As of: 10 September 2007

• Title: Climate security - Challenge of the 21st century

• Subtitle: Climate protection is the foundation of economic development
• Speaker: Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Sigmar Gabriel
• Occasion: Third ministerial meeting of energy and environment ministers of the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development
• Date/Location: 10.09.2007, Berlin

I. Current situation: Climate change is a reality

Where do we stand with climate protection in September 2007?

1. Since the publication of the latest IPCC report, it has become commonly recognised that anthropogenic climate change is a reality and is accelerating. Climate change has the potential to pose a lasting threat to our natural environment, our economic development and our global security. The development opportunities of the world's poorest countries in particular and of our children are being threatened, if not destroyed.
2. The Stern Report makes clear that loss in prosperity as a result of neglected climate protection is significantly higher than the costs of active climate protection.
3. It is also clear that we have the means to restrict climate change to a just about manageable level. However, the window of opportunity is closing rapidly (10-15 years). This means we have a responsibility to act now.
4. This greatest challenge of our time, however, has still greater implications. Combating climate change is a prerequisite for peace and security in the world, and is ultimately a question of global justice.
5. We have reached a crossroads: Either we invest together in the future of our children or the flows of refugees triggered by droughts and floods will upset the balance in many regions of the world.

II. Defining a clear course

Against this background, it is essential that we steer a clear course towards a new climate agreement. Where should we start, where do we want to go and what will serve as the compass for our common journey? I would like to outline seven key elements:

1. First of all we need a common, long-term goal. The IPCC report urges us to limit the global temperature rise to 2°C as compared with pre-industrial times if we want to ward off the worst impacts of climate change.
2. When shaping the new climate protection agreement for the post-2012 period it is essential that we achieve a fair balance of interests. Industrialised countries have to lead the way, and newly industrialising countries have to make an appropriate contribution and decouple their economic growth from emissions development. Chancellor Merkel is right in saying that in the long term we have to aim towards equal per capita emissions.
3. We need concrete, binding interim targets. The question of whether the measures we adopt are sufficient to reach our goal cannot remain unanswered. This is the weakness of concepts based on voluntary measures, however valuable these individual measures may be.
4. Climate protection must be linked with sustainable economic development and with economic, financial, foreign and security policy. A fairer world trade system would undoubtedly support the necessary climate protection efforts.
5. Economic development needs affordable energy. It is therefore crucial to link energy supply and climate protection in an intelligent way. Energy efficiency and renewable energies are key elements here. How we can best structure this link between climate protection, energy security and sustainable development is the key issue of the Gleneagles Dialogue.
6. The efficiency revolution that is needed in terms of both environment and economy will only happen when greenhouse gas emissions have a price. We need a globally functioning carbon market as a steering instrument. However, we also need it to generate revenues which we can use to transform our energy systems and adapt to unavoidable climate change. A well-functioning global framework with clear incentives is indispensable.

But a clear price signal alone is not enough. We need a whole range of policies and measures that lead to the swift market introduction of climate-friendly technologies: standards, public relations work, research, market launch strategies, technology transfer and much more. We need to accelerate the switch from 'old' to 'new', from wasteful to efficient energy use. In short: we need an efficiency revolution. We also need a quantum leap in international cooperation, in particular between North and South, in order to advance the restructuring which is imperative for both economic and ecological reasons so that we can achieve a sustainable energy supply.

III. Diversity of initiatives and processes

The large number of initiatives and conferences underway must be gauged in terms of whether they help bring us further along our road. I would like to highlight just three examples of these:

• Climate protection was the dominating issue for the G8 heads of state and government in Heiligendamm. They laid the foundation for a long-term goal and proposed a roadmap to the international community for achieving this goal: the negotiations on a UN climate protection agreement should be concluded by the end of 2009.
• In the Gleneagles Dialogue, we aim to speed up the market introduction and dissemination of climate-friendly technologies, and improve the conditions for climate-friendly investment and North-South cooperation.
• At the conference being hosted by the US administration in Washington on 27/28 September, the major economies will discuss what contribution they can make to the international climate process in order to reduce emissions.

In view of the many initiatives and conferences, we must be careful not to lose our focus or stray from the common path. Constructive contributions along this common path are what we need, not alternative routes. Such initiatives are only helpful if they make a measurable contribution towards achieving the joint goal and are integrated into the UN negotiation process. Only this process provides the legitimacy for global action.

IV. New climate protection agreement

Bali must signal the start of comprehensive negotiations on a new climate agreement for the post-2012 period. In my view, this agreement must encompass the following:

1. A joint long-term goal.
2. Ambitious, absolute reduction commitments for all industrialised countries.
3. More far-reaching, fair contributions from other countries, especially newly industrialising countries.
4. An expansion of the carbon market, including innovative and more far-reaching flexible mechanisms.
5. A new quality of cooperation on development, dissemination and transfer of climate-friendly technologies.
6. Greater efforts for adaptation to climate change, including financial support.
7. Inclusion of international aviation and shipping.
8. Reduction of emissions from deforestation.

However, we will not develop the political momentum we need for successful negotiations from the international negotiation process alone. For this reason, we need the support of heads of state and government; we need pioneers and a large number of initiatives which support the international process. At the same time, it must also be clear to us that these can never replace the UN process.

V. Integrated climate and energy programmes of the EU and Germany

The European Union made a start under the German presidency: The EU has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020 compared with 1990, if an international agreement is reached. Irrespective of the outcome of international negotiations, we in the European Union have already agreed to reduce our emissions by at least 20 percent by 2020 compared with 1990. By 2020 we also aim to triple the share of renewables to 20 percent and increase energy efficiency by 20 percent.

However, targets are only worth as much as the measures to implement them. The German government has just adopted a comprehensive package of 30 measures for implementing the European targets nationally. With this integrated energy and climate package we are moving closer to our target of a 40 percent reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared with 1990, while at the same time securing economic growth. This puts Germany at the forefront, but other European countries are also advancing along this path.

The starting point for our approach is the goal to combat climate change with an integrated strategy and reach a new level in industrial development. An ambitious efficiency strategy provides impetus for innovations, economic development and employment. Not least, this enables us to reduce our dependence on energy imports. This is also crucial for many developing countries. We are very willing to work with them, building on our experience, and to share our expertise with them.

VI. Outlook

Colleagues,

Climate change is the greatest challenge to mankind's ability to work together to solve a global problem. Climate change extends beyond borders and policies, and forces us to act in timeframes which we as politicians are not accustomed to.

We need a "new deal for the future of the world". We need a new focus for all policies - not just environmental policy - which is jointly supported by government, industry and society.

• A policy which focuses on efficiency and renewable energies.
• A policy which sets the right economic framework for investment in these energies of the future.
• A policy which optimally combines climate protection and economic development.
• A policy which ensures global justice by combating climate change and showing solidarity with the victims of climate change.

This new deal calls for political leadership. Let us play our part to make this happen.

Further Information:

• www.bmu.de/gleneagles-dialogue