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Climate protection, resource protection, energy

The world's climate is changing dramatically: we are seeing melting glaciers, extreme drought periods and natural disasters. We have to do something to protect our climate, for example through environmentally friendly energy. There are many ways in which electricity can be generated in an ecologically responsible way: geothermal energy, wind energy and solar power are only a few examples. That is why research and development in the area of forward-looking technologies that contribute to climate protection is one of the priorities of the High-Tech Strategy. The aim is to cover Germany's energy demand while at the same time improving climate protection in order to preserve an environment worth living in.

Challenges and objectives

Current knowledge about climate development proves without doubt that the climate has already changed and will continue to do so. Signs of global warming include rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and an increasing number of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, strong rainfall and storms.
In recent years, we have seen various instances of severe damage caused by such extreme weather situations. That is reason enough to take serious and well thought-out action. However, climate researchers believe that even if we take drastic measures, the climate will still change. Germany is already preparing for this by developing appropriate measures to adjust to climate change.

The UN's IPCC Report - recognition of climate change as a fact
The report issued by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that the earth's average temperature has risen by 0.74 degrees Celsius in the last hundred years. Eleven of the last twelve years (in the period from 1995 to 2006) rank among the warmest years since global surface temperature measurements started (in 1850). Current levels of greenhouse gases are significantly higher now than the natural level in the last 650 000 years. Measurements prove beyond a doubt that the earth's climate is changing and that global warming is accelerating. www.ipcc.ch

Since the beginning of the 21st century, demand for raw materials has increased dramatically. This is mainly due to the growing demand in emerging economies such as India and China. As a result, we urgently need efficient new strategies for dealing with raw materials. It is important to extract raw materials in a socially and environmentally responsible way, use them more efficiently, and replace them with other materials wherever possible. The global rise in demand for agricultural goods means that productivity in the use of biomass for the production of food and bio-energy needs to increase drastically. Affordable, safe and climate-friendly energy supply is a challenge that affects the entire world. Germany wants to take on a leading role by using conventional energy systems in a more efficient way and making use of newly developed technologies with a broad energy mix. Current technologies are not sufficient to adapt our future energy architecture to the rising energy demands. A change towards a more sustainable way of thinking and acting is absolutely vital.

As part of its national sustainability strategy, the Federal Government has created an ambitious plan with climate and resource protection targets:

• Climate protection and adaptation to climate change: As Germany's contribution to an international climate protection agreement after 2012, the Federal Government has offered to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. This offer is made on the condition that the European Union lowers its emissions to 30 percent below 1990 levels within the same period. Other countries must set themselves similarly ambitious targets.
• Economical and efficient use of resources: Energy productivity in Germany is to be doubled by 2020 (compared to 1990). A further target is to double raw materials efficiency by the same year (compared to 1994).
• Sustainable and future-proof energy supply: The proportion of renewable energies is to be increased to 10% of total primary energy consumption and at least 30% of electricity consumption by 2010. By 2050, renewable energies are to cover approximately half of primary energy consumption.

Current situation and outlook

Germany's innovative strength and its ability for technological progress is being used to the full to achieve these ambitious targets. At the same time, the aim is to continue to support growth and prosperity. In order to preserve our natural environment and our prosperity, the Federal Government needs sustainable management, increased energy and raw materials efficiency, new fuels based on alternative energy sources, and improved energy storage solutions. Environmental protection and economic growth do not necessarily preclude each other. On the contrary, sustainable management for the protection of the climate and environment is necessary for long-term economic success and for the prosperity of our society.

That is why the Federal Government has developed a coherent package of measures featuring new concepts and initiatives. The Federal Ministries have agreed on a joint strategy which is designed take all interrelations and framework conditions into account by focusing on priority areas and far-reaching innovations.

A farsighted general energy and climate policy

With its Integrated Energy and Climate Programme (IEKP), the Federal Government launched the most comprehensive package of energy and climate policy measures in the history of the Federal Republic in December 2007. It lays the foundations for state-of-the-art, safe and climate-friendly energy supply in Germany. At the same time, it includes steps towards ambitious, intelligent and efficient climate protection. The package contains 29 measures, especially for increased energy efficiency and more renewable energy. It combines legal changes and investments in research and development. Some examples include steps towards the amendment of the Combined Heat and Power Act, amendments to the Energy Conservation Act and the Energy Conservation Ordinance (EnEV), and amendments to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and the Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmG). It also includes measures for the facilitation of biogas feed-in, a law governing the expansion of the extra-high voltage grid, and the transition from the current motor vehicle tax to a tax system based on pollutant and CO₂ emissions.

The aims of the IEKP can be achieved by means of innovative energy technologies. This applies to both the supply side (where energy is generated) and the demand side (where energy is consumed). The Federal Government has made research and innovation one of the priorities of the IEKP.

The High-Tech Strategy for Climate Protection brings together different measures and stakeholders in the area of climate protection in a single, interdisciplinary approach. As part of the High-Tech Strategy for Germany, it brings together partners from science, industry and politics to lay the foundations for state-of-the-art, resource-efficient technologies:

• Expanding the knowledge base as a prerequisite for climate protection and adaptation (e.g. through reliable climate prognoses and improved short-range weather forecasts, especially for extreme weather events)
• Research, development and demonstration projects that help improve the technological outlook for climate protection and strengthen Germany's position in this important future international market.
• Making knowledge about climate change and its impact more accessible to decision-makers in industry and politics (e.g. through the establishment of the Climate Service Center)
• Taking on global responsibility via an international dialogue and collaborations. In view of existing global challenges, research activities - particularly in the fields of climate and resource protection, climate adaptation and the environment - need a strong international orientation. For this reason, internationally coordinated research activities are needed.

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  Environmental technologies: Sustainable management as an innovation driver

  Germany already has a leading position in the environmental technologies sector. Sustainable management is all about innovative concepts, for example in the building industry, where researchers are working on developing low-energy houses and optimizing recycling measures.
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  Efficient, state-of-the art energy technologies based on research and innovation

  Wind power is environmentally friendly and saves resources. At sea in particular, wind speed is extremely high and can generate a great deal of energy. Offshore wind farms make use of these advantageous conditions. Enormous rotors "capture" the wind and transmit it to a generator, which creates electricity out of it. Conducting R&D for modern and efficient energy technologies like these is an important priority of the High-Tech Strategy.
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  Global food security, climate protection and resource efficiency through research and innovation

  Climate change is reducing the surface area available for agricultural use. As a consequence, the productivity of initial agricultural production needs to be increased. With its "Plants" innovation area, the High-Tech Strategy is making an important contribution to this with the help of research and innovation.
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