Climate

Twenty per cent of the world population consume 80% of the world’s resources and contribute 80% of total carbon emissions. These 20% live in the richest industrial nations, which also have the capacities and the resources to deal with climate change appropriately, but are least affected by the consequences.

Significant efforts are required to reduce carbon emissions and to prevent an increase in temperature of more than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

The less developed the capacity of a state is to deal with conflicts and the less its ability is for adaptation and regeneration, the harder the state will be hit by the impacts of climate change.

Without an adequate and just financing of measures, we will not be able to deal with impacts of climate change.

Even antagonists have realised that ecology and economy are inextricably linked and that sustainable policy is politically realistic. A responsible resource policy with a view to climate change is not only becoming more important, but is the best protection against the threat of a lack of resources.

Never before have such important decisions had to be taken within a period of two years. The agendas for the next negotiations in Poznan (2008) and Copenhagen (2009) were passed in Bali in 2007.

Future projections of effects and costs of climate change are highly uncertain. Many scientific findings are required to make the projections as exact as possible.

With this dossier the Heinrich Böll Foundation presents its latest international publications and events, and provides background information on other stakeholders and fora.