German specialty chemical company Bayer AG has received the "Low Carbon Leaders Award" at the international Climate Summit recently held in Montreal.

Bayer was recognised for its achievements over the last 10 years in the field of climate protection. An international jury of experts made up of representatives from politics, non-governmental organisations and industry, appointed by climate protection organisation The Climate Group, voted Bayer "best in class". It was the only German company to receive this status, which is awarded to the top five companies. In the global climate protection ranking Bayer was rated third out of a total of 500 companies.

Bayer received the award in recognition of its role in the reduction of emissions, as a result of which the group has already exceeded both national and international targets. While the Kyoto Protocol and the German Bundestag stipulate a 25% reduction in greenhouse gases in Germany by 2005 and 50% by 2020 compared with 1990, Bayer has succeeded in lowering emissions worldwide by more than 60% since the beginning of the 1990s.