As storms devastate forests, glaciers melt and sea temperatures rise, the consequences of incipient climate change are in growing evidence. Scientists around the world are unequivocal, in their conviction that these changes are caused by rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The global community faces a huge challenge. On the one hand, decisive steps must be taken to halt climate change. On the other hand, the rising demand for energy must be satisfied, because the world population is growing and people everywhere have a right to development and a decent standard of living – and for this, they need energy. more

The consequences of global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion are being felt all over the world. As the prime contributors to climate change, the industrialised countries must accept particular responsibility for climate protection. But their efforts to reduce their environmental impacts will not succeed if emissions continue to rise in other parts of the world. Sustainable and globally effective solutions can only be realised in the context of international cooperation. The international community has already taken important steps – primarily in the Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer from depletion and in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gases. Now these steps must be followed up with further action. In December 2007, the international community reached agreement in Bali on the framework for negotiations over the next few years. This road map for negotiating a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol is set out in the Bali Action Plan. more

There is a direct correlation between inadequate energy supplies and poverty. The aim of German development policy is to supply more people in developing countries with energy in order to improve their living conditions. Concurrent aims are to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, especially oil, and to avoid local and global environmental degradation. Germany therefore supports the promotion of sustainable energy generation technologies, and advocates the efficient production and use of energy. more

The potential for renewable energies is enormous. In purely mathematical terms, solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and biomass could supply a thousand times more energy than the world population needs. But so far people have only developed the technology to harness a fraction of this potential. Today renewable energies are only competitive in a few regions of the world. This is partly because of the high up-front investment costs and partly because fossil fuels are heavily subsidised in many countries. Policymakers are called upon to ensure fair terms and conditions in energy markets. more

Renewable energies are not the only important factor for the development of a sustainable energy supply and mitigation of climate change. Energy also needs to be used efficiently. Currently around 70 per cent of primary energy used worldwide is wasted – in production, in transport and by the end user. Vast efficiency potentials could be tapped in these areas. more

Here you will find a selection of links to documents and websites with further information on energy and climate protection in the context of development cooperation. more