# How Do German Manufacturers React to the Increasing Societal Pressure for Decarbonisation?
## 1 Introduction
Against this background, our study aims to contribute to the recent sustainability transition research. [PERSON] et al. [10] (p. 1) argue that current research approaches on decarbonisation are oftentimes too narrow, mostly because they rely on the assumption that energy supply and demand can be addressed exogenously and separately. Similarly, we assume that the aspirations industrial organisations have and the actions they take must not be considered as independent from their broader cultural and societal context. To create a better understanding as to why the decarbonisation of the industrial sector is of particular relevance in avoiding climate change, it is helpful to observe Germany's energy consumption and emission statistics. The share of industrial energy consumption (28.0%) is about as high as in the building sector (26.5%) and less than in the transport sector (30.6%) [21]. The industrial sector accounted for 18.4% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Germany, in 2019 [22]. Furthermore, considering process-related emissions, which make up about a third of industries' overall greenhouse gas emissions, the percentage share rises to 23.1% of Germany's GHG emissions, which is the second highest after the energy sector (31.9%) and more than the GHG emissions of the transport (20.2%) or buildings sector (15.2%) [23]. Unlike the latter two, the industrial sector decides on optimisations and investments on a daily basis, whereas the timespan of action for buildings and transport can be decades (i.e., heating systems, buildings, tractors, trucks, and ships). Furthermore, nearly everything leading to emissions in all sectors (except livestock) has been in a factory at one point; for instance, entrepreneurs decide upon how productsare designed and produced, where the raw materials come from, and how products, components, and equipment perform and can be recycled--therefore, the industrial sector, in the long run, is the key to making net decarbonisation feasible by 2050. Thus, this study focuses on the question of how manufacturing companies in Germany react to the increasing societal pressure for decarbonisation. Doing this, we analyse the situation from the companies' perspectives, in particular, by exploring what measures (if any) companies (plan to) undertake to tackle their carbon footprint and by when. The findings of this study are of particular relevance to policymakers, as they underline that urgent policy action is needed to facilitate the pace of decarbonisation aspired by responding companies. It further presents valuable insights to companies, regarding where they are situated in contrast to their peers, as well as to facilitators and service providers, as these obtain a clearer view regarding the kind of support that might be needed by what type of company and when, and also to the general public that gains a better understanding of the actions, ambitions, needs, and complexities of the industrial sector. The study showcases the differences across the various types of companies that call for approaches, other than \"one size serves all\" ones. By taking an all-round view on the findings, this study also uncovers a series of issues that call for further attention to support companies, service providers, and policymakers in successfully decarbonising the industrial sector in Germany and subsequently--due to also reducing the product carbon footprints of the produce of industry--the other sectors.