Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change

The IPCC regularly publishes assessment reports in which they compile research projects and findings on climate mitigation from all over the world as transparent and holistic as possible. Prof. Dr. Manfred Fischedick was one of the coordinators and lead author of the chapter "Industry" of the IPCC Report "Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change - Working Group III Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change".

The report presents the status quo of the reduction possibilities for greenhouse gas emissions, analyses the main causes for emissions and the yet unexploited potential of measures and which sides effects these could cause.

According to the report, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions increased over the last couple of years. One of the main causes for industry related emissions is Asia with a share of 52 percent. Further emission reduction could be achieved by implementing more efficient technologies and collaborations that foster a more efficient use of infrastructure, energy and information. The biggest obstacle to overcome in further reduction undertakings are, according to the authors, high investment costs and the shortage of incentives - be that for consumers whose product demand is responsible for a high industry activity and thus for greenhouse gas emissions, or for producers who often do not know about the benefits of energy saving collaborations and efficient technologies.

You find the whole chapter for download from the IPCC website.