodies in the Union by 2039.

What I find particularly encouraging is that the political will remains strong. The European Commission is now also focusing on water resilience – protecting the water cycle, ensuring access to clean and affordable water, and building a "water-smart" economy.

The strategy extends to 2050, but the measures needed to implement it must begin now. Because alongside high quality, the adequate availability of water is crucial for life, the economy, and future prosperity – in Europe too.

The Chemical Industry: Part of the Problem and Part of the Solution

The chemical industry, where I work, plays a central role in this: it is both part of the problem and part of the solution. The problem is that, despite continuous improvements, its products still end up in waterways like the Rhine – as trace substances from households, as carelessly discarded waste, and, even with modern wastewater treatment technology, in some cases also from various industrial processes.

Many of my colleagues are working intensively to reduce these inputs: through better processes, cleaner production steps, and new treatment technologies. The industry increasingly relies on activated carbon filters, ion exchangers, and membrane bioreactors that remove pollutants from wastewater before it reaches rivers, lakes, or groundwater.

Through its products, the chemical industry also contributes to water protection. It provides materials for nanofilters, for example, that retain even the smallest pollutants and micro-contaminants – an important component of modern water treatment. Basic chemicals such as hydrochloric acid also play an important role in drinking water treatment. In this way, the sector contributes essential components to modern water purification.

At the same time, the industry is addressing water scarcity by recycling wastewater from production processes. Covestro, for example, uses an innovative technology it co-developed to recover water and salt, which can then be employed to produce the important basic chemical chlorine. Household and other wastewater can also be reused in production, thereby contributing to further savings.

To effectively protect our water bodies, industry, authorities, and policymakers need above all one thing: a shared understanding of which substances occur where and what effects they have. The new EU list of environmental quality standards, covering more than 70 regulated substances, illustrates how complex this task is.

Reliable data, uniform measurement methods, and a clear picture of interconnections are essential for effective action. When all stakeholders share their relevant information – from monitoring data and emission inventories to environmental trends – resources can be deployed where they deliver the greatest benefit.

Enabling Smart Regulation Through Dialogue

Good regulation therefore does not mean regulating "more", but regulating "smarter" – and doing so through dialogue. Environmental, chemical, waste, and climate requirements must be considered together so that measures complement rather than contradict each other, and so that investments remain predictable and manageable.

An important step in this direction is the "Structured Water Dialogues" that the EU intends to launch this year. They are designed to create common standards and base decisions on a solid, shared knowledge base. Industry is not a bystander in this process, but a co-creator – contributing data, technical expertise, and a willingness to invest when the environmental benefit is clear.

Clean water from the tap is no miracle. It is the result of collective effort. And the path to water resilience is the same: it is built through genuine partnerships – between policymakers who set ambitious but realistic goals, authorities who apply them proportionately, and an industry that invests in cleaner processes and better technologies. Because its own future also depends on the health of the water systems in which it operates.

And one of our most important resources becomes paralyzed: creativity. Without it, innovation and progress wither, our ability to resolve conflicts deteriorates, and ultimately value creation and prosperity fall by the wayside. This is a connection worth highlighting on the occasion of World Creativity and Innovation Day.

Worry and stress narrow our perspective. The brain switches from wide-angle to tunnel vision. Overload leaves little room for reflection and unconventional thinking. Fear encourages conformity – in uncertain times, no one wants to say or do the wrong thing.

The world needs creative solutions

But when we instinctively fall back on familiar patterns in complex situations, we risk overlooking opportunities. Especially now, it is crucial to consciously create spaces for new ideas – even when everyday pressures work against it. In this difficult world full of challenges, we need new solutions, not old answers.

This applies particularly to industry and sectors such as chemicals, on whose innovative strength so much depends: ensuring that modern life functions, and enabling major areas to become fit for the future – from energy and mobility to food and healthcare. At the same time, the chemical industry must continually reinvent itself: to regain its traditional strengths and keep pace with a changing world and the customer needs of tomorrow.

The thousands of employees in companies therefore urgently need an environment that unleashes creativity rather than restricting it. This includes fostering psychological safety: strengthening a culture in which mistakes are accepted and ideas can be voiced openly – even when they are still unfinished or later turn out not to be viable. A corporate health management system with a wide range of offerings can also support positive mental well-being.

And – equally important: inventiveness and creative energy draw heavily on collaboration, inclusion and a sense of belonging. In many companies, awareness is growing of how essential cross-functional cooperation has become. Covestro is one such example – embracing this approach through interdisciplinary teams and external partnerships with universities and start-ups.

Creativity – an investment in the future

Companies that invest in creative cultures today secure their future viability. Creativity emerges where curiosity meets knowledge and where people are willing to think in new directions. Innovation arises where these ideas become tangible through collaboration and consistent research.

New technologies such as artificial intelligence can support and accelerate creative processes – but they cannot replace the human ability to think against the grain, ask uncomfortable questions and make unusual connections.

Creativity is deeply rooted in us as human beings. It shows itself in the courage to voice an unfinished idea, and it begins with the willingness to build on a colleague’s thought. For in times of upheaval, it is creative strength that determines who merely copes with change – and who actively shapes it.

This is true especially for industry, where the first machine‑like living beings are now being deployed. According to a recent study, up to 60 percent of manual tasks in areas such as production and logistics can, in principle, be automated. By 2030, several million humanoids could be installed.

The Hannover Messe makes clear to me why this is happening: the dynamic development is driven by the enormous innovative power of thousands of large and small companies. For example, on the opening day of the trade show, industrial supplier Schaeffler won the prestigious Hermes Award for an actuator platform – essentially the “muscles” in the joints of androids, enabling ever more precise fine motor skills.

Material Innovations for Technological Leaps

Automation and digitalization are the major technological drivers of industry, accompanied by the shift to electric energy. But we must also remember: all these robots, high‑tech computers, solar modules, wind turbines, and countless other forward‑looking applications always require equally innovative materials.

It is worth looking at a field that accelerates technological development significantly behind the scenes: lightweight construction. A key cross‑sectional technology that has long been underestimated. In Germany for example, the host country of the Hannover Messe, every second economic sector is connected to it. Lightweight construction directly contributes nearly four percent to Germany’s economic output and accounts for almost three percent of jobs.

