In their Commentary 'Dangerous assumptions' (Nature 452, 531

Pielke et al. correctly point out in their Commentary 'Dangerous assumptions' (Nature 452, 531

How big is the energy challenge of climate change? The technological advances needed to stabilize carbon dioxide emissions may be greater than we think, argue Roger Pielke Jr, Tom Wigley and Christopher Green.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has grossly underestimated the challenges of reducing and stabilizing greenhousegas emissions, according to an influential group of climate-policy experts.

How much energy, and of what sort, should we expect the world to be generating in the decades to come? This is a question of crucial importance to economics, development and the management of climate change. (Editorial)

As Parties to the Climate Convention EU Member States have opted for a joint fulfilment of post-2000 greenhouse gas emission reduction obligations. No agreement could be reached on a joint EU target before the distribution of the burden of emission reductions among Member States had been agreed upon. This paper presents a sectoral approach to burden sharing, which incorporates important national circumstances. The three categories distinguished are the power sector, the internationally operating energy-intensive industry and the remaining domestically oriented sectors.