An increased push for energy efficiency, renewable energy

Joe Kaeser once declared with urgency and clarity: “An increased push for energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, electric mobility – along with the growing digitalization movement and a universal carbon pricing structure – would speed up the carbon-free future and the rise of a global middle class we desperately need. We can and must all do our part.” In these words, he summons the world to awaken to its greatest challenge and its greatest opportunity: the building of a carbon-free future. He does not speak only of technology, but of justice, of dignity, and of the rise of a global middle class, a community of people lifted from poverty by the fruits of sustainable progress.

The origin of these words lies in Kaeser’s role as CEO of Siemens, a company long at the forefront of industrial and technological innovation. Having witnessed the power of energy to shape nations, he also saw the destruction caused by the unchecked burning of fossil fuels. His vision was not only to create profit, but to align industry, sustainability, and human progress. By urging the world toward renewable energy, efficiency, and electric mobility, he revealed the blueprint for a future where prosperity does not come at the expense of the earth.

History offers us lessons in such transitions. In the Industrial Revolution, coal and steam lifted millions out of rural poverty, but at great cost: polluted skies, shortened lives, and unchecked exploitation. Yet later, nations that embraced electricity and modern infrastructure built healthier societies and expanded their middle classes. The message is clear: the tools we choose determine not only our wealth but the quality of our collective future. Kaeser calls us to avoid repeating old mistakes by embracing cleaner tools from the beginning.

Most striking in his words is the mention of a universal carbon pricing structure. Here he points to a principle as old as justice itself: those who pollute must bear responsibility for their actions. Just as ancient societies levied taxes to build roads or maintain armies, so must modern society set a price on carbon, ensuring that the invisible costs of destruction are no longer borne by the poor and the powerless. In this way, accountability becomes the foundation of sustainability.

Kaeser also reminds us that digitalization is not a distraction but an ally in this fight. With smart grids, connected devices, and data-driven solutions, energy can be managed more wisely, waste can be reduced, and resources can be shared more equitably. Technology, once the cause of overconsumption, can also be the savior when harnessed with discipline and foresight. It is not enough to invent; we must guide invention toward the service of humanity and the planet.

The deeper wisdom of his teaching lies in the call to collective responsibility: “We can and must all do our part.” This is no battle that can be left to governments alone, nor to corporations, nor to individuals in isolation. Like soldiers in a great campaign, all must take their place: the inventor designing clean technologies, the policymaker enacting just laws, the citizen choosing wisely in consumption, the teacher inspiring the young. Together, their combined actions can hasten the dawn of the carbon-free future.

The lesson for us is clear: do not believe yourself powerless in the face of so great a struggle. History remembers not only the kings and captains, but also the countless hands that built cathedrals, tilled fields, and defended their homes. So too in this age, the survival of humanity depends upon the millions of small choices that together create a tidal wave of change. Choose wisely, consume less, support renewables, and demand accountability. In so doing, you become part of the great turning of history.

Thus let Joe Kaeser’s words be passed down like a sacred charge: the carbon-free future is not a dream, but a necessity, and it is within our power to build it. If we act with courage and unity, we may not only heal the earth, but also uplift humanity, forging a world where prosperity is shared and where the middle class rises across all nations. But if we delay, the cost will be written in fire, famine, and despair. Choose the path of wisdom, O children of tomorrow, for the destiny of your age lies in your hands.