It is therefore understandable that the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs hosts the Lightweighting Summit at the fair every year. The motto of this year’s event, where I had the honor of giving the keynote: “Advantage Through Efficiency.” A topic that is becoming increasingly important for industry in times of rising competition and cost pressure.

Lightweight Construction with High‑Quality Plastics

In manufacturing, material costs are known to account for more than half of total costs. Increasing material productivity – meaning the ratio of value creation to material input – is essential to remain competitive globally. Resource‑efficient technologies such as lightweight construction are the key to it.

And high‑quality plastics are the ideal material for lightweight construction. Here, too, an epochal change is underway. AI and quantum computing are opening entirely new dimensions in development and production.

But even today, plastics impress with an unparalleled combination of excellent properties. They have low density while offering high strength. This makes it possible to manufacture components significantly lighter than, for example, metal. At the same time, plastics allow for low‑energy and cost‑efficient manufacturing processes.

However, economic viability is not measured solely by cost and material use, but also by functionality. And plastics excel here as well. Their high design freedom allows numerous features to be integrated – such as electronic elements like LEDs, sensors, or conductive tracks. These are also important material properties that drive lightweight construction forward.

Advantages for Efficiency and Resilience

But we cannot think about efficiency without considering a complementary economic core factor: resilience. Especially in times of volatile energy prices, lower energy demand becomes a strategic advantage – and those who rely on lightweight construction reduce it significantly: in production, in transport, and in operation.

At the same time, increasingly vulnerable supply chains benefit. Lighter components ease transport capacities, increase payload, and enable faster shifts between transport modes in times of crisis – from sea to air, from road to rail.

And finally, lightweight construction reduces not only weight but also complexity: function‑integrated components and modular structures simplify assembly and automation, reduce error rates, and make production systems more robust overall.

E‑Cars Benefit from Lower Weight

In light of this duality of resilience and efficiency, lightweight construction with high‑quality plastics is exactly the right approach to drive the transformation of key sectors. The strength of these advantages becomes especially clear in the mobility transition and the megatrend toward electric propulsion.

Just one hundred kilograms less on the scale reduces electricity consumption by an average of two to four percent. This extends the range without increasing battery size. Lightweight plastics such as polycarbonate reduce the high battery weight, protect the sensitive cells, and make vehicles more aerodynamic overall.

Electric cars have already arrived in everyday life, and humanoid robots will increasingly shape it. Without breakthroughs in materials science, without lightweight construction, and without the quiet performance of modern plastics, such technological leaps would be unthinkable. If we want to shape the future, this is exactly where we must begin – with the materials that make progress possible in the first place.

It’s a waste of value and resources – something that becomes even more apparent to me on the occasion of the International Day of Zero Waste. According to UN estimates, around 19 percent of all food is affected, while another 14 percent is lost after harvest. At the same time, the total amount of waste worldwide is expected to increase by another half by the middle of the century. These are conditions we as a society can afford less and less. Food waste in particular is a nail in the coffin of global food security. And that security becomes increasingly precarious – especially this year.

In 2026, food systems are increasingly suffering from climate chain reactions. A particularly strong El Niño is expected – the global weather phenomenon that warms the Pacific and disrupts the jet stream, the fast-moving air current that circles the Earth. The result: droughts and floods in the world's most important growing regions. Ocean temperatures have also been rising dangerously—twice as fast as 20 years ago—with devastating consequences for fish stocks.

2026 Threatens a Particularly Critical Food Situation

What makes 2026 particularly critical for the global food situation is also the war in the Persian Gulf. If ammonia and urea can no longer pass through the Strait of Hormuz, fertilizer could become scarce – precisely when many farmers need it most. If they miss the narrow spring window, yield losses for this year and the next are inevitable.

Geopolitical shocks and climate turbulence make one thing abundantly clear to me: zero food waste is anything but a niche topic. It is an ambitious goal that must be tackled quickly, seriously, and systematically – day by day. I see three main levers that can help secure food for the world's growing population – by 2050 alone, we are expected to have 1.5 billion more people.

First: Save Calories
When fertilizer is scarce and timing is critical, efficiency is everything. Micro- and precision irrigation, for example, using dense networks of pipes and valves delivers "more yield per drop" and reduces harvest losses. Simple solar dryers – also made with high-quality plastics – help secure harvests and farmers' incomes in regions with high temperatures and frequent power outages.

Second: Save Kilos
In an El Niño year, shelf life matters. Highly efficient cold chains keep goods fresh – from field to kitchen, even during heat peaks and transport delays. Effective packaging is equally important. State-of-the-art, recyclable plastic films and coatings regulate oxygen supply and moisture, keeping food fresh for longer.

We must remember: producing the food itself usually requires far more resources than producing its packaging. If good, circular packaging helps prevent food from spoiling, the overall ecological balance is ultimately more positive.

On the other hand, when hygiene, demand, and logistics align, the unpackaged concept also works well. And in many households, precisely portioned quantities can reduce waste. What matters most is thinking from the end: generating as little waste as possible.

Circular Economy Contributes to Food Security

Which brings me to my third point: Closing the Loop
Food waste – which ideally should not be generated in the first place – should not end up in landfills. Instead, it should serve as valuable biomass to produce useful products. And packaging must be biocompostable or consistently recycled.

This requires diverse options and technologically new approaches, such as chemical recycling of plastics. We also need incentives, standardization, and transparency. Deposit systems, for example, return large quantities of PET bottles and enable bottle-to-bottle cycles. Digital labeling increases sorting accuracy and makes deposit and take-back systems scalable. And digital product passports make material flows visible and measurable.

We have the concepts, materials, and engineering expertise. But we are not applying them consistently enough – even as the need for action becomes ever more urgent. Packaging without a take-back route is not an embarrassment but negligence. Products without waste utilization in the business model are not an oversight but a risk.

Of course, it will be laborious and more expensive. But inaction costs more – ultimately even human lives. There are many ways to put a stop to food loss and waste. Let's get to it: pragmatically, science-based, collaboratively. From my kitchen to the supply chain.

