Climate protection in Germany: The Club of Rome presents solutions for a sustainable future

16.10.2024

The Club of Rome has tailored its 2022 World Report on the decisive measures for a future worth living for humanity to Germany and makes recommendations.

The Club of Rome think tank states that climate change and the threat of overloading our planet can only be overcome with far-reaching changes, including in social areas. An initiative organized by the Club of Rome and others, "Earth4All", presented a report for Germany in Berlin on 14 October. It contains practical solutions on how Germany could transform itself for a sustainable existence.

Economic progress must be reconciled with ecological health and social justice, according to the foreword by "Earth for All Germany". "We hope that this report will inspire action," said co-author Prof. Peter Hennicke at the launch. Together we can succeed in ensuring human survival on Earth.

Tasks for Germany

The main authors of the report for Germany include Manfred Fischedick, President and Scientific Director of the Wuppertal Institute, a think tank for sustainability research, and Till Kellerhoff, Program Director of the Club of Rome. The report emphasizes that the further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the energy transition is a complex political and social task.

However, the real challenge posed by the transport and heating transition still lies ahead of the country and its inhabitants until the middle of the century. Positive trends that are already visible are emphasized. These include falling costs for renewable energies and electricity storage technologies, growing green tech industries worldwide, efforts to create a circular economy in the EU and a growing willingness to abolish subsidies for fossil fuels.

It won't work without more justice

The authors also criticize that German policy does not adequately address income inequality. There are major differences between those who contribute a lot to the destruction of our livelihoods and those who contribute little but suffer greatly from the consequences. "To put it simply: those who earn little don't have a car and don't travel far, but live in cramped conditions where the air is particularly bad and the noise is particularly loud," says the report. As climate change progresses, these households would suffer particularly from heat or severe weather disasters.

Social justice is also at stake if, as in Germany, too little is invested in the maintenance of swimming pools, schools and other public infrastructure. There are also negative examples in the area of state subsidy programs, such as the one for the purchase and installation of a charging station for electric cars (wallbox) in combination with a photovoltaic system and a solar power storage unit. "This mainly benefits homeowners who can afford an electric car," the researchers warn.

Financially strong households can benefit from many programs and tax write-offs, poor households cannot. Those who have the financial means can also follow a ban on gas heating or combustion engines more quickly and easily. "This book is the starting signal for us on a longer journey," it concludes. A great leap into a better future is possible in Germany, even if it is highly ambitious.

The limits to growth

In 1972, the Club of Rome shook up the world with its report "The Limits to Growth". It proved that our planet was already overburdened at the time. If the global economy did not change, the economy, environment and quality of life would collapse, the research group warned at the time.

In the follow-up report "Earth for All" presented in 2022, the think tank described key measures for a future worth living for humanity. These included ending poverty, eliminating glaring inequality, empowering women, building a healthy food system for people and ecosystems and transitioning to the use of
clean energy.

The Wuppertal Institute presents "Earth 4 All - Germany" on the Internet.

Source: E&M Powernews
Author: Susanne Harmsen