Expert support for Germany’s Climate Action Plan 2050
Oeko-Institut is providing advisory support for the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety in the elaboration of its Climate Action Plan 2050. The team of researchers is drawing up basic scientific information and also using its expertise to accompany the dialogue process with the public.
The need for action on climate protection
The German government has set long-term targets for reducing national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 to 95 percent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Intermediate targets have also been specified in Germany’s Climate Action Plan 2020 and in its National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency: Germany’s GHG emissions should be reduced by at least 40 percent by 2020. According to current data and information, however, the measures described in these plans will not be sufficient to achieve the long-term climate mitigation targets.
A Climate Action Plan for 2050 should therefore elaborate additional steps and discuss these in a dialogue process with the Länder, municipalities, associations and committed citizens. For this purpose, Oeko-Institut is developing emission paths, i.e. possible development paths for CO2 emissions in the various sectors such as the energy industry, buildings and the transport sector. Furthermore, its researchers are assessing the impact of policy instruments for reducing CO2 emissions in these sectors. The German government is planning to present its Climate Action Plan 2050 to the public in autumn 2016 within the scope of a conference to be prepared by experts at Oeko-Institut.
Public participation – a success factor
Oeko-Institut is not alone in believing that the success of climate mitigation substantially depends on the degree to which the adopted climate measures find acceptance. Against this background, the German Environment Ministry is launching a public participation process for the Climate Action Plan 2050, giving citizens the opportunity to discuss climate mitigation issues and the specific cornerstones of the latest Climate Action Plan with politicians.
Oeko-Institut is providing expert support for this process and drawing up background papers that are specifically tailored to the general public. Its researchers are also accompanying the events geared to specific issues of the Plan and are preparing additional expert conferences.
In the project, Oeko-Institut is working together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Fraunhofer ISI) and the Institute for Resource Efficiency and Energy Strategies (IREES); it will run from July 2015 to the first quarter of 2018.
Contact:
Julia Repenning
Deputy Head of Energy & Climate Division (Berlin)
Oeko-Institut, Berlin office
Phone: ++49 30 405085-384
Email: j.repenning@oeko.de
Dr. Veit Bürger
Deputy Head of Energy & Climate Division (Freiburg / Darmstadt)
Oeko-Institut, Freiburg head office
Phone: ++49 761 45295-259
Email: v.buerger@oeko.de