Birgit Schwenk, Germany

Main challenges are rising resource consumption worldwide, security of supply as well as the risk of rising prices for the german economy, and the question on how efficient solutions spread quickly throughout the market.

In sight of these challenges we established the national program for resource efficiency which sets incentives for all companies along the value chain to engage in efficient use of resources. In addition we coordinate activities nationally and founded a competence center specifically for small- and medium enterprises together with the association of german engineers (VDI). Furthermore we collaborate with the european commission on the issue of resource efficiency.

www.bmu.de