Angie saves the world ... and who saves us from her wrongdoing?

Ever since Angela Merkel, now head of the German government, has been minister for the environment, she is committed in her actions against climate change. One might even get the impression that she still co-chairs that cabinet post with her colleague Sigmar Gabriel.

Of the 8% reduction that the European Union promised until 2012 Germany will take up three quarters of the overall burden by reducing its own emissions by more than 20% under the level of 1990. That makes Angela Merkel the role model for politicians worldwide and the only one in Europe to meets the target. Her spanish colleague for example has had a target of a 5% increase and he will miss it by 45% (!). Zapatero even does not want to promise his 2012 target for 2020. Obviously there is little commitment in the rest of Europe. So, what should Germany do? Increase their own reductions by forcing the German industry out of the country?Nothing else but the complete dismantlement of the energy-intense industry in Germany will be the consequence of that intended wrongdoing of Merkel and Gabriel.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. After a new study showed that full auctioning of emission certificates would destroy more than 300.000 jobs in Germany alone Merkel seems to have seen it, at least partially:

Adressing the German Bundestag on December 4th, she said:

We must ensure that our energy-intensive industry, which is driven by exports, is of course excluded from the trading of (emissions quotas) in order to make sure they are not disadvantaged on the global market. The way things stand, we cannot spoil our export chances and stand by while jobs in the chemicals, steel and other industries move to regions of the world where climate protection is less stringent than here.

Why does it have to take trememdous efforts to pursuade our political leaders to see the consequence of their doing? Sustainable climate policy should focus on technology, on innovation and on preservation of the environment. Cripling the economy by imposing massive extra emission trading cost on the industry will not lead to any solution and only make things worse. The European Union should follow the path of China, India and the United States of America and other countries.

It's not only the economy, it's also the technology, stupid.