On my website I write about the topics that move and occupy me most. These are, among others, mobility, economy, ecology and digitisation. In addition, you will always find publications of various kinds in English – see at the bottom of this article.
Mobility
My vision for the future of mobility consists of four fundamental ideas.
The future of mobility lies in the electrification of vehicles. We need to electrify not only trains and urban public transport vehicles but in particular we have to acknowledge that private means of transportation cannot rely on fossil fuels anymore. My aim is to make sure that no car driven by fossil fuels will get a license after 2030.
The future of mobility is connected and smart. Technical innovations, intelligent transportations systems and new solutions that come along with the process of digitalisation are numerous and we have to evaluate their potential and apply them as quickly as we can. Car-sharing as an alternative to personal vehicles, connected transportation solutions integrating trains, busses and shared-bikes, autonomous driven cars and busses – combining these ideas will provide us with the opportunity to reduce pollution, noise and emission and will help us to initiate an ecological transformation of transportation that produces a benefit for all.
The future of mobility must be organised by public organisations. The vast majority of scientist around the world agree: the use of individual means of transportation is ecologically damaging and inefficient. If we want to make a real change, we have to tackle the use of individual vehicles as prior option of transportation. Therefore, we need to invest in high-performance public transport systems not only in the city but also in rural areas. Furthermore, these systems must be efficient and ecological on the one hand but also attractive for the citizens on the other. Only if we set enough incentives for the public to change from personal vehicle to public transportation we can ensure that our investments will lead to less personal cars, less vehicles in the city and cleaner air. Digital innovations and the concept of ÖPNV 2.0 offer great potential for change especially while talking about advancing public transportation in rural areas.
The bike is the major transportation vehicle of the future. Whether with or without electric engine, regular bicycles or carrier bicycles have minimum space requirements, are cheap and the healthiest mean of transportation imaginable, notably in urban areas and for short distances. Therefore, we need a safe and attractive bicycle infrastructure so that cyclist can move from A to B conveniently and especially without worrying about their safety.
Economy and ecology
Combining economy and ecology is the most important approach that I apply for my political work. We must create the political framework that allows companies to produce and operate ecologically while simultaneously staying economical and profitable. This will work merely if we stay in close contact and exchange with the world of economy.
Right from the start of my political engagement, constant and unbiased contact with companies and stakeholders became the fundamental basis for my approach to foster the idea of green economy. I am regularly visiting production sites, offices and headquarters from all different kind of industrial branches and I regularly exchange my ideas with employees, founders and CEOs about the combability of economy and ecology. I am convinced that the only way to a better and greener economy is to conceive this process as a common project between politics, the industry and the public.
Digitalisation
The ongoing digitalisation of our society is an extensive and complex process but I consider it a great chance as well. Due to the advancing interconnectivity of all sectors of our live, we are confronted with complete new ways to communicate study, work and do business on a regional, national and international level. At the same time different kinds of decentralised economical structures, means of energy supply or services are being created that promise to provide a better, more efficient and more resilient way to support our local economies. A fast and reliable connection to the internet is crucial in this context. Therefore, I am fighting for a barrier-free, easy and in particular high-performance access to the web for every citizen and company, in every region of Germany.
Even if digitalisation comes along with a wide range of options to improve the way we life and work we always have to keep in mind that digitalisation is not a passive and self-controlled process. Politicians, managers and citizens have to work together and get active so that we can shape the digital future of our society according to our needs and values. The modern and technical future of society and economy must be a system that benefits all, in particular regular people and small and middle-sized companies.
Nowadays we can already see what happens if we hesitate to get involved. International corporations notably those who are doing business in the field of digital services become more and more powerful and so the threat of monopolised structures is an essential aspect that needs to be considered in political decision making. Therefore, we need to set a political framework that counteracts monopolies and supports the mid-tier and middle class instead of leaving the creation of value to companies like Alphabet, Amazon, Alibaba or Apple.
Regardless how big a company might be, every corporation has to play according to common rules. The abnormality of legal tax reduction, fiscal evasion and the undermining of workers’ rights has to end. Digitalisation has to increase the wealth of everyone instead of solidify inequality. Energy consumption, the mining and use of rare resources and the power over water supply and electricity have to be considered in any digital and economical strategy.
Moreover, we need smart strategies to foster open-source and transparency standards in terms of data security and business making. Urging transparent and fair business structures as well as public auditing must be a key aspect of our political approach. Furthermore we need to develop and apply a strategy for innovations like Artificial Intelligence, automation or Quantum computing that goes in accordance to our common values.
