The climate, energy and resource crisis: ways out and wrong tracks

Public awareness is increasing due to the conglomeration of the climate crisis, the energy crisis and the finiteness of our fossil resources, but as of yet this has not led to a radical policy change.

The basis of climate and energy policy is the responsible handling of the earth’s natural resources. Resource production is characterized by global dependencies, the massive violation of human rights and conflicts in resource producing regions. Furthermore extremely unequal power dynamics between multinational companies and local populations are aggravating the problem.

Climate, energy and resource policy is a central cornerstone of the work of the Heinrich Böll Foundation domestically and abroad. Only a coherent climate, energy and resource policy which recognizes firstly the interconnectedness of the climate crisis in its causes as well as in its search for solutions and acts in accordance with this recognition will be able to deliver sustainable solutions.

The dialogue Resource governance in the 21st century has been launched on the occasion of the German G8 Presidency in 2007. In this process civil society organizations from emerging economies, Europe and North America as well as from resource-rich African countries participated in a conference and drafting process.

It is necessary to change track in the international agricultural policy! In 2008 more than 923 million people are starving. This alarming number shows, that it is necessary to reform the international agricultural trading system. It should be noted that impacts of climate change such as drought or water shortages will aggravate agricultural crisis.

EcoFair Trade Dialogue, initiated by the HBF and Miseor, supported by Wuppertal Institute, shall devise coherent alternatives to existing rules in global agricultural trade and shall develop ways to an agriculture based on social and ecological criteria.

The study Slow Trade – Sound Farming summarizes marketing-regulations for a global sustainable agriculture.

Renewable energies instead of nuclear power

When talking about the energy and resource crisis nuclear energy is always brought into play. But nuclear energy is no solution to energy problems and instead leads into a dead end as shows the paper Nuclear Power – Myth and Reality.

Renewable energies are an alternative to nuclear power. To increase energy supply from renewable energy in the European Union and to end the dependence on oil, coal and nuclear energy Lutz Mez and Michaele Schreyer propose a unified approach to renewable energy via a European Community for Renewable Energies (ERENE).

Climate and Agricultural

Years ago, the use of biofuels has been celebrated as a solution of the resource crisis. Meanwhile it has been shown that the use is connected with serious spillovers and has contributed a considerable part to the global food crisis, because areas which were used to the cultivation of nourishments are now used for the cultivation of biofuels.

Joachim von Braun, head of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), analyzed the effects and interactions of biofuels and the crisis of nourishments. His testimony Biofuels, International Food Prices, and the Poor (PDF) to the United States Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and other scientific documents can be found at the website of IFPRI.

The Advisory Board of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection has analysed the current situation and future prospects of biofuels and published recommendations to policy makers.

At the World Bank initiated International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), a multistakeholder group of organizations, including FAO, GEF, UNDP, UNEP, WHO and UNESCO and representatives of governments, civil society, private sector and scientific institutions from around the world discussed and assessed sustainable strategies for agriculture.