In our world of upheaval – marked by instability, power projection, and the erosion of norms – we are witnessing the emergence of new guiding logics. I observe foreign and security policy becoming increasingly geoeconomic in nature, while geopolitics and security, in turn, gain growing importance in the business sphere.

Politics becomes geoeconomic – business becomes geopolitical

Politically, we see a shifting perspective on globalization and economic integration: they are now increasingly viewed as potential risks to independence and national security. Infrastructure and supply chains are being used as instruments of geostrategic influence, as illustrated by the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment or the EU’s Global Gateway initiative – both responses to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Trade and industrial policy increasingly serve as extensions of security policy by other means. Protectionism – through sanctions, export controls, and investment screening – has become the new normal.

And what about business? In an era in which tariffs and financial instruments are turning into geoeconomic weapons, a new mindset is taking hold. For me, too, this has meant rethinking long familiar assumptions. During the long era of globalization, with its transnational markets and institutions, corporate action operated under the primacy of efficiency. Now, resilience is emerging as an additional strategic benchmark.

A new paradigm for corporate action

Security is becoming an ever greater cost and steering factor in global value chains. Resilience, security, autonomy: under this banner, companies must increasingly reconfigure their procurement and sales markets – through multisourcing, regionalization, and re- , near- , or friendshoring. These principles must also guide production decisions: maintaining redundant structures, distributing sites across multiple countries, and broadening and decarbonizing the energy and feedstock base.

And that is not all. Cross cutting risks are increasingly spilling over into the corporate world and becoming more tangible at the political and societal levels. Hybrid threats such as cyber attacks, sabotage, and disinformation; environmental risks such as the planetary triple crisis of climate change, resource depletion, and pollution; and the volatility of global financial and currency markets – all of these factors make the economy systemically more vulnerable and require strategic responses.

Internally, the key priority is to firmly anchor resilience as a board level and governance issue. Externally, the importance of the economy – and particularly the basic materials industries – for the security and resilience of countries and alliances such as the European Union cannot be overstated.

Chemicals as a system critical sector

The chemical sector forms the foundation of nearly every value chain and plays an essential role in sectors such as energy, mobility, healthcare, infrastructure, and defense. It is also a driving force for climate neutrality and the circular economy. After all, the green transformation itself contributes to resilience, security, and autonomy – something we must not lose sight of amid the many acute global crises.

A strong industrial base – capable of future oriented innovation and driving domestic investment – must remain a central pillar in safeguarding and expanding national capacity to act. At the same time, I caution against excessive renationalization of economic activity. Innovation, investment, and value creation thrive only through openness, exchange, and cooperation.

Accordingly, the international system must evolve along two tracks: by forging new rule based alliances with those who share similar interests and perspectives, and by engaging confidently with systemic rivals, while keeping doors open. What we need are fair, resilient markets with clear rules – not arbitrary walls.

But the intellectual universe of the now very elderly scholar feels as if it belongs to another era. Our present is shaped by polarization, isolation, and self interest. Advocates of a “rules based order,” the foundation of the long period of globalization’s successes, are struggling. Value driven politics appears to many as little more than pleasant sounding rhetoric.

Another social theorist is enjoying a renaissance – Niccolò Machiavelli, the apologist of ruthless power politics. States, institutions, and social groups encounter one another with skepticism and rejection; confidence in the competence and problem solving ability of the other side is fading.

The result: irritation, uncertainty, a loss of trust. According to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, released as always ahead of the World Economic Forum, an “insular mindset driven by grievance and pessimism,” now prevails.

Reviving Dialogic Communication

I am back in Davos this year, and the motto “A Spirit of Dialogue” resonates with me as a communicator. I am convinced that only through exchange and cooperation can the world ultimately move forward – despite all power driven egoism. It is overflowing with shared challenges that affect all eight billion people worldwide in one way or another and that require collective action – alongside the acute crises, particularly the threats to the Earth system.

To foster rapprochement and regain trust, we must return to thinkers like Habermas and strengthen dialogic communication. Building bridges through genuine exchange at eye level instead of merely presenting entrenched positions.

Listening instead of broadcasting, connecting instead of dividing. And jointly arriving at new insights and solutions – an approach that works well in business. At Covestro, we see that dialogic and partnership based collaboration makes innovation possible in the first place, enabling us to overcome problems and advance society – for example in the major project of the circular economy, the key to overcoming the global systemic crisis of climate change, species extinction, resource depletion, and environmental pollution.

If the WEF succeeds in conveying these insights more strongly, much would be gained. If the “Spirit of Dialogue” is rekindled, it could give new momentum to the many who are solution oriented – and counter the prevailing pessimism. But to achieve this, the summit – like other global forums – must also transform itself: initiating the shift from an elite conversation to a multilateral discourse.

From Elite Panels to Multilateral Discourse

A growing gap is emerging here. What decision makers and opinion leaders think and want often aligns only loosely with the views of the broader public – the “streets versus elites” narrative. This becomes evident, for example, in attitudes toward artificial intelligence, as PR consultancy FGS Global recently found: while managers mostly expect efficiency gains, the general population often fears job losses and higher energy costs.

What is needed are mediators between different worlds. This is where communication professionals come into play. They are increasingly becoming architects of trust, creating shared spaces for action. In our fragmented world, dialogic communication is becoming a strategic core competence. It must be fostered and disseminated. Habermas and similar thinkers are more relevant than ever.

What nevertheless gives me hope are two things. First, a growing political momentum in Berlin and Brussels. And second, the industry’s traditional strength – its innovative power – which must be directed even more strongly toward the big trends of sustainability and resilience. Because the chemical industry not only keeps the entire economy running. It can also help ensure that Germany and Europe remain autonomous in the geopolitical power struggle and continue the green transformation.

Both the federal government and the European Commission understand the importance and the difficult situation of our industry. And they are taking action. After Berlin launched a “Chemistry Agenda” late last year – aimed at reaching decisions by spring through deeper dialogue between industry and policymakers – the EU is now also moving: In Geleen in the Netherlands, the “Critical Chemicals Alliance” is being established – another roundtable to strengthen the sector, and one that is starting only half a year after being announced in Brussels.

