In two events, addressing decision makers from the EU parliament and the German Bundestag, the WWF study "Blueprint Germany - A strategy for a climate safe 2050" was introduced and discussed. A thorough policy program based on concrete measures and instruments up to the year 2030 is the core of the study. It shows that the transformation from a high-carbon to a low-carbon economy is possible and affordable – and also indicates that Germany could become a model for other countries if the suggested path were to be followed.
In order to keep global climate warming below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels, anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases will have to be cut significantly world-wide. In an internationally coordinated path that still allows emerging and developing countries opportunity for growth, industrialized nations such as Germany would have to reduce their emissions by up to 95% compared to 1990 levels. In per-capita terms, it would mean that less than one ton of greenhouse gases per capita.
The study shows how this ambitious goal could be reached via the combined effort of all sectors of the economy, highlighting the associated changes and reorganizations necessary to transform a highly industrialized and technology-based society.
The study, commissioned by WWF Germany, was written by Prognos, the Öko Institut and Dr. Hans-Joachim Ziesing. The introductory events, organized by the Ecologic Institute, took place in December 2009 and February 2010.
