Climate Protection Demands Action

Growing climate change constitutes one of the most pressing challenges of our times. As resources become increasingly scare and the demand for energy grows in expanding economies, it is vital that the discussion on climate protection and sustainable development strategies be placed at the top of societal and political agendas worldwide. The benchmark for all efforts must be the well-being of coming generations. In light of this, the German government has set clear, far-reaching goals for climate protection not only in Germany and the European Union. Its efforts include the High-Tech Strategy on Climate Protection, a comprehensive set of measures to combat global warming which it developed together with partners from the scientifi c community, trade and industry. Each area of activity gives priority to innovation that generates jobs and ensures prosperity. All make use of the fi ndings generated by Social-Ecological Research which examines the effects that climate change has on people in their natural environment and in society – realms that include not only biological diversity and access to clean drinking water but also the effi cient use of energy. This brochure examines the interaction between societal actors and their natural environment and explores the scope for action to protect systems and resources that constitute the basis for human life – because climate protection is everybody's business.