Copyright: AdobeStock/Kalyakan
Further development is necessary: How can the chemical industry operate in a climate-neutral and resource-efficient manner that respects planetary boundaries?
The chemical industry is facing a tremendous transformation: it must become climate-neutral and resource-efficient in order to operate within planetary boundaries. How can this be achieved?
Two approaches are crucial: reducing the demand for chemicals and replacing fossil raw materials and energy sources with renewable ones. Due to limited biomass and recycling potential, Power-to-X (PtX) technologies play a key role here. They use green hydrogen and CO₂ from renewable sources to produce chemicals sustainably.
Eight guiding principles for a sustainable industry
A team from PtX Lab Lausitz addressed this topic and provides answers in the study ‘Fossil-Free Chemistry of Tomorrow – Eight Guiding Principles for Sustainable Chemical Production and the Importance of Power-to-X Technologies’. The study makes it clear: the transformation of the chemical industry is a marathon that will take decades – and we are only at the beginning.
The study provides eight guiding principles that serve as the basis for future-oriented political measures. They show how competitiveness and sustainability in the chemical industry can be reconciled. One thing is clear: the path to climate-neutral chemistry can only be taken together with politics and industry – consistently, persistently and decisively.
We warmly invite you to our online event on 20 March 2025, where we will publish the study and discuss it with representatives from the chemical industry.
Experts at the event
- Johanna Wiechen, Germanwatch
- Felix Herter, NRW.Energy4Climate
PtX Lab Lausitz
- Dr Irina Akhmetova, Expert and author of the study
- Lukas Horndasch, Expert and author of the study
- Dr Harry Lehmann, Head
- Dr Sarah Bernhardt, Deputy head (acting)
Agenda *
10:00 a.m. | Welcome and brief introduction of PtX Lab Lausitz
Dr Sarah Bernhardt, Acting Deputy Head of PtX Lab Lausitz
10:10 am | Short presentation of the study ‘Fossil-Free Chemistry of Tomorrow – Eight Guiding Principles for Sustainable Chemical Production and the Importance of Power-to-X Technologies’
Dr Irina Akhmetova and Lukas Horndasch, PtX Lab Lausitz (authors of the study)
10:25 a.m. | Keynote speech ‘Sustainable carbon economy for a future-proof chemical industry’
Felix Herter, NRW.Energy4Climate
10:30 a.m. | Keynote speech ’Civil society perspectives on a transformation of the chemical industry’
Johanna Wiechen, Germanwatch
10:35 a.m. | Panel discussion ’Re-Feed Chemistry: How can fossil-free basic chemicals become competitive in Germany?’
- moderated by Dr Sarah Bernhardt
- with Dr Harry Lehmann, Head of PtX Lab Lausitz
- Felix Herter, Carbon Economy Expert IN4climate.RR
- Johanna Wiechen, Expert Germanwatch
11:25 am | Conclusion and closing remarks
* Subject to change.
Your participation in the live online-event
Experience our programme digitally via Zoom. The event will be streamed live and you can ask your questions in the chat. After the event, the study will be available for download on our website. There will be no recording of the event. The event is aimed at interested parties and decision-makers from politics, industry and civil society to show ways to achieve climate targets.
Date: 20 March 2025
Time: 10:00 to 11:30 (CET)
Location: digital via Zoom
Language: German
Participation is free of charge. Secure your place for the live broadcast.
Register now
