Energy and Environment Ministers meet in London
Federal Environment Minister Juergen Trittin has called attention to the necessity of a global change in energy policy and to the opportunities it offered. On Wednesday, at the meeting of Energy and Environment Ministers from 20 countries in London Trittin stated: "Given the world's growing hunger for energy and the progressive climate change we have to change energy policy on a global level. We have to turn away from oil and nuclear power towards more energy efficiency in the conversion and consumption of energy. This, and an extensive expansion of renewable energies, are the dictates of the moment."
With regard to the transformation of energy systems initiated by the Federal Government, the Federal Environment Minister stressed that changes are not only feasible, but also economically advantageous. Trittin said: "The extensive expansion of renewable energies has placed German companies in a leading position internationally, especially in the wind power sector. Climate-friendly technologies are an advantage in the strong competition on the world market. Renewable energies are helping to combat global poverty and create new jobs - a good 120,000 jobs in Germany alone."
Against the background of the agreed nuclear phase-out Trittin underlined that the share of nuclear energy in Germany will be reduced to zero by 2020. At the same time, there will be a modernisation of existing German power stations at a capacity of about 40,000 MW within the next 20 years. Trittin. "We are in the process of restructuring our energy mix. We want to increase the share of renewable energies to 20 per cent by 2020, which means doubling its current share. Fossil fuels such as gas and coal will also play an important role in the future, though in much more efficient power stations than today."
At the invitation of the United Kingdom, Energy and Environment Ministers from 20 countries met for two days to discuss the challenges and opportunities of a climate-friendly energy supply at the round table. The discussions focussed on successful instruments and adequate framework conditions for a sustainable energy policy as well as the development of climate-friendly energy technologies, for example in energy efficiency technologies, and renewable energies and their market introduction. Apart from the G8 countries, other industrialized, newly industrialized and developing countries participated in the round table, among them Brazil, China and South Africa. The round table was opened on Tuesday by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.
China 's representative, Vice-Chair of the National Development and Reform Commission Liu Jiang, highlighted his country's willingness to increase the share of renewable energies in energy generation to 10 per cent by 2010. This alone would save 813 million tonnes of CO2 per annum. This is the goal China set itself at the Bonn conference "renewables 2004". At this conference, the German Chancellor announced that Germany would provide another 500 million euro for the funding of measures in the renewable energies sector over a period of 5 years, starting in 2005. Germany had already promised 1 billion euro for the promotion of energy efficiency and the expansion of renewable energies at the Johannesburg Summit in 2002.
Over the years to come, considerable investments will be necessary worldwide for the energy infrastructure. The International Energy Agency estimates that about 16 trillion US dollar may need to be invested over the next 25 years.
Federal Environment Minister Trittin emphasised that the international policy on climate protection must be continued beyond the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol. Trittin: "We cannot afford to be inactive. We have to reduce global emissions by up to 50 per cent by the middle of this century. To ensure the countries of the south can exercise their right to develop, industrialised countries must make significant reductions. The Kyoto Protocol provides the instruments to achieve cost-effective climate protection. Emissions trading, which is just beginning in Europe, will trigger a real investment boom in new, highly efficient power plants."
Within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol, Germany has committed to a 21 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. A reduction of almost 19 per cent has already been reached. Renewable energies save about 60 million tonnes of CO2 in Germany each year. If the EU committed to reducing its emissions by 30 per cent by 2020, Germany would be willing to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent within the same timeframe. The EU Environment Council recently agreed that the industrialized countries are to reduce their emissions by 15 to 30 per cent by 2020 in a second phase and by 60 to 80 per cent by 2050.
On Thursday, Federal Environment Minister Trittin will participate in a meeting of the G8 Environment Ministers in Derbyshire. The recently published report by the Africa Commission, established by Prime Minister Tony Blair, will be one topic on the agenda of this meeting. The meeting of Environment and Development Ministers on Friday will also address the issues of Africa and climate protection. Tony Blair has highlighted these issues as the focus of Britain's G8 presidency in 2005.
More information:
G8 ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT MINISTERIAL, 18 March 2005 (Declaration)