Merkel referred to the report recently issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). According to projections made by scientists global warming will bring about a considerable rise in the sea level.
Merkel proposes three courses of action:
- Bringing about a global and ambitious increase in energy efficiency.
- Expanding the use of renewable energies and CO2-free power plants.
- Creating economic incentives through a global carbon market.
The second Legislators Forum is being held in Washington on February 14th and 15th. Two further meetings are scheduled, the final one in July 2008. In this framework parliamentarians from industrial and emerging countries are conducting what is known as the "G8 + 5 Climate Change Dialogue". The objective is to work with leading representatives of industry to formulate proposals for cooperation in the area of climate protection.