As of: March 2009

General Information Climate Initiative

Since the beginning of 2008 the Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) has had additional funds at its disposal from the sale of emissions allowances for the implementation of a Climate Initiative. In 2008 a total of 400 million euro was available, of which 280 million was invested in Germany and 120 million euro in developing and newly industrialising countries. For 2009 this has been increased to 460 million euro of additional funding for the BMU budget.

The goal of the Climate Initiative is to tap existing potential for reducing emissions in a cost-effective way and to advance innovative model projects for climate protection. Specifically, the BMU promotes climate protection measures for increased energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energies. Furthermore, the International Climate Initiative supports measures for adapting to climate change and for conserving climate-relevant biodiversity in developing and newly industrialising countries. It thus aims to bring new momentum to negotiations on an international climate agreement for the post-2012 period.

The BMU is therefore establishing an innovative and reliable mechanism for international climate protection financing and making an important contribution to reaching ambitious climate protection targets in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

National Climate Initiative

The focus of the National Climate Initiative is on consumers, industry and municipalities and on social and cultural establishments. The support programmes and individual projects aim to

• advance climate-friendly technologies in a targeted way
• demonstrate and disseminate innovative climate technologies using model projects and
• identify and overcome barriers preventing the implementation of climate protection measures.

Five support programmes have been published so far as part of the national initiative:

• Guidelines on promoting climate protection projects in municipalities and in social and cultural establishments
• Climate incentive programme for the installation of mini-CHP plants (CHP: combined heat and power) in private households and commercial enterprises
• Climate incentive programme for commercial refrigeration plants
• A programme for promoting projects to optimise biomass energy use and
• An extension of the existing market incentive programme for renewable heat.

The BMU aims to develop a general support framework for the market launch and penetration of climate technologies and to present this to the EU Commission for approval. Further support programmes can then be set up (from 2009) within this framework, including for industry.

As well as support programmes, the BMU is initiating and supporting individual climate protection projects. For example, consumer advice centres will soon launch a nationwide "information campaign on climate" to advise households on options for action in all areas of climate protection. The new service supplements the existing energy saving consultation supported by the Federal Economic Ministry (BMWi). An action programme "Climate in Schools and Educational Establishments" comprises coordinated actions on energy saving, improved energy efficiency, the installation of renewable energies, the provision of teaching materials, the qualification of teaching staff, the implementation of model projects, the organisation of climate days and other projects to raise climate awareness. Additionally, several projects are under preparation that serve to help enterprises structure their production processes in a more climate-friendly and thus more cost-effective way. The Climate Initiative also funds further research in the field of renewable energies. For example, the BMU will support the planning, construction and operation of the first German offshore wind farm "Alpha Ventus" in the North Sea. Funds are also available for climate projects in the Environmental Innovation Programme.

The effectiveness of the Climate Initiative’s programmes and individual projects (e.g. greenhouse gas reduction, multiplier effect, impacts on jobs) is evaluated by a team of research institutes. The programmes will be continuously adapted and further developed on the basis of this evaluation.

The National Climate Initiative makes a valuable contribution to achieving Germany’s climate protection target. The German government has set itself the ambitious goal of a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared with 1990. To this end the German cabinet adopted its "Integrated Energy and Climate Programme (IEKP)" on 5 December 2007.

International Climate Initiative

The International Climate Initiative supports climate projects worldwide in developing and newly industrialising countries and in transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Through this, the BMU is making an effective contribution to emission reductions and adaptation to climate change. This new form of environmental cooperation complements the Government’s existing development cooperation.

When selecting projects, the BMU attaches great importance to the development of innovative and multipliable approaches that impact beyond the individual project itself. Through targeted cooperation with partner countries the Climate Initiative provides important momentum for negotiations on an international climate agreement for the post-2012 period.

The focus of the International Climate Initiative lies in the areas of

• promoting sustainable energy supply
• promoting measures for adaptation to the impacts of climate change and conserving biodiversity with climate relevance.

In the field of sustainable energy supply, projects on a scale of up to 60 million euro are to be implemented in 2008. The goal is to support partner countries in establishing an energy supply structure that prevents climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions where possible. Support is also given towards increasing energy efficiency, expanding renewable energies, reducing environmentally harmful hydrofluorocarbons and for investment-related measures and know-how in the partner country.

In the field of adaptation to climate change, too, projects on a scale of up to 60 million euro are to be implemented in 2008. One particular focus is on the interface between biodiversity conservation and climate, for example the conservation of large forests, which is also very important for the climate.

The funds from the International Climate Initiative will primarily flow into bilateral projects. Additionally, involvement in international climate funds in the context of the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol is also planned.