As of: December 2008

General Information - Climate Protection

Our climate

Our atmosphere is a small miracle of nature. It contains so-called greenhouse gases that form a protective layer around the earth and prevent the heat emitting from earth disappearing into space. The earth would be bitterly cold without these greenhouse gases. Instead, we have a constant temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius.

Unnaturally high warming

Our problem today is that the concentration of greenhouse gases, especially of carbon dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere has risen too much due to the process of industrialization over the past 150 years. Emissions from industry, private households and traffic are constantly increasing this concentration and our atmosphere is heating up to an unnaturally high level. The industrialised countries in particular are responsible for this additional, unnatural greenhouse effect. While a citizen of India causes around 1 tonne of CO2 per year, a European causes 9 tonnes, and a US citizen as much as 20 tonnes per year. There will be far-reaching global consequences should it not be possible to keep this warming under control in the future. In the case of the further emission of greenhouse gases, a rise of 1.4°C to 5.8°C in the average global temperature is expected by 2100, and sea levels are expected to rise by 10-90 cm. Flooding of coastal regions and low-lying island states, desertification and melting icecaps would follow. Climate change is already one of the main causes of natural disasters such as floods and droughts.

International Climate Protection Policy: Germany Takes the Lead

As early as 1992 at the Earth Summit of Rio an agreement was made in the Framework Convention on Climate Change to stabilise the emission of greenhouse gases worldwide. Legally binding commitments, especially of the industrialised countries, were then fixed in Kyoto in 1997: The industrialised countries are to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by a total of 5 % between 2008 and 2012 against their 1990 levels. As part of the EU burden-sharing under the Kyoto Protocol, Germany committed itself to a total reduction of 21 % of its greenhouse gas emissions as against the levels of 1990. Although the Unites States declared their opting out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, the international community agreed on concrete provisions for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol, which has already been ratified by more than 150 states, entered into force on 16 February 2005 as an internationally binding agreement.

However, we cannot allow climate policies to end in 2012, be it at international or at national level. The rise of the average global temperature has to be limited to a maximum of 2°C compared with pre-industrial levels to ward off non-acceptable consequences and risks of climate change. We need medium and long term objectives to achieve a stabilisation of greenhouse gas emissions and secure planning and investment possibilities. The Federal Government committed itself in its Coalition Agreement to cut its greenhouse gas emission by 40 % (compared to the 1990 baseline levels) by 2020, if the EU Member States agree to a 30 % reduction of European emissions over the same period of time.

The German Government's Integrated Energy and Climate Programme

The German government has elaborated a comprehensive Integrated Energy and Climate Programme. This will bring Germany very close to reaching its goal of a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared with 1990: according to independent studies we will reach 36 percent.

Adaptation to climate change

Experts anticipate far-reaching consequences for the environment, economy and society, unless we can succeed in at least keeping climate change within limits. But even if the EU achieves its ambitious target to limit the rise of global mean temperature to less than 2°C compared to pre-industrial times, there will be consequences of climate change - in Germany too - which we have to be prepared for and adapt to. Modern climate policy is therefore based on two pillars: avoidance of greenhouse gases and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

Therefore, on 17 December 2008 the German government adopted the Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change. It is aimed at reducing our vulnerability to the unavoidable impacts of global climate change and at maintaining or increasing the capacity of natural, societal and economic systems to adapt.

What can I do?

Everyone can make an individual contribution to more efficient energy use - leading to financial benefits as well as benefits for the climate. Energy consumption can be considerably reduced by using energy-efficient technology for household appliances, lighting, heating systems or vehicles, and by using them economically. Simply switching off appliances when not in use rather than using the stand-by function would save 14 million tonnes of CO2 in Germany and would save many households up to 75 € in electricity costs every year.

Extensive and independent information and consulting services around the topic of efficient energy use can be obtained from the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) in cooperation with the consumer centres of the Länder. Under the headline of "Climate Seeks Protection", co2online (Website in German only) carries out a nationwide campaign supported by the German Environment Ministry with the goal of saving energy in private households as well as in industry and trade and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.