The entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol opens new markets

The entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol on February 16, 2005, marks a historic step in climate protection. It is of such importance because the predominant majority of the industrial nations have formed a "coalition of the willing" to tackle one of the most serious global problems. The limitation of greenhouse gas emissions scheduled for the period between 2008 and 2012 will not be nearly enough. However, the entry into force of the Protocol could be the starting signal for a dynamic process towards an ecological structural change. This creates framework conditions providing additional incentives for investments in new markets in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energies.

The founding mission of the Wuppertal Institute is to explore and develop concepts, strategies and instruments for this change towards sustainability in economy and society. The research of the last fourteen years shows that the required short- and mid-term reductions of emissions are economically feasible for most of the industrial nations. "Climate protection is profitable", says Prof. Dr. Peter Hennicke, president of the Wuppertal Institute. "Even emission reductions up to 40 percent within the next 15 to 20 years can be realised with net economic benefits - at the same time minimising the dependency on and competition for increasingly scarce resources."

Now it is especially up to the European Union and its member states to maintain its frontrunner position upheld during the negotiations also as regards the actual implementation of climate protection measures. This would also send a signal to the other nations: economic development is not contradictory to climate protection, to the contrary, only economic management which aims at reducing emissions and saving resources is sustainable.

Germany has a key role to play within the European Union. The German government should seize this opportunity also as a means to stimulating the economy. Current research results of the Wuppertal Institute demonstrate that the implementation of an energy efficiency fund alone would lead to considerable emission reductions with billions of new investment and a positive net employment effect.

This is only one of numerous examples showing that climate protection exceeding the Kyoto targets can yield a double dividend. "In the spirit of global climate protection and sustainable economic development, the German Government can create the framework conditions and positive incentives for an ecological structural change", Hennicke says. "The concepts and strategies already exist - climate protection investments can help to accelerate economic progress."

Press release by Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

in the Science Centre North Rhine-Westphalia

Responsible: Prof. Dr. Peter Hennicke, President

Contact: Dorle Riechert, Public Relations

Tel. +49 (0)202 2492-180, Fax +49 (0)202 2492-108

E-mail: pr@wupperinst.org