21
July
2022
|
09:10
Europe/Amsterdam

Pushing climate action: Challenge the status quo

Summary

I recently had the pleasure to speak and interact with students from the Cologne School of Journalism. Why was I excited about this interaction? Because we discussed the crucial role that industry plays in climate action. When these brilliant young minds go out into the world as journalists, their job will be one that is immensely important. They will be shaping the stories and thereby ensuring around issues that will define the future of our planet.

Written by: Sucheta Govil

Great intelligent journalism helps progress to evolve – because when you are curious and courageous about contentious topics, you know how to ask the right questions. It is why I enjoy talking to brilliant young minds. The questions asked by committed journalists can trigger societal debate, while spurring business and politics on to make real progress towards climate action. 

We have only scratched the surface

We need to be honest and review what we have achieved so far. Right now, we have only scratched the surface. This will not do. We need to treat waste as a resource and not make it part of the problem when it is incinerated or dumped into landfills. We need to move forward and substitute fossil fuels with alternative raw materials in industrial processes. 

I often say this, as a mother of two children, and also Member of the Board of Covestro, I believe that we owe it to ourselves, to society and to future generations to stop our dependance on fossil fuels and not settle for insufficient recycling. At Covestro, we have already switched to alternative raw materials in many areas, and we will continue to do so, as the demand for alternative raw materials continues to rise on our customers’ end.

Investment in focused R&D pays off

Good journalism forces us to keep challenging ourselves as an industry. Are we doing enough to reach out to partners? To accelerate climate action? I am certain that there is so much more that we can continue to improve on. Change does not come by itself. It starts with a serious and focused investment in R&D – that pays off in the long run. Our R&D teams are working on new technologies, such as chemical recycling and pyrolysis.

At Covestro, we are in constant dialogue with governments and economies in China, Germany, and the US. We currently see climate movements and climate action policies being implemented but need to be quicker and deliver new solutions faster. We must always have the next challenge in our mind and have our eyes on the next step we are about to take. 

 

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Sucheta Govil meets with young Journalists
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