On the occasion of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, the BMW Group announced significant innovations in its energy strategy. As of 2020, the company will source only electricity from renewable sources worldwide. The BMW Group thus takes a significant step closer to its long-term goal of CO2-free production. At the end of 2016, the share of electricity from renewable sources at the BMW Group was 63% worldwide.
The partnership between the UN Climate Change Conferences and the BMW Group dates back to 1992. After participating in previous climate conferences – or COPs – in Lima, Paris and Marrakesh, the BMW Group will once again play an active part at COP 23. This year, the conference will be presided over by the Government of Fiji and take place at the UN Campus in Bonn in Germany, from 6 to 17 November 2017.
Sustainable Innovation Forum 2017
At COP23, the BMW Group will be present in different events and formats, contributing both impetus and expertise to talks and presentations on sustainable development. Most notably, the BMW Group once again assumes the role as headline sponsor of the Sustainable Innovation Forums on 13 and 14 November 2017. For many years, the Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF) has been the premier sustainability event at UN COP, providing leading stakeholders from the political arena, business world and society with a platform to discuss the challenges of sustainable development.
Focus on decarbonization
On Day 1 of the conference, the agenda will focus on the decarbonization of the transport sector. Keynote speaker for the Sustainable Innovation Forum will be Markus Duesmann, Member of the Management Board of BMW AG, Purchasing and Supplier Network: “The BMW Group has long been a partner of the UN Climate Change Conference and an active innovation leader in the field of sustainability. Decarbonization is a major theme in the sustainability discourse, and for the automotive industry it is and will continue to be a top priority.
When it comes to sustainable responsibility, we consider the entire value chain, from purchasing and production to the product and our mobility services as a comprehensive system of lifecycles. Today, we already obtain 63% of our purchased electricity from renewable energies. And I’m proud to announce today that our new goal for the year 2020 will be 100%!”
Dr. Thomas Becker, Vice President of Government Affairs BMW Group, will participate in a panel discussion about new approaches in sustainable and efficient transport solutions, innovative business models of new mobility services, as well as the future and the challenges of e-mobility.
Moderated by Nik Gowing (BBC), the panel also includes Dr. Philipp Rode from the London School of Economics and Hon. George Heyman, Minister of Environment of British Columbia, Canada: “With the global increase of electric and hybrid cars, we will need to answer the question of how to integrate these vehicles into our power supply networks. With its e-mobility solutions, the BMW Group makes a more than significant contribution to decarbonizing the industry: new business models will make e-mobility an inherent element of a more flexible, integrated energy system.”
Furthermore, in the discussions with lawmakers and business leaders as well as NGOs, representatives of the BMW Group will advocate the importance of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ursula Mathar, the BMW Group’s Head of Sustainability and Environmental Protection: “We strongly believe that, together with governments, other companies and representatives of the society, we can have a positive impact in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussing the SDGs with various stakeholders at the Sustainable Innovation Forum is one of our top priorities.”
Comprehensive sustainability strategy of the BMW Group
The BMW Group takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability, covering not only the products but the entire value chain. This way, sustainability becomes requisite for individual mobility and its public acceptance. The BMW Group exemplifies its understanding of sustainability by implementing the ten principles of the United Nation’s Global Compact and by supporting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
New sustainability newsletter
An essential component of sustainable management for the BMW Group is the on-going dialogue with its stakeholders across the globe. Intensive exchange contributes to the further development of the sustainability strategy of the BMW Group. Besides dialogue formats in North America, Europe and Asia, the BMW Group is creating a new platform for intensive exchange in the form of a sustainability newsletter. As of 21 November 2017, interested stakeholders can catch up on the latest news from different areas of sustainability and sign up for the newsletter at https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/responsibility/sustainable-stories.html
