Illustration of How Industry and Institutions in Germany Impact the SDGs

In order to illustrate the necessity for action, the authors report on the current influence of Sustainable Development Goals Disclosure (SDGD) status in Europe, especially in Germany. For this analysis, the authors consider data spread over several years, in order to explain the influence of the pandemic on SDGD, especially in terms of Social Development Goals (SDGs) 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13 (climate action) and 17 (partnerships for the goals). Detailed cases from industry and for institutions where current actions are already having a high impact on the future are discussed. A specific case regarding electromobility, i.e. investing in a zero-emission future and a more sustainable business, is detailed herein. As energy storage systems are indispensable for climate-neutral mobility, the impact on the SDGs is very important. Specific insights into the battery industry, backed up by a detailed case study of a battery company, illustrate the special focus of this industry sector on sustainability – and its influence on the SDGs. The company, which takes a high local-for-local approach at every opportunity, represents a new way thinking in terms of the industry’s supply chain in comparison to the latest best-cost sourcing strategies in low-cost countries (LCCs) and best-cost countries (BCCs). Strategic partnerships within the supply chain play a major role in influencing common goals such as battery recycling and research into new materials. In this chapter, a particular case study focusing on green energy supply and the activities of a new energy and climate agency in North Rhine-Westphalia is presented. The results of this study show that not only are negative influences on SDGD prevalent during the pandemic but also demonstrative examples of specific actions that push SDGs in the right direction. On the one hand, the authors report on significant press and public attention in Germany regarding climate neutrality, and that the industry talks about it in public wherever possible; however, during the pandemic, sustainability budgets were slashed, as companies did not want to spend money on this area. On the other hand, the authors show that specific actions were taken – and still take place – to support the SDGs, especially in relation to climate neutrality, mainly due to extreme political pressure and consumer behaviour. Nevertheless, there are also increasingly more changes in thinking relating to a clean and safe future that accelerates the SDGs.