1. General Information
Zukunft Gas is the voice of the German gas and hydrogen industry. The industry association bundles the interests of its members and represents them to the public, the political sphere and consumers. Together with its member companies, the association is committed to utilizing the potential of hydrogen, biogas and natural gas as well as the existing gas infrastructure, informs about the opportunities and possibilities that gas-powered energy carriers offer our society and drives the transformation of the gas industry towards new gases. The association is supported by leading companies in the gas and hydrogen industry. Other industry associations and the heating appliance industry support Zukunft Gas as partners.
The representation of interests is a legitimate element of democratic systems. The representation of the interests of Zukunft Gas is understood as any contact for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the decision-making process of the bodies, members, parliamentary groups or groups of the German Bundestag, for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the decision-making process of the Federal Government or for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing public opinion. In particular, but not exclusively, measures in the following areas are used for this activity: Marketing, sponsoring, advertising, public relations and political communication as well as the support of scientific work.
Representation of interests always takes place on the basis of openness, transparency, honesty and integrity. We work on solutions in discourse with all social groups and seek solution strategies and suitable instruments in a constructive and critical dialogue.
2. Transparency and Professionalism
The work of Zukunft Gas as a trade association is based on the principles of transparency and professionalism. As a lobby organization, we provide information about the advantages and potential of gas as an energy source and the existing infrastructure. In our work, we use information material, interviews, statements, events and other public relations tools to highlight the opportunities and possibilities of the energy source and endeavor to make a constructive and valuable contribution to the energy transition.
Transparency is an indispensable part of our work. We therefore openly state who we work for and what interests we represent. We do not improperly obtain information or unfairly influence decisions. Nor do we attempt to do so. We do not induce government employees to violate the rules and standards of behavior that apply to them. When we employ former government employees, we respect their obligation to comply with the rules that apply to them and to fulfil their duty of confidentiality.
Information is never offered or obtained in an unfair manner. This includes, in particular, granting or offering the prospect of direct or indirect financial incentives to addressees of interest representation if this would cause them to breach their duties.
Open communication and honesty towards our members, the media and representatives of politics, business and other social groups is very important to us. We place the highest demands on truth, verifiability, accuracy and reliability in the information we publish. We only use up-to-date, sufficiently clear information based on facts and scientific findings.
3. Antitrust Principles
As Zukunft Gas brings together companies that are in competition with each other, the work of the association is also based on antitrust principles. These are regulated in the Code of Conduct of Zukunft Gas e.V. §§ 2 and 3 (version dated 08/13/2021).
Antitrust law prohibits agreements that restrict competition or concerted behavior that restricts competition, for example in relation to specific prices and conditions.
4. Lobby Register
Zukunft Gas is registered in the lobby register for the representation of interests vis-à-vis the German Bundestag and the Federal Government. In addition to the recognized Code of Conduct pursuant to Section 3 para. 5 sentence 1 LobbyRG, the association also bases its lobbying activities on the principles of professional and transparent activity formulated here.