Pressure from All Sides

This initiative, like the various other measures to improve the framework conditions, cannot come soon enough. Its agenda shows how much pressure the chemical industry faces from all directions: weak demand, growing international competition – some of it engaging in dumping – energy, raw materials, and labor that are too expensive, and not least a CO₂ pricing regime that is not competitive. More and more plants are being forced to shut down – disastrous not only for competitiveness and value creation, but also for Europe’s resilience.

The Alliance’s agenda also addresses issues that are less well known: European chemical plants are extremely old by international standards. The average age is 47 years, compared with under 30 in the U.S., less than 20 in the Middle East, and just around ten years in China.

These are structural deficits that must now be tackled with urgency. And like the federal government, the Commission also wants to achieve initial results quickly – many still in the first half of the year. Crucial here is close coordination between the EU level dialogue and the efforts within member states. Much more than before, these must complement and reinforce each other. And EU countries must implement the recommendations as quickly as possible and adjust their own mechanisms where necessary.

But despite all the optimism, old fears creep in. That Brussels may take the analytical process too far as it develops new assessment tools. And that it may slip even deeper into a mode of detailed central planning. If the goal becomes identifying which specific raw materials or which specific sites are “critical,” this might cause the regulatory and documentation jungle – finally beginning to clear – to grow back again. And it could ultimately divide our industry.

More Room to Maneuver

What the chemical industry needs – beyond all the necessary regulatory details – is room to maneuver. Only with less ballast can we accelerate and unleash our full innovative power. Innovation is Europe’s sharpest weapon in global competition. The federal government rightly wants to make Germany the world’s most innovative location for chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.

And our industry is pushing hard in that direction. Last year, despite the strained economic situation, research investments rose to a record €16.5 billion. Now it is crucial to channel these funds wisely.

Toward innovations in sustainability, which is increasingly becoming an economic necessity. Germany and Europe still have the chance to develop a credible and economically viable leadership role here. Security and autonomy form the second major future field that requires innovative solutions from the chemical industry. And here, too, our sector has much to offer – supported by the growing use of digital tools such as AI and quantum computing, which can catapult research and development into entirely new dimensions.

Germany and Europe, as knowledge-based economies, have enormous opportunities right now. But this requires freedom and openness – the opposite of planned economy constraints. In Germany, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs is advocating for more consistent regulatory policy. I hope this approach prevails in Brussels as well. And if our industry simultaneously recalibrates itself, then perhaps in the near future we will indeed be able to say: danger averted.

Because as fragmented and chaotic as geopolitics appears, the problems requiring joint solutions are deeply interconnected. Two comprehensive new studies published ahead of the conference in Kenya underscore this. They shook me – both negatively and positively.

First, the alarm signal. What the OECD states in its Environmental Outlook to 2050 should give us all pause – because it concerns us all, sooner or later: Climate change, species extinction, resource depletion, and environmental pollution are increasingly converging into a systemic “triple crisis” of planetary scale.

360-Degree View Instead of Silo Thinking

This connection must be vied and addressed much more holistically; humanity simply cannot afford silo thinking anymore. If we continue as we do today, experts warn that by mid-century we will see severe deterioration in all dimensions.

But now to the more encouraging side. If governments and businesses decisively invest in protecting climate and nature, millions of people could be lifted out of poverty and spared disease and premature death. Moreover, immense economic benefits beckon: By 2070, global economic output could be at least $20 trillion higher per year than under business as usual, according to the Global Environment Outlook recently presented by UNEP.

Non-Action Is Not an Option

Of course, investments are high – averaging around $8 trillion annually until 2050 for net-zero emissions as well as biodiversity protection and restoration. However, the costs of inaction would be significantly higher. Just consider what increasingly extreme weather events mean financially. That should resonate even with those skeptical of “green” topics.

I can only echo UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen’s message: “Either humanity continues toward a future ravaged by climate change, vanishing nature, degraded soils, and polluted air. Or it changes course and secures a healthy planet, healthy people, and healthy economies. That’s not really a choice.”

A sustainable world as a task, an opportunity, and an economic imperative – this perfectly matches my mindset. Despite all justified concerns, we must not see the future only in dark tones. And certainly not dismiss sustainability efforts as naïve or burdensome. Quite the opposite: If – simply put – more and more join in, the world can become livable again: cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable, smarter and more participatory. And also wealthier.

Harnessing High-Tech Materials

Ideas and plans abound. Knowledge, tools, and technologies exist, as the studies emphasize. This motivates me even more to advance the development of future-oriented materials such as high-tech plastics. They are essential to progress in virtually all areas of action.

Take the energy sector, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases fueling climate change: Plastics help transition to clean sources like wind and solar power. Or agriculture, the biggest driver of ecosystem loss. Plastics can enable more efficient, eco-friendly farming methods, for example through biodegradable seed coatings.

Circular Economy as a Comprehensive Concept

But, as mentioned, it’s not (only) about isolated solutions. It’s about conceptually linking climate, nature, and environmental protection more effectively. And there is a key strategy for this: the circular economy. A societal program that can unite conscious consumption, environmentally compatible production methods, and sustainable growth.

Applied consistently, it tackles the intertwined causes of the “triple crisis”: Climate- and health-damaging emissions will decline, we will need fewer resources, ecosystems and species will be preserved, and our waste volume will shrink.

This naturally includes ensuring that less plastic waste ends up in our environment. I very much hope we finally achieve a sensible global agreement on this – and that all actors prove the term “international community” does not become meaningless.

World Science Day for Peace and Development, celebrated every November, reminds us how essential scientific thinking is for progress and social cohesion. Without the willingness to examine, develop, and apply knowledge, not only research but society itself stagnates.

Facts Fuel Progress

Science is the foundation of every modern knowledge-based society. It helps us understand complex challenges and develop solutions – from the energy transition and new materials to global food security. But in an era where disinformation and simplistic narratives gain traction and research institutions face mounting pressure, science needs strong advocates.

