“Global emissions reductions: motivations, obstacles and Germany’s role“

For China, India, Russia and the USA, climate protection plays a minor role among reasons to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to a study by conservative foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). Fighting poverty, ensuring economic competitiveness and air pollution are often more important, the study based on national surveys found. These results were relevant for Germany’s international commitment in the area of climate policy. The authors call on German stakeholders to align their cooperation projects with the specific motivations and obstacles in the partner countries, because climate protection efforts might be more effective as a “by-product” of other objectives. “If we as Germans want to help drastically lower greenhouse gas emissions, we have to take into account the interests of other countries as precisely as possible. Cost, growth and wealth issues are on top of the list, climate protection comes later,” Jasper Eitze, coordinator for energy, climate and environment policy at KAS told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Find the study in German here and additional information in an article by FAZ in German here.