The G8 summit achieved great progress on climate change policy. The leading industrialized states now aim to reduce global greenhouse emissions by at least half before 2050, as part of a UN process. Many participants altered their positions quite considerably: the agreement that binding goals on reducing emissions were necessary was an important signal. The US approach was also incorporated, namely including the biggest greenhouse gas emitters outside the United States, especially China and India, into the agreement. The environment ministers of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change can now negotiate details of how these goals regarding global reductions are to be achieved. It is clear that all countries are responsible for reducing greenhouse gases, but in different ways. The industrialized countries must take the first step, but this agreement will apply to everyone.

There are sometimes differing views in the Europe and the USA about which path we should take forward and the instruments we should deploy. Regardless of the approach we take or the goal we are pursuing - climate protection, energy security, or both - the key to the resolution of these problems is the same. This is why Europe and the USA should work together to deal with these issues. If we can do this, we will undoubtedly be able to manage the risks we face.

There are many areas in which we can cooperate pragmatically: the development of clean coal-burning power stations, the further evolution of renewable energies, research into biofuels or fuel cell and hydrogen technology. We will all benefit from such cooperation: first, because we can combine and bundle the technological expertise of Europe and the USA. Second, it will enable us to reduce the length of time it takes to carry out research and so ensure costs remain manageable. If we do not develop these new technologies and bring them to market maturity, others will do it instead. The markets for energy security and climate protection technologies are currently being divided up, and we know that it is very difficult indeed to win back market share once it has been lost. A look at the capital markets shows how important this field is for the future.

The problems of climate protection and energy security lead to one clear, general conclusion: Energy policy must concentrate on energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energies. Energy efficiency and a expansion of renewable energies will involve the comprehensive modernization of our infrastructure and capital assets, technological innovation and the development of important future markets. The careful management of energy by the industrialized and threshold countries is also a form of applied security policy because it will reduce the risk of conflicts over the distribution of resources and enable the developing countries to gain access to affordable energy. Our response to the growing demand for energy and our efforts to reduce climate damage and air, soil and water pollution therefore need to be combined with measures that allow the world’s poorest people to have access to energy resources. We therefore need to collaborate closely on these issues, creating the preconditions for energy supply systems robust enough to cope with the challenges of the future.


Katherina Reiche is a Member of the German Parliament and Deputy Chairwoman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.


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