Expert opinion

	03.12.06 Victoria Panova G8 research group, University of Toronto, Director for Russia
	03.12.06 Mona Bricke German NGO Forum Environment and Development
	03.12.06 Nigel Martin Montreal International Rorum (FIM)
	02.12.06 John Kirton Head of G8 Research Group, University of Toronto
	02.12.06 Regina Gunter Head of the WWF Germany

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NGO Letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel

5 June 2007

Dear Chancellor Merkel,

The recently published reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change make it plain that human-induced climate change is already happening, and that urgent action to reduce emissions is required to avoid its most dangerous impacts.

We therefore call upon G8+5 Heads of Government to make a Declaration in Heiligendamm that reflects this imperative, including explicit recognition of the following:

• the global average temperature increase must be kept as far below 2 C as possible, compared to pre-industrial levels;

• global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2050;

• that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol provide the necessary framework for an effective global agreement on acting against climate change post 2012;

• the carbon markets of the Kyoto Protocol must be expanded and strengthened as part a Kyoto-based post-2012 agreement to help deliver the necessary emissions reductions and shift investments into sustainable development.

Industrialized countries, including those in the G8, must reduce their emissions by 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 and the cap and trade system of the Kyoto Protocol is the only appropriate mechanism to deliver such reductions. Voluntary agreements, such as the Asia-Pacific Partnership, cannot deliver the necessary emissions reductions. No new global framework is needed.

Rapidly developing countries, which includes the '+5' countries, need to further decarbonize their continuing development. The international community needs to develop new instruments and shift investment frameworks in support of their efforts.

With so much at stake, no agreement in Heiligendamm is better than a bad agreement. A good agreement will help to give necessary momentum towards agreement to begin comprehensive post 2012 negotiations under the UNFCCC in Bali this December. A new agreement - under the UNFCCC – must be reached by 2009, at the latest. The Heiligendamm Declaration must support these aims and timetable.

We ask you to accept no compromises on these issues. Too much is at stake.

Expert opinion

	02.12.06 Halter Marek Le College de France
	02.12.06 Olivier Giscard d’Estaing COPAM, France
	02.12.06 Mika Ohbayashi Institute for Sustainable Energy Poliсy
	02.12.06 Bill Pace World Federalist Movement - Institute for Global Policy
	01.12.06 Peter I. Hajnal Toronto University, G8 Research Group