The Federal State of Berlin regards itself as being especially obliged, both nationally and internationally, to act as a pioneer in terms of having a successful local climate protection policy. For this reason the Federal State of Berlin participates in international cooperations intended to develop and disseminate sustainable strategies and instruments for local climate protection and in the formulating of ambitious reduction requirements for the years after 2012.
Kyoto Protocol on International Climate Protection
For the first time ever in the Kyoto Protocol, binding targets were set under international law for the emission of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride), as well as reduction obligations for industrialised countries.
Accordingly in the first commitment period from 2008 to 2012, all industrialised countries should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5 percent compared to the 1990 basis year. Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol lists the countries which have assumed specific obligations to reduce their emissions during the contractual period, including Germany among others. The Kyoto Protocol names flexible mechanisms which permit flexibility to the contractual states in implementing their reduction targets. These include emissions trading, the Joint Implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism. In this way the Annex B countries can partly fulfil their emission reduction obligations beyond their own borders. The Kyoto Protocol came into effect on 16 February 2005 and expires in 2012.
In Doha, Qatar, on 8 December 2012, the "Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol" was adopted. The amendment includes:
- New commitments for Annex I Parties to the Kyoto Protocol who agreed to take on commitments in a second commitment period from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2020
- A revised list of greenhouse gases (GHG) to be reported on by Parties in the second commitment period; and
- Amendments to several articles of the Kyoto Protocol which specifically referenced issues pertaining to the first commitment period and which needed to be updated for the second commitment period.
On 21 December 2012, the amendment was circulated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in his capacity as Depositary, to all Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in accordance with Articles 20 and 21 of the Protocol.
During the first commitment period, 37 industrialized countries and the European Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to an average of five percent against 1990 levels. During the second commitment period, Parties committed to reduce GHG emissions by at least 18 percent below 1990 levels in the eight-year period from 2013 to 2020.
Energy Services Directive (ESD Directive, 2006/32/EC)
The aim of the Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive (2006/32/EC) is to achieve a more cost-effective and efficient end use of energy by means of
- establishing indicative targets, incentive measures and the institutional, financial and legal frameworks needed to eliminate market barriers and imperfections which prevent efficient end use of energy, as well as,
- creating suitable conditions for the development and promotion of a market for energy services and for the delivery of energy saving programmes and other measures aimed at improving end-use energy efficiency.
The Directive targets the retail sale, supply and distribution of extensive grid-based energy sources, such as electricity and natural gas, as well as other types of energy such as district heating, heating oil, coal and lignite, forestry and agricultural energy products and transport fuels.
Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (2002/91/EC)
The Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 covers four main elements:
- A common methodology for calculating the integrated total energy performance of buildings,
- minimum standards on the total energy performance of new buildings and existing buildings that are subject to major renovation,
- systems for the energy certification of new and existing buildings and, for public buildings, prominent display of this certification and other relevant information (issuance of energy performance certificates); the certificates must be less than five years old, and,
- regular inspection of boilers and central air-conditioning systems in buildings and in addition an assessment of heating installations in which the boilers are more than 15 years old.
Directive on the Promotion of Cogeneration (Combined Heat and Power) (2004/8/EC)
The objective of this Directive on the Promotion of Cogeneration (CHP) based on a useful heat demand in the internal energy market is to establish transparent common framework conditions to promote and facilitate the installation of cogeneration plants. This overall objective comprises two specific aims:
- In the short term, the Directive should make it possible to consolidate existing cogeneration installations and promote the construction of new plants, and,
- in the medium to long term, the Directive should create the necessary framework for high efficiency cogeneration so as to reduce emissions of CO2 and other harmful substances and to contribute to sustainable development.
In Germany, this regulatory framework has already been drafted into its combined heat and power law.
Directive on Ecodesign Requirements for Energy-related Product (2005/32/EC)
In the Directive on establishment a framework for the setting of requirements compatible with the environment for energy-related products, the principles, conditions and criteria are defined for setting ecological requirements for the ecodesign of energy-using products.
The Directive does not envisage specifications for individual products. The intention is instead to lay down product-specific requirements at a later date in the context of implementing measures. In principle, the Directive is applicable to every energy-using product available on the market. All kinds of energy are covered, especially electricity, as well as solid, liquid and gaseous fuels.
Water Framework Directive WFD (2000/60/EC)
With the Directive for establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, a framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater was established.
Its objective is to achieve a good ecological and chemical status for all Community waters by 2015.
Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC)
In accordance with this Directive, the Member States must prohibit the abandonment, dumping or uncontrolled discharging of waste and its uncontrolled disposal, and promote waste prevention, recycling and processing for reuse, as well as reutilisation methods for waste.
These measures envisage cooperation between the Member States in the establishment of an integrated and adequate network of disposal installations, while taking account of the best available technology.
