Climate Protection Policy Research Articles

Climate Protection Policy from the Point of View of Energy Policy

Noticeable success in reducing CO2 emissions can only be reached if the government provides the necessary framework and if a strategy of climate protection is developed with - and not against - the economy. A policy of deliberate energy price increase, geared towards the producers with possibilities of compensation, mixed with a system of direct government incentives and limited legal measures as well as self-obligation, can best achieve reductions in emissions of 25-30%. Even if this target is reached in Germany - as CO2 emissions would only temporarily fall by 1% - the global greenhouse problem would not be changed drastically. A strategy for keeping in check the anthropogenic greenhouse effect has to be designed globally. At the very least, action in the whole EC is required. The suggestion of the EC-commission to introduce an EC CO2/energy tax is to be applauded.