For business – and especially for the chemical industry – science is not an abstract ideal but the basis for innovation, value creation, and sustainable growth. Covestro, for example, conducts global research on climate-neutral production, circular economy, and materials that improve life in countless ways. Without scientific excellence, there would not be any new technologies, no reliable data – and certainly no sustainable answers to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

When trust in scientific principles erodes, the willingness to innovate suffers. Progress becomes a matter of chance. That’s why Covestro relies on fact-based decisions – in the lab, in production, and in public dialogue. Only by believing in the power of knowledge can we shape the future. Science is not just a tool for progress; it is an expression of responsibility, for people, markets, and for our planet.

Education: The Key to the Future

Science thrives not only on research but on people who understand and carry it forward. Education is the key to embedding scientific thinking broadly in society. Only those who grasp the mechanisms of research, data, and technology can question critically and help shape the future.

Especially in the digital age, this is more important than ever. Artificial intelligence can accelerate scientific processes, connect insights, and spark new ideas. But it may also become a source of manipulation and disinformation. Media literacy, critical thinking, and trust in scientific methods are therefore indispensable to distinguish truth from deception.

Covestro is committed to promoting STEM education and exchange in schools, universities, and initiatives such as the European Youth Parliament. Science is not an end in itself – it is a shared responsibility, a bridge between people, markets, and opportunities. It creates peace, progress, and perspectives, linking facts with responsibility and ideas with impact.

World Science Day reminds us: Every innovation begins with a question – and with the courage to ask it.

Yet collective action is more urgent than ever, as recent data shows. 2024 not only set a new record for energy-related CO₂ emissions but was also the hottest year since records began. According to the UN Environment Programme, the world is currently on track for a temperature rise of 2.3°C by 2100 in the best-case scenario. That’s far better than the 3.7–4.8°C increase feared a decade ago when the Paris Agreement was signed. But limiting warming to 1.5°C – the goal once pursued with great enthusiasm – is slipping further out of reach and, according to the International Energy Agency, would now require an extraordinary global effort.

Leveraging a Key Tool for Climate Neutrality

One reason for this is that technological options to curb greenhouse gas emissions remain underutilized – especially in one area close to my heart: energy efficiency. Despite the popularity of renewable energy, efficiency still lives in the shadows. Yet improving efficiency is one of the most powerful levers for achieving climate neutrality in the energy sector, which is the largest source of emissions. In short: we must not only make energy greener, we must also use less of it. That’s the message I want to highlight at COP30.

The world is barely moving on energy efficiency. The goal set two years ago at the Dubai Climate Conference – to double the annual efficiency improvement rate to 4% by 2030 – is far off. In 2023 and 2024, the rate was just 1%, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. This means we need even greater efforts and must raise the rate to at least 5% to stay on track.

Driving E-Mobility and Building Insulation

The good news: it’s doable. Experts have long known what needs to be done and where – particularly in construction and transportation, which, alongside energy, are major contributors to CO₂ emissions and global warming. Key measures include switching to electric mobility and optimizing building energy performance. The concepts and technologies are already available.

This is where the chemical industry comes in. It supports climate-friendly electric vehicles by providing lightweight plastics that reduce battery weight and increase range. It also helps make buildings more energy-efficient through high-performance insulation that saves heating and cooling energy. Polyurethane foam is especially effective, offering the best insulation compared to conventional materials.

Of course, the chemical industry itself – a major energy consumer – must also improve efficiency. In Germany, for instance, the sector halved its specific energy use between 1990 and 2022, mainly by adopting combined heat and power systems. But finding new savings is becoming harder.

Covestro Targets 20% Efficiency Gain

That’s why companies like Covestro are developing new processes. This year, we upgraded a production facility in Dormagen, cutting energy use by up to 80% compared to conventional methods. Overall, our goal is to improve energy efficiency – measured as total energy per ton of production – by 20% by 2030 compared to 2020.

The takeaway: Technology can do a lot to make the world more sustainable, and industry can provide crucial momentum. But technology and science alone aren’t enough, of course. Without political will and global cooperation, climate action will stall. Still, it’s reassuring to know that mutirão – the collective effort – rests on a solid high-tech foundation.

The EYP mirrors structures and processes of a real parliament – with specialized committees, debates, and a final plenary session where resolutions are adopted. Topics range from the consequences of climate change to minority rights and migration. This cross-border exchange nurtures a deep understanding of democratic processes and the power of collaboration.

But can we continue to navigate complex issues and find constructive solutions together in the future? The rapid spread of disinformation and populist narratives puts that ability to the test. When falsehoods thrive, trust in scientific facts erodes - and when science is disregarded, rational, consensus-based decision-making falters. The result: polarization, frustration, and stagnation.

Dangers for politics and the economy

How can we safeguard the foundation of our knowledge society? Covestro, an innovation-driven company committed to facts, education, and science - joined the debate in Málaga to explore this question with the young delegates. Disinformation, manipulation, and societal division are not only political threats - but they are also immense economic risks.

Companies like Covestro and industries like the chemical sector depend on the acceptance of science-based solutions – for developing sustainable materials, achieving climate-neutral production, or advancing the circular economy. When trust in science fades, innovation slows down or even stalls.

Investments become riskier, and essential technologies such as chemical recycling face unnecessary resistance fueled by misinformation. At worst, misleading narratives can harm a company’s reputation and its very license to operate.

AI – Catalyst and Challenge

Artificial intelligence adds another layer to the discussion. It can accelerate progress – or amplify disinformation. The EYP participants explored this ambivalence in lively debate.

On one side, AI offers powerful advantages in science and industry: it transforms research, optimizes complex production processes, and accelerates the development of sustainable materials. For Covestro, AI is an essential tool to drive innovation and achieve ambitious sustainability goals.

On the flip side, AI also enables the large-scale creation of deepfakes – realistic falsehoods that blur the line between fact and fiction. This makes it ever more difficult, even for informed citizens, to distinguish truth from manipulation.

Building Media and Digital Literacy

The young delegates agreed: presenting facts alone is no longer enough. We must strengthen media and digital literacy – especially among young people – so that they can recognize manipulation, understand digital dynamics, and separate truth from falsehood.

