In a speech at Humboldt University in Berlin today, Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel outlined the road towards a successful climate agreement to be adopted as a follow-up to the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen in December this year. "An ambitious follow-up agreement is feasible. But to conclude such an agreement, the participants in the G8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy this week have to make it clear that global warming must not exceed two degrees Celsius," Minister Gabriel said.
In view of the magnitude of the challenge, defining a clear negotiating target for Copenhagen is extremely important. "To put it in plain terms: global greenhouse gas emissions from industrialised and developing countries have to be cut by more than 50 percent by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. This means that industrialised countries have to drastically reduce their emissions by 80 to 95 percent by 2050. Newly industrialising and developing countries must achieve a 15 to 30 percent reduction rate measured against their current development path," Minister Gabriel stated.
He explained that the fundamental structural change required in the economy could only be realistically achieved if it was launched now, and if ambitious medium-term targets were defined. "The industrialised countries need to curb their emissions by 25 to 40 percent by 2020 compared with the base year 1990. The EU has submitted an offer on how this target can be met. Our commitment is clear: The EU is willing to reduce its emissions by 30 percent in the framework of a comprehensive global agreement. For we are convinced that this also pays off economically," Minister Gabriel said.