Environmental protection

This must happen worldwide to protect the climate

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Climate change does not stop at any place on this earth. In recent years, we in Germany have also seen what we could be facing here. To achieve global climate protection goals, all countries must cooperate fairly and on their own responsibility.

Against this background, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, which advises politics and society on important issues for the future, commissioned an interdisciplinary working group of scientists. They conducted a scientific debate on the urgency of climate protection and recommended measures that can have a rapid and socially balanced effect:

1. the binding target values for CO₂ emissions agreed at European level must be achieved.

2. the reduction of emissions shall be carried out in a socially balanced manner.

3. the measures should be taken at the lowest possible economic cost.

In principle, causing CO₂ emissions should become unattractive, while CO₂-saving behavior is rewarded. (7)

What measures can policymakers in Germany take?

Germany, one of the largest industrialized nations, is a major contributor to global warming. For this reason, the Federal Republic, together with the European Union, would like to take a pioneering role in climate protection in the future and become climate neutral by 2045. (1) Germany's official climate target is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% compared to 1990 levels. According to the Öko-Institut, the Federal Republic should only emit an average of around 0.3 billion tons of CO₂ per year - instead of the current 0.8 billion tons of CO₂. (8)

With the Climate Protection Program 2030, the German government has developed measures to help ensure that Germany's climate protection targets are achieved in various sectors by 2030. The measures apply to all sectors of the economy and include, for example, the introduction of CO₂ pricing in the heating and transport sectors as well as many other climate protection measures for the energy, industry, buildings, transport, agriculture, forestry and waste management sectors. For example, renewable energies are to be expanded more quickly, investments are to be made in local public transport, and sustainable agriculture and energy-efficient buildings are to be promoted . (3)

We should also cut energy consumption in half by renovating buildings to make them more energy efficient, greatly increasing the energy efficiency of new buildings, and at the same time reducing our own energy consumption. If we switch to renewable energy supplies, we will cover a large part of our hot water and heating needs without causing climate-damaging emissions. (5) In addition, to meet the targets, it is necessary to close coal-fired power plants. The changes this will bring will mean that electricity will have to be produced in other ways, and regions where coal was a crucial raw material will have to be economically supported. (1)

With the new Climate Protection Act 2021, Germany wants to step up its game in terms of climate protection and regularly review its climate targets. From 2022, the Expert Council on Climate Issues will issue a report every two years on the targets, measures and trends achieved to date. In addition, the law stipulates that by 2045 no more CO₂ should be emitted than can be reabsorbed via forests or other pathways. Alternatively, more emissions can be purchased thanks to greenhouse gas certificates. The path to climate neutrality has thus been defined even more concretely and, above all, creates planning certainty. (1)

International cooperation is called for in climate protection

By 2050, the world's population will grow from the current eight billion to almost ten billion. In the course of this development, greenhouse gas emissions will increase, especially in emerging and developing countries. (2) Climate change can only be successfully implemented and combated through the cooperation of all countries and with the help of an international approach.

Against this backdrop, the EU and its Member States are taking a leading role in climate finance to support developing countries, facilitate their development towards a green economy and minimize the negative impacts of climate change. (6) The bulk of the money is to be collected in the so-called Green Climate Fund (GCF), which was created as a result of the 2010 climate conference in Cancún. The fund provides grants, loans, guarantees and equity for programs that aim to achieve low-carbon economic development or help adapt to climate change. The money for this comes not only from the public sector, but also from private sector actors* to mobilize additional resources for high-impact actions. (4)

With the help of massive investments in climate-friendly technologies, ambitious climate targets can also be achieved. This requires easy cooperation with companies in emerging and developing countries. Industrialized countries must strengthen their innovative power in order to exploit the global potential for climate protection. At the same time, lead markets around the world should be developed in a targeted manner to accelerate the development and market maturity of new technologies. The improved framework conditions will in turn create major economic opportunities for companies within Germany as well as the EU. (2)

How Planted supports the measures

Many of the tools we can use to tackle climate change already exist or can simply be integrated into nature. Growing peatlands, for example, can remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and bind it permanently in the peat body. Forests and trees are also important greenhouse gas sinks in the climate system, as they store carbon in the form of biomass and organic material. We at Planted also support the reforestation of forests in Germany. Would you like to find out more? Then find out more about our project here !

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