The experience in Málaga demonstrated the determination of Europe’s youth to stand up for democracy, tolerance, and constructive dialogue. Their critical thinking and solution-oriented spirit are a beacon of hope. At Covestro, we see the European Youth Parliament as a strategic investment in preserving and promoting the future of the society we value – and in the spirit of cooperation, without which there is no progress.

And right now is the perfect opportunity to discuss these issues intensively: During “Urban October”, UN-Habitat, the United Nations program for human settlements, invites us to develop new perspectives on urban life and examine both the challenges and opportunities of urbanization.

Cities in Transition

Why is this relevant? More than half of the world's population lives in cities. And by 2050, according to the UN, it will be nearly 70 percent – that's about 2.4 billion more people than today. To handle this growth, approximately 60 percent of urban infrastructure still needs to be built: housing, transportation networks, energy systems, water pipes. But the city of the future needs to be not only functional, but also sustainable, resilient, and livable.

This isn't just about construction measures – social, ecological, and technological aspects must also be considered. How do we succeed in making cities inclusive? How can they respond to climate change, use resources efficiently, and simultaneously offer quality of life?

New Concepts for Urban Spaces

Future-oriented urban development means responsibly managing limited resources, whether space, energy, or materials. This approach leads to exciting concepts that focus on ecological construction methods and intelligent use of existing structures.

For example, there are pilot projects where abandoned industrial buildings and construction ruins are given new life. By not tearing them down but continuing to use the energy already invested in the original construction, the goal is to create the most positive energy balance possible. Such projects show how architecture and sustainability can go hand in hand and how livable spaces can emerge from seemingly unattractive locations.

Materials for the Future

The right materials are always crucial. Wood, for example, is considered a sustainable building material with many advantages: It creates a pleasant indoor climate, is recyclable, and enables short construction times. Plastics also play an important role, often less visible but all the more effective. They are lightweight, weather-resistant, and versatile. In the city of the future, they find applications in facades, insulation, smart sensors, infrastructure components like water and energy systems, or in new mobility concepts.

Intelligent urban construction will rely on hybrid solutions: materials like wood, concrete, and plastic will be combined to equally fulfill ecological, functional, and design requirements. This creates cost-effective buildings and infrastructure that are not only efficient and durable but can also flexibly respond to future requirements.

What such a holistic approach can look like is demonstrated, for example, by the flagship project STADTQUARTIER 2050 in Germany, which is supported by the federal government. In the city of Überlingen, a climate-neutral district has been created from new and energy-renovated buildings in a beautiful location on Lake Constance – with apartments that are also affordable for the socially disadvantaged. This also includes highly efficient building insulation using components from Covestro.

Visions Require Courage

"Urban October" is a valuable impulse for thinking about the future of our cities. But it's clear: It takes more than 31 days to redesign urban living spaces. It requires technologies, materials, and capital. And it requires visionary thinking, courage, and perseverance.

The Global Hunger Challenge

Approximately 670 million people live with hunger worldwide, and about 2 billion lack regular access to sufficient nutritious food. While these numbers might feel distant to many people in rich countries accustomed to 24/7 food access, our situation may be less secure than we think. For example, experts are warning that Germany could face food access challenges as irrigation water becomes scarcer.

At the same time, the Mediterranean region increasingly faces severe rain events that devastate crops. Europe, a densely populated continent, with its expectation of constant food abundance, may be more vulnerable than we care to admit.

The 2025 Global Food Policy Report confirms these concerns. According to their analysis, climate change will drive global commodity prices up by as much as 18 percent until 2050 compared to a no-climate-change scenario. This price increase could push an additional 78 million people into chronic hunger, with more than half of this increase occurring in Africa south of the Sahara.

We must rise to the challenge. The food system urgently needs to become more sustainable throughout and far beyond climate protection – even more so as global population will grow to an estimated 1.5 billion people by 2050, making it necessary to increase food production by 30 to 60 percent.

Soil and Water: Precious Resources Under Threat

We need to focus on two fundamental resources that are the base of our food security: soil and water. Their protection must be central to any solution we develop, whether high-tech or traditional, in developed or developing regions.

Globally, we're losing topsoil at alarming rates – some estimates suggest 24 billion tons annually. Once degraded, soil can take centuries to regenerate. Water scarcity presents an equally pressing challenge, with agriculture accounting for approximately 70 percent of global freshwater consumption. Managing this essential resource sustainably requires rethinking how we collect, store, distribute, and use water throughout our food systems.

Addressing these challenges requires integrating cutting-edge technology with reimagined traditional practices. Precision farming technologies for example can reduce water usage by up to 30 percent while improving yields. Equally important are innovations in regenerative agriculture that rebuild soil health while sequestering carbon.

In addition, climate adaptation is becoming increasingly crucial and offers opportunities. I witnessed how global warming is transforming traditional agricultural landscapes during my recent trip to Italy, where Chiquita has said it will be testing banana cultivation – a crop traditionally associated with tropical climates now finding potential in southern Europe due to rising temperatures. This represents a pragmatic adaptation approach: recognizing changing conditions and adjusting agricultural systems accordingly.

The Global Food Policy Report also emphasizes that offsetting increased hunger due to climate change could cost upward of 24 billion dollars annually, including investments in agricultural research, water provision, and other infrastructure.

All this underscores the need for innovative, cost-effective solutions that can be implemented at scale.

Materials Matter: Supporting Sustainable Food Systems

My office in Leverkusen is at Covestro, a global materials science company. What makes me happy to work here is that – among tackling many other issues – we develop and offer solutions that support sustainable food systems.

In water management for example, advanced irrigation systems using durable plastics can deliver precise amounts of water directly to plant roots, while biodegradable tree shelters with bio-based coatings help protect our vital forests from losing water. As for soil protection, biodegradable mulch films prevent weed growth and water evaporation. And special seed-coating materials help reduce pollution and improve yield – while also being fully biodegradable.

In order to extend the shelf life and reduce food waste, special coatings can be used which allow for paper packaging to protect against contamination while still being fully recyclable. Such approaches are especially valuable in regions with limited infrastructure, where up to 40 percent of food can be lost between harvest and consumption.

