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Environmental Minister Jürgen Trittin Supports Ecological Modernization (October 21, 1999)

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But when the program in the new federal states expires at the end of the year, these states alone will need an additional 170 billion DM in investments.

Thus, it would make sense to both continue this program and expand it nationwide.

Based on current costs, the redevelopment of 500,000 buildings with loan credits amounting to roughly 15 billion DM would preserve and/or create almost 900,000 jobs.

We have had very concrete preliminary talks with the KfW and the economics minister about this. Up to this point, however – and I will say this very openly – they have not led to any satisfactory results.

Nevertheless, the Federal Ministry of the Environment, and I personally, will continue to pursue this basic approach.

It should be very clear to all participants that identifying good ideas in the environmental dialogue is one thing, but implementing them is another. It is, of course, the more difficult part.

Proposals that are easy to implement – ones that all participants and involved parties are enthusiastic about – can hardly be expected.

But the dialogue itself offers us a chance to work together to form an effective lobby for good proposals.

The outcome of the environmental dialogue must, at the very least, go beyond the mere identification of areas of action. I would like, once again, to emphasize the need for joint proposals, joint implementation strategies, and joint action.

[ . . . ]



Source: Jürgen Trittin, “Ökologische Modernisierung schafft Arbeitsplätze” [“Ecological Modernization Creates Jobs”], www.bmu.de/1024/js/reden/rede_trittin991021/main.htm/

Translation: Allison Brown

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