Assumption 2: International climate protection agreements
If greenhouse gas emissions remain at their current level, the Earth’s climate will undergo far-reaching changes. If we wish to avoid this, every nation on Earth must reach an international consensus on climate policy, and technology must be exchanged between industrialised and newly industrialised countries, particularly China and India.
Even if Germany or the EU instantly stopped all of their carbon dioxide emissions, it would do nothing to stop the progress of climate change if the rest of the world continues with business as usual. Therefore, in addition to Germany’s commitment to reducing its CO2 emissions, there needs to be a greater international emphasis on obtaining the cooperation of the members of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, but especially the USA, and up-and-coming newly industrialised countries such as China and India, because it is these countries that are responsible for 50% of all global CO2 emissions. This requires considerable effort on the part of Germany’s government and the European Union as well as the transfer of clean technology, particularly to China and India.