Hand in Hand: The Power of "AND"

The plastics industry is therefore part of the solution, which brings me to the “Hand in Hand” theme of World Food Day. This isn't about choosing between high-tech OR traditional approaches, developed OR developing regions, immediate needs OR long-term sustainability. It's about embracing the power of "AND" – recognizing that we need all solutions working in concert.

In the spirit of “AND,” Covestro employees are not only developing innovative product solutions – they are also helping to fight food insecurity around the world. In the Americas region, for example, my company launched the “10 for 10” initiative: for every volunteer hour logged by employees this year, Covestro is donating ten meals to those facing hunger through non-profit organizations.

On this World Food Day, while we commemorate the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s 80th birthday, I invite all of us to consider how we can contribute to more sustainable food systems. By working together, embracing the power of "AND" rather than "OR" we can indeed create better, more sustainable foods and a better future for generations to come.

High-quality plastics are the material for the 21^st century, as becomes clear to me once again while strolling through the exhibition halls in Düsseldorf, Germany. And certainly to many other visitors as well. Over 3,000 exhibitors from 66 countries, including Covestro, make it tangible here how this material improves our lives at every turn, making it more sustainable and smarter, more comfortable and safer. And how it repeatedly helps bring forth new things. No wonder that global plastic production continues to increase: In 2024, it recorded a plus of four percent, more than the global gross domestic product.

Implementing technologies more consistently

This reinforces my optimism, which prevails even in tense times like these: There's no shortage of good ideas and technological solutions – they simply need more consistent implementation.

So there is a lot of confidence at the "K". But not only that. As CEO of a global corporation rooted in Germany, I am simultaneously driven by deep concerns, like many other business leaders. Because it is precisely in Germany – the long-standing host of this trade fair for over 70 years – as well as throughout Europe, that the plastics industry is under severe pressure. More than that – the sector, which employs 1.5 million people in 50,000 companies, is now literally standing at the precipice.

Economic situation alarming

Double-digit revenue decline, further shrinking market shares: The situation report that the industry association Plastics Europe presented a few days ago is alarming. Today, only twelve percent of all plastics come from Europe – almost 20 years ago it was still 22 percent. At the same time, China in particular has risen, producing almost three times as much plastic as the entire EU.

This clearly shows that it is primarily the regulatory environment that is slowing the sector in Europe and specifically in Germany – particularly higher energy costs, stricter regulatory requirements, and greater bureaucratic burden.

The good news: The federal government in Berlin has recognized this and wants to establish a "Chemistry Agenda 2045". I hope the year doesn't mark just the start date. Because the time to act is now – the sooner, the better. Which structural reforms specifically need to be tackled has been unambiguously formulated by "my" industry. And we also harbor very clear expectations toward the Commission in Brussels that brook no delay.

Special recipe for success

The EU and Germany as the largest member state need a strong plastics industry. And at its core, it is indeed that – vital and highly innovative. It consistently produces tailor-made solutions for countless other sectors and the challenges of modern life. The recipe for success, which is particularly pronounced at Covestro: a unique combination of materials science, process engineering, and application development.

We call this "The Material Effect". This means: knowing exactly how to change the smallest things in chemistry's building blocks to design plastics with specific properties. This means producing them as efficiently and environmentally friendly as possible, with processes that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. And this requires really knowing your way around many industries – to meet today's needs and see tomorrow's trends. Artificial intelligence and quantum computing help us with all three facets.

At K2025, we show the Material Effect in action. How it makes an impact in electronics, health, sports and leisure. Or in mobility, where Covestro materials are now being used in the prototype of a bus for public transportation. The shuttle is not only electric but also travels driverless – thanks in part to the high-performance plastic polycarbonate, which integrates assistance systems and sensors.

Building a circular plastic system

The fact that this material can be excellently recycled is another plus – and brings me to another point: Europe's plastics industry urgently needs to be able to realize its ambitious sustainability goals. We have the chance to build the world's first circular plastic system on the continent. That would be a great signal and could provide strong growth impulses.

But this too requires swift improvements in political and regulatory frameworks – such as the determined promotion of chemical recycling, which is currently stagnating in the European Union. And overall, it's unfortunately the case at the moment that the EU has lost its former leading position in circular plastics to Asia. Here too, China is far ahead, with almost twice the amount produced in 2024 than in Europe.

The next "K" takes place in three years. I very much hope that by then the necessary reforms will have taken effect and the industry in Europe can present better figures. But I'm certain of one thing: that in 2028 I'll once again be able to marvel at innovations from the world of plastics.

Yet access to quality care remains limited for many. This is partly because insurance providers and self-paying patients face ever-increasing financial burdens. In OECD countries, for example, healthcare costs are projected to surge dramatically – from an average of seven percent of GDP in 2000 to twelve percent by 2040.

A further challenge emerges: As healthcare utilization increases, so does its environmental impact. The healthcare sector already generates more than four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, while hospitals worldwide produce an average of 20 kilograms of waste per patient daily.

The Core Healthcare Challenge

Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, health economists, and others working in healthcare tackle these individual problems every day. But behind them lies a more fundamental challenge: How can we reconcile these individually essential yet seemingly conflicting requirements? Is it truly possible to provide widespread access to high-quality care that is also cost-efficient and sustainable?

The World Health Summit 2025 in Berlin addresses these pressing questions. Here, high-ranking representatives from governments, international organizations, research and healthcare institutions, companies, alliances, and initiatives from around the world bring their collective expertise together.

Innovative Materials as Solutions

The good news: We don’t have to accept these problems as insurmountable. Innovative materials – such as those developed by Covestro – offer ways to improve all dimensions simultaneously.

Take accessibility: Medical products made from high-performance plastics are often particularly lightweight, providing logistical advantages and facilitating care delivery even in remote regions. Additionally, plastics for healthcare applications can be manufactured quickly and in large quantities – for example, during vaccination campaigns or pandemics. They also play a crucial role in the growing telemedicine market.

High-quality plastics also offer advantages in terms of cost efficiency: They enable mass production of medical devices, packaging, and disposable items at relatively low costs.

