Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel commenting the "Stern Review"
Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel commented as follows on the report published by the chief economist of the UK government, Nicholas Stern ("Stern Review"):
"The report confirms from an economic point of view that climate change poses a threat to our economic development. We have to act now - at national and international level. The question as to whether we will be able to ward off the most severe impacts of climate change or whether we will just leave matters to our children and grandchildren to cope with will be decided in the next 10 to 15 years. Therefore we have to do everything in our power to prevent a global warming of 2° Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. The earlier we take effective measures to protect our climate, the less costly this will be. We will have to make it much clearer that we will benefit greatly by making our society a climate friendly one and thus becoming fit for the future. Active climate protection strengthens our economy, creates new jobs and opens up tremendous additional export opportunities to our companies. Those who rely on climate friendly energy technologies, the efficient use of energy and on renewable energy sources will win the race.
During its presidency in the European Council and in the group of G-8 next year Germany will place an emphasis on climate change and energy efficiency. We, the industrialised countries, who are responsible for most of the climate damaging greenhouse gas emissions due to our wasteful use of resources and energy must take the lead in demonstrating that economic growth is possible with a reduced consumption of energy and resources.
The most important issue in climate negotiations of the coming years will be the future development of the Kyoto Protocol after the year 2012. Germany will continue to play its leading role in climate protection.
We propose an EU commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 as against 1990 levels. If that commitment stands Germany will strive for a reduction of its emissions beyond that target."
Background information: Sir Nicholas Stern presented a comprehensive economic analysis of climate change commissioned by the government of the United Kingdom to the Royal Society in London today. Stern heads the Government Economics Service in the UK and was chief economist at the World Bank prior to that. According to his report the costs for climate protection measures amounting to approximately one percent of global GDP would fall markedly below the tremendous burdens and risks which would be caused by an unrestricted increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Economic growth will definitely slow down if we do not take action: Stern even compares the costs of non-action in climate protection with losses the world economy suffered between the years 1914 and 1945, a period which witnessed two world wars and a world economic crisis.
The "Stern Review" calls for a clear international climate protection framework on the basis of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
The report can be found on the Internet at www.sternreview.org.uk .