Political environment

The political environment is key to our business. Last year, climate protection topped the agenda in Brussels, Berlin and London. Centre stage was taken by the details of the European CO₂ emissions trading scheme for the period from 2013 to 2020. There was activity at the national level as well–above all in Germany, where the legislator set the stage for stepping up the use of renewable energy. In the UK, our second largest market, the government launched a new programme to reduce emissions which obliges energy companies to promote energy-saving measures in homes.