(August 31, 2007) The California Chamber of Commerce hosted the Honorable Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany yesterday, for an international luncheon to discuss climate and energy policy.

The working luncheon attended by more than 80 guests who greeted Minister Steinmeier included California and German government officials and business people from California and Germany, including representatives of transportation, manufacturing and technology.

The Honorable Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany (left), and Allan Zaremberg, CalChamber President and CEO.

Minister Steinmeier is the first German foreign minister to travel to California in more than 50 years. Luncheon conversations revolved around a recent article by Minister Steinmeier that addressed the need for cooperation between all nations to combat climate changes. “We need to increase international cooperation, deepen existing partnerships and forge new global climate and energy alliances,” he wrote.

Steinmeier recognizes that California is a political and economic heavyweight in the United States and a trailblazer in environmental and climate protection, calling the state “a key partner” in pursing a global market for CO2 trading. “We must seize this opportunity and coordinate our policy more closely with California and all other willing U.S. states so as to create a transatlantic trade in CO2,” he wrote.

The CalChamber will work to minimize the compliance costs associated with climate change by actively pushing for measures that effectively reduce carbon while allowing for continued economic growth.

The CalChamber believes that to be a true leader on this issue, the state needs to share its proven energy efficiency knowledge while harnessing the innovation and creativity of its citizens to pioneer new, low-carbon technologies. In fact, policy approaches that recognize and encourage California’s leadership and innovation in the environmental arena can be more effective than taxes or fees. Successful technologies developed in California and implemented throughout the world could provide a win-win for California businesses, both by helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions here and in other nations, and providing jobs in the state.

The top four major items of export from California to Germany are: computers and electronic products, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, and chemicals. Computers and electronic products contributed to more than 44 percent of the total Californian exports to Germany. California exports of these items grew from $ 4.2 billion in 2005 to $4.5 billion in 2006.

Staff Contact: Susanne Stirling