Climate protection requires political action


Fast rising consumption of oil and gas does not only have far-reaching consequences economically. The harmful influence on our climate from CO2 emissions resulting from combustion forces us to take action. Here too, the solution lies in improved efficiency together with the increased use of renewables.

Stopping global warming

According to research by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations (IPCC), if unchecked climate change is to be prevented, the average temperature must not increase by more than 2 °C compared to what it was before the Industrial Revolution. To achieve this, CO2 emissions would have to be halved by 2050. In reality, however, they have risen by 38 percent to 31 billion tonnes per annum compared to 1990 (Fig. 5).

CO2 emissions worldwide | CO2 emissions must be halved by 2050 if climate change with unforeseeable consequences is to be avertedCO2 emissions worldwide in percent | CO2 emissions must be halved by 2050 if climate change with unforeseeable consequences is to be averted
CO2 emissions worldwide | CO2 emissions must be halved by 2050 if climate change with unforeseeable consequences is to be avertedFigure 5CO2 emissions worldwide in percent | CO2 emissions must be halved by 2050 if climate change with unforeseeable consequences is to be avertedFigure 6


UN climate conferences so far largely unsuccessful

Since the ratification of the Kyoto protocol of 1997, there have been 17 international climate conferences. The aim is to establish a new world climate protection agreement that should come into force in 2012. After the participants of the conference in Copenhagen 2009 could not agree on a reduction of CO2 emissions, little hope is attached to future climate conferences. 

However, it is essential not to put climate policy objectives on the back burner and give up on efforts to protect the world climate.

Goals and twin strategy for their achievement set out by EU

Away from the global level, concrete aims to protect the climate, to save energy and to extend the utilisation of renewables have already been agreed at a European level. The EU Commission wants to see annual CO2 emissions in Europe by 2020 reduced by at least 20 percent compared to 1990. In addition, the proportion of renewables should be increased by 20 percent and total energy consumption reduced by 20 percent. A twin strategy has been adopted to implement the energy-political goals, envisaging both an increase in energy efficiency and the utilisation of renewables in order to conserve fossil fuels.

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