Germany: Disconnecting Economic Growth From Resource Consumption

BERLIN and TEL AVIV, Israel, November 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

WATEC Israel 2011

Carbon dioxide emissions skyrocketed in 2010, according to new data. This is due largely to fossil fuel burning in developing countries. But Germany shows that economic growth and consumption of natural resources can also be uncoupled. Germany is a leading exporter of technologies that help conserve resources - especially water and energy - in industrial production processes. Currently Germany is the leading exporter of water efficiency technologies with a 19 percent global market share. Germany Trade & Invest will have industry experts at this year's WATEC Israel 2011 in Tel Aviv from November 15-17 to share business opportunities in Germany.

Israel and Germany are both familiar with the constraints caused by scarce water resources, making the two countries optimal partners in the development of these technologies. And with a global population now officially above 7 billion, water scarcity is set to be an increasingly critical issue worldwide. Companies that pioneer new technology in this field can benefit from growing demand for these innovations. German water efficiency technologies already generate over 100 billion dollars in turnover annually.

"Germany is committed to ambitious climate protection goals that are also economically viable. This combination has made Germany one of the global leaders for sustainable water technology," stated Flérida Regueria Cortizo, water efficiency expert at Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

German research and development in water technology leads Europe, with more patents registered in this field than any other country except the USA. Policy frameworks support both research and commercialization, with European initiatives such as the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe creating opportunities for businesses while ensuring a sustainable water supply. Germany recently announced its hopes to carry this one step further and become a "world champion in resource efficiency", according to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Germany Trade & Invest
Andreas Bilfinger
Email: andreas.bilfinger@gtai.com
T: +49(0)30-200099-173
F: +49(0)30-200099-511