Climate change will have considerable effects on people’s living conditions and requires the commitment of all societal groups. Environmental protection and the need to adapt to climate change is becoming increasingly relevant to business – in terms of both opportunities and risks. For global companies like Bayer the focus is on such aspects as security, equal conditions for all, and open markets. Binding emission-reduction targets for industrialized, emerging and developing countries are important if we are to permanently reduce global greenhouse-gas emissions. An open and cooperative partnership between all countries will be decisive in overcoming the effects of climate change.

As a responsible company, Bayer has been committed to environmental protection for years and established itself as an industrial pioneer with the implementation of its Climate Program in 2007. Bayer’s Climate Program focuses on reducing its own greenhouse-gas emissions and improving energy and resource efficiency – both at Bayer itself and among its customers. This includes new production processes, internal energy-management systems and the production of innovative materials. Since the program launch, Bayer has invested a million Euros in the research and development of climate-related projects over a period of three years. In addition, Bayer has adjusted its already ambitious targets in 2011: by 2020 the company aims to reduce CO₂ emissions per tonne of products sold by 35% Group-wide. The biggest contribution here will be made by the subgroup Bayer MaterialScience, which intends to reduce its specific greenhouse-gas emissions by 40% (up from 25%). Bayer HealthCare plans to reduce such emissions by 10% (up from 5%) in absolute terms and Bayer CropScience by 15%. Bayer also wants to further intensify and expand its partnerships with public institutions, companies and research institutions.