To ensure high quality in healthcare, innovative applications are essential. For example, medical plastics for precise diagnostic equipment or organ-like prosthetics. And 3D printing with plastics allows for customized solutions such as dental implants and orthoses – which is important for the trend toward personalized medicine.

High-performance materials like plastics also play a role in another development: the changing understanding of health. Here, they serve to manufacture increasingly popular wearables that enable proactive health management and wellness monitoring in everyday life – a paradigm shift from mere disease treatment to proactive health promotion.

To promote sustainability, intensive work is being done to produce plastics using non-fossil raw materials, which improves their ecological footprint. Additionally, they are increasingly being designed to be more easily reprocessed or recycled. And their typically low weight helps reduce material consumption and thus environmental impact throughout the entire lifecycle of medical products.

Holistic Thinking Instead of Either-Or

Thanks to material innovations, trade-off thinking is becoming obsolete in healthcare. Rather than choosing between accessibility, cost-efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, we can pursue all these goals simultaneously through intelligent material solutions.

What we need is a holistic approach that considers the entire lifecycle of materials and products. The Health Summit, with its focus on "Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World," provides the ideal platform to introduce this perspective into the global healthcare discussion.

The future belongs not to those who think in opposites, but to those who understand and utilize the complex interplay of all factors. Only by embracing this integrated approach can we create a healthcare system that truly serves both people and the planet.

This conflict isn’t new, but it’s becoming more intense and consequential. Energy security is increasingly fragile due to rising geopolitical tensions: Attacks on power grids and pipelines are on the rise, and regional dependencies are becoming more apparent.

Growing Imbalances

Energy poverty also remains a global issue: In 2024, around 750 million people – mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America – still lacked access to electricity. Meanwhile, affordability is becoming a major concern in Europe, where energy prices are significantly higher than in other regions. This threatens key industries like chemicals and steel and has sparked calls to rethink the direction of the energy transition.

Sustainability shows the starkest contrasts between the U.S. and China. While the U.S. is relying more heavily on fossil fuels like oil and gas, China is the global forerunner in renewable energy – even as it continues to build new coal-fired power plants.

As a result, CO₂ emissions from energy are steadily increasing worldwide. And the effects of climate change are becoming more visible: 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, bringing a wave of natural disasters.

Global Conference

How – or whether – these growing disparities in the energy system can be addressed was the focus of the “World Energy Week” in Panama. The annual conference, hosted in a different country each year, brought together representatives from over 100 nations for strategic dialogue and practical solutions in the energy sector.

And that’s exactly where the global community should focus: on the many technologies and ideas that can make energy cleaner, smarter, more affordable, and more secure. Innovation must be the trump card – especially since it often comes with clear economic benefits. According to industry organization IRENA, renewable energy could create between 30 and 38 million jobs worldwide by 2030.

Advanced technologies require advanced materials – such as high-performance plastics. They are key players in the energy transition, addressing all three aspects of the energy trilemma.

Take security of supply: Plastics form the backbone of modern infrastructure. Their light weight and durability make them ideal for components in power grids, wind turbines, solar panels, and battery systems. They also support decentralized solutions: in regions with unstable energy access, modular solar systems and mobile storage units made of plastic can provide local energy. Covestro, for example, has developed a new composite material for solar panel frames that can replace traditional aluminum. The benefits include better corrosion resistance and a lower carbon footprint during production.

Multiple Benefits

But plastics don’t just boost energy security – they also help make energy more affordable and equitable. They reduce production costs for solar lamps and water pumps, for example. Plastic tanks and pipes also make it easier to distribute biogas, hydrogen, or heat, especially in remote areas.

Another reason to favor plastics in energy solutions is their twofold environmental benefit. On the one hand, they’re increasingly produced using non-fossil raw materials and powered by renewable energy.

On the other hand, plastics help make energy- and climate-intensive sectors more sustainable. Countless buildings are better insulated with plastic panels, reducing the need for heating and cooling. In transportation, lightweight plastic components cut fuel use and emissions, while supporting the shift to electric vehicles.

Covestro is convinced that materials science – and plastics in particular – will play a vital role in bringing the three goals of the energy trilemma back into better balance.

The answer starts earlier than we think: in the classroom. With teachers who are at the forefront of the innovation chain. Ideally, they should create space for “future skills”, such as problem solving, adaptability, interdisciplinary work and empathy, as well as scientific and digital understanding. It is no surprise that the United Nations honors the important role of teachers every year on October 5 with the World Teachers' Day.

Rethinking teaching 

The theme for this year's day of action is “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession”. This is exactly the right approach. Because the major challenges of our time – from climate protection and the circular economy to digitalization – can only be solved by working together: in an interdisciplinary, global, and team-oriented manner.

To prevent ideas from disappearing into drawers, we need people who want to learn more, get to the bottom of things, and think ahead together. These skills cannot be developed through curricula alone. They develop through projects, exchange, and taking responsibility for one another. This is exactly what students should learn today, because they will need it in tomorrow's world.

In reality, however, this is often difficult to implement. Time constraints, limited resources, and bureaucratic requirements often limit what teachers can do, especially when it comes to preparing young people for a complex and constantly changing world. This makes recognizing and actively supporting the work of teachers all the more important. After all, they impart much more than just knowledge. They empower young people to think beyond the boundaries of their subject areas, take responsibility, and develop alongside others. 

This is important and it is becoming increasingly significant – not only in schools, but also in companies. The collaborative learning culture that emerges in the classroom today will form the basis for cooperation in international project teams tomorrow.

Covestro supports school learning

If we want to actively shape our future, it starts much earlier than college or a career. That is why Covestro supports projects in schools – in Germany for example the research competition “Zukunft braucht Wahrheit” (The Future Needs Truth) with the Handelsblatt Media Group, the Covestro Inhouse Days, and the “lev_creation lab” in Leverkusen, where school learning and business practices come together. All these initiatives are guided by clear principles: Without education, there can be no innovation; without teachers, there can be no “future skills”.

On World Teachers' Day, we would therefore like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all teachers who inspire as well as teach, who enable young people to take responsibility. Their work lays the foundation for what we will shape together tomorrow.