The objective of this report is to derive evaluation criteria for global climate policy and to apply this analysis framework to a number of existing proposals for climate policy architectures relying on a global carbon market.

G20 member countries

Potsdam, 7 August 2008 - Climate change alters growing conditions in many regions of the world. How global warming could affect Germany

Past events of abrupt climatic change were preceded by characteristic symptoms that may also indicate future abrupt changes induced by global warming.

Today's challenges provide the chance to develop global mechanisms for sustainable development. They can act as springboards towards higher resource productivity and efficiency, environmentally friendly technologies, and sustainable habits and lifestyles. The above discussion brings up a number of issues that require thorough considerations. However, these are still on the nature of individual components of the policy framework, not on the framework itself. It may be useful to provide a brief reflection on the strategic vision that can hold these diverse thoughts together.

Today's challenges provide the chance to develop global mechanisms for sustainable development. They can act as springboards towards higher resource productivity and efficiency, environmentally friendly technologies, and sustainable habits and lifestyles. The above discussion brings up a number of issues that require thorough considerations. However, these are still on the nature of individual components of the policy framework, not on the framework itself. It may be useful to provide a brief reflection on the strategic vision that can hold these diverse thoughts together.

The purpose of this background paper prepared for the symposium on "Global Sustainability: a Nobel Cause' is to summarize and recall the main findings of the Fourth Assessment Report and to visualize the key messages by new results recently obtained with an innovative integrated assessment model at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

In order to at least halve global emissions below 1990 by 2050 so as to increase the likelihood of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, such as the complete melting of the Greenland ice sheet, an ambitious and inclusive post-2012 agreement is needed. This agreement should be based on the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol and include a set of equitable commitments from all major economies to reduce or curb emissions of greenhouse gases. In order to stay below 2