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What is politics doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Global Level
The Climate Convention was signed by 154 states at the United Nations "earth summit" in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It contains the self-obligation of the industrial states to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. In addition holding regular signing state conferences on climate protection was decided on. The climate convention came into force in 1994 and has been signed by nearly every world state in the meantime.
Internet: Convention website:
http://unfccc.int, convention text in several languages:
http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/background/items/2853.php
The Kyoto Protocol
was passed by the signing states at the 3rd Climate Convention in Kyoto in 1997. In this the industrial states make a binding obligation to reduce the joint emissions of the 6 most important
greenhouse gases in the period from 2008 to 2012 to at least 5% below the level of 1990. A system of fulfilment control is also foreseen. Furthermore, it was also decide to set up funds which that the developing nations in their climate protection measures. Although the USA and Australia have left the Kyoto Protocol, it could come into force following ratification by Russia on 16/02/2005. 141 states have already ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
Internet: Go to the Kyoto Protocol:
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_mechanisms/items/1673.php, Protocol text in several languages:
http://unfccc.int/essential_background/kyoto_protocol/background/items/1351.php
[a chronological summary of the milestones in international environmental policy can be found on a
separate page]
National Level
At national and regional level, politics influences the action of industry and private households, by
creating incentives for climate-friendly behaviour for instance, by way of
 | Penalising behaviour damaging to the environment, such as by taxing energy use (ecotax) |
| Rewards for climate-friendly behaviour, for instance, by financially promoting solar units, and measures for heat insulation. |
European Level
The use of climate-political instruments is also possible beyond state borders, as shown by the introduction of
emission trade
by the European Union in 2005. This measure uses market-economic mechanisms for climate protection and is very controversially discussed. They basic principles look as follows:
Operators of systems with sector-specific, particularly high CO2 output must own emission rights for the CO2 volumes they consume. Those who output more into the air than they own can sell these rights; Those who want to let out more can purchase additional emission rights. The number of emission rights for C02 emissions are limited in this way. At the same time a reduction in CO2 output provides individual companies with financial advantages through the sale of surplus emission rights (reward for climate-friendly behaviour).
[Author: Dipl.Biol. Marietta Enss, Edited by: Ragnar Müller]
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