Here's how to rebut the climate doom-mongers

The author contends that while greenhouse gas emissions remain high and the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal is at risk, the global economy is increasingly prioritizing sustainability as a competitive necessity. The text highlights that technical solutions for a greenhouse gas-neutral chemical industry already exist, specifically in Germany, and points to the use of high-tech plastics to improve wind turbine efficiency in China. It emphasizes the need for supportive frameworks to maintain cost-competitiveness in industrialized nations and cites Covestro's agreement with Ørsted for offshore wind power as a step toward a fossil-free economy.

• Global greenhouse gas emissions reached nearly 37 billion metric tons in 2019, and the United Nations Environment Programme indicates that emissions must decrease by nearly 8% annually over the next decade to meet the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target.
• Sustainability has become a critical competitive factor for the global economy, with approximately two-thirds of CEOs identifying it as a key management topic according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
• Technological advancements in the chemical sector, such as high-tech plastic compounds, are improving the efficiency and economics of wind power plants, with the first such turbines already operational in China.
• A greenhouse gas-neutral chemical industry is technically possible in Germany using existing CO2-free processes, provided there is a shift from fossil fuels to alternative raw materials like recycled waste, plant biomass, and CO2.
• Covestro has entered into the largest corporate supply agreement for electricity from offshore wind turbines, sourcing energy from Ørsted's North Sea wind farm starting in 2025 to support the expansion of renewable energy in Germany.

APA

Steilemann, M. (2020). Here's how to rebut the climate doom-mongers. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/heres-how-to-rebut-the-climate-doom-mongers/

Chicago

Steilemann, Markus. Here's how to rebut the climate doom-mongers. World Economic Forum, 2020. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/heres-how-to-rebut-the-climate-doom-mongers/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Steilemann |first1=Markus |title=Here's how to rebut the climate doom-mongers |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=8 January 2020 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/heres-how-to-rebut-the-climate-doom-mongers/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{steilemann2020heres, author = {Steilemann, Markus}, title = {{Here's how to rebut the climate doom-mongers}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/heres-how-to-rebut-the-climate-doom-mongers/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }