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The Week in Germany: Business, Technology and the Environment October 26, 2007 Climate Change: One of the World's Greatest Challenges
Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Al Gore, former US vice president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, on Tuesday (Oct. 23) at the Chancellery in Berlin. The Chancellor praised Mr. Gore's efforts, saying that "Over the years, he has shown exceptional commitment to the climate change cause and to spreading the word about its effects." Merkel then said: "I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate
him and the IPCC on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in
combating climate change." Making people aware of climate change The Chancellor emphasized that it was no secret that she sees climate change as one of the greatest challenges in the world today. "We need to convince people that we can overcome this challenge and that we can do it together. Al Gore's work is important to people in many countries around the world." Gore said the Chancellor had shown "political leadership" in matters of climate change and that "Since she became Chancellor, she has done a fantastic job, especially during Germany's G8 presidency." He added that she has also "invested a great deal of her time to take the lead in making people aware of the issues of environment protection and climate change". Gore was in Berlin to attend a climate conference held by German energy provider EnBW. Speaking on the economics of climate change, he held a lecture entitled "An Inconvenient Truth", the title of the documentary film for which he received an Oscar earlier this year. Climate change policy synonymous with peace policy Also at the EnBW conference, Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned of climate-change related conflict at the North Pole. In his opening address, the minister stressed that "We must prevent a cold war at the North Pole", adding that claims by riparian countries on energy resources there should be decided by international law. At the beginning of August, Russian researchers aboard a submarine had planted a Russian flag beneath the North Pole. "Future-focused foreign policy goes hand in hand with sustainable national and international energy supply. They are the modern equivalent of the global policy of détente; climate change policy is thus synonymous with peace policy", said Steinmeier. Germany is well positioned to tackle the challenges ahead. Its renewables
sector is experiencing a rather surprising boom. "Over 200,000 top-quality
jobs have been created so far and the trend is upwards. Even the Washington
Post has asked how "cloudy Germany" could become "a
powerhouse in solar energy", said the Foreign Minister with a wink.
(REGIERUNGonline) Did you know that 67% of Americans think that regulatory steps should be taken on both the national and the international level to fight climate change? (Source: representative GIC-Survey on Americans' Image of Germany conducted in 2007) Read more about German environment policies at Germany.info Links: Nobel Decision to Sharpen Focus on Climate Change & Security (from Germany.info) Booming
German Solar Industry Attracts American Investors |
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