*Turbulent Times for Chemicals : Coping with Challenges through Sustainable Development* 1950 delegates, politicians and high-level speakers from environmental organizations attended the 43rd Annual Meeting of the European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) in Berlin, from the 3rd to the 7th of October 2009. The EPCA 43rd Annual Meeting gave delegates and speakers the opportunity to engage in an open debate on long-term approaches to cope with nfinancial, environmental and social challenges. The EPCA 43rd Annual Meeting focused on how to take the petrochemical industry through the global economic downturn and financial crisis with the help of sustainable development recommendations. With keynote speeches and panel discussions, it has been demonstrated that sustainability is a shared interest for all and that the chemical industry is a key sector to deal with the world’s social, economic and environmental challenges. *Content* *day 1* *Keynote Speeches: p2 Turbulent Times For Chemicals:COPING WITH CHALLENGES THROUGHSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT* Dr Albert Heuser, Stephen Pryor *Panel Discussion: p6 DOWNTURN, SURVIVAL &SUSTAINABILITY:URGENT ACTION ITEMS* Moderator Nadine Dereza Joschka Fischer, Dr. Gerd Leipold, Nikhil Meswani, Frank Rinderknecht *day 2 Keynote Speeches: p8 Turbulent Times For Chemicals:COPING WITH CHALLENGES THROUGHSUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS* Phil Browitt, Dr. Ulrich von Deessen *Panel Discussion: p12 Turbulent Times For Chemicals:COPING WITH CHALLENGES THROUGHSUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS* Moderator Nadine Dereza Edouard Croufer, Joschka Fischer, Hervé Montjotin, Dr. Ulrich von Deessen *Closing Lunch: p16 HOW TO ACHIEVE GLOBALSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ANECONOMIC DOWNTURN ANDGEO-POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY* Prof. Condoleezza Rice *Dr Albert Heuser* President Petrochemicals BASF President of EPCA *KEYNOTE SPEECHES: Turbulent Times for Chemicals: Coping with Challenges through Sustainable Development Introduction* *day 1* In his opening speech Dr Albert Heuser, EPCA President, heartily welcomed some 2000 delegates to the 43rd annual EPCA business meeting dedicated to “Coping with Challenges through Sustainable Development”. In times of suffering economies and customer industries which have been drastically affected by this unprecedented crisis, the petrochemical industry has shown its ability to act quickly and efficiently. The chemical industry has reacted to the crisis pro-actively by cutting production, by introducing part-time work and with the closure of less efficient plants Looking forward, Dr. Heuser expressed his deep conviction that despite difficult times “keeping focus on continuing implementing sustainable development in the way we operate our businesses is the key to cope with today’s and tomorrow’s challenges”. *“keeping focus on implementing sustainable development in the way we operate is the key to cope with today’s and tomorrow’s challenges”. * He invited the petrochemical industry to view the current difficulties as “an opportunity to show that not only it deserves its licence to operate, but that the chemical industry is a great industry, which is and will be part of the solution when it comes to sustainable development and better life”.