The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) has developed an innovative approach to solving the problem of climate change. A key component is an agreement between the community of states regarding a cap for the total amount of
carbon dioxide that may be emitted up to the year 2050 in form of a global budget. This "budget approach" can lead to success at the climate negotiations due to be held in Copenhagen in December. The new approach is straightforward , transparent, fair and designed to serve as a framework of reference for climate policymakers. It could ease negotiations at the climate summit.

Already in 1995 the WBGU proposed the introduction of an upper limit for a tolerable rise in global mean temperature, the so-called "2