Difference between revisions of "Environmental Policies"

Latest revision as of 10:37, 24 October 2012

The think tanks within the Stockholm Network that comment on the question of climate change assume the following premise: freedom of markets limitation of state regulation. According to these think tanks, this premise should underlie all climate and environmental policy projects. However, they don't agree on the question of whether a) there is an anthropogenic climate change at all and b) which measures should be taken if there was one.

Denial of Anthropogenic Climate Change

The opinions voiced on climate change range from firm climate change sceptics to the milder form of denial - agnosticism. Think Tanks of the first category doubt the scientific legitimacy of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They challenge the IPCC's authority with the argument the IPCC's agenda had been influenced by political interests. Further they allege climate researcher working for the IPCC are dependent on budget of predisposed circles regarding the climate change question. Moreover firm climate change sceptics consider international climate protection measures as ecologically meaningless and economically harmful. Among those think tanks some also develop scientific counter arguments challenging the thesis of the anthropogenic climate change. Agnostic think tanks argue, however, climate change cannot be completely precluded but cannot be proven either with contemporary means. Furthermore they argue currently applied models are unsound and/ or are not able to compensate for shortcomings of empirical data.

An argumentative side line points out possible from region to region different and in temperate zones even positive effects of climate warming.

Criticism of the Precautionary Principle

The Kyoto protocoll codifies the precautionary principle that has been criticized from two angles. Firstly, climate change sceptics claim it impossible to exactly project the effects of green house gas emissions on the global climate. Secondly, they assume that markets and businesses are capable of efficiently adjusting to factual climate changes whenever they might occur. The climate change sceptics furthermore allege states would use the precautionary principle to legitimize interference with market and business freedom with regard climate protection policies. While this empowers states the discovering function of free markets is curtailed. To them free discovery of business makes for their economic and technological adaptability, which is necessary to respond flexibly and efficiently to changes of environmental conditions. Climate change sceptics consider leaving ecological change, where necessary, to market processes the more efficient alternative than state regulated CO₂ emission limits and public advancement of climate friendly energy sources.

Acceptance of the Anthropogenic Climate Change

A number especially ordo theoratically oriented (cf. Financial and Economic crises think tanks take the anthropogenic climate change as given and consider precautionary intervention and measures of the state as necessary.

The majority of those think tanks opts for emission rights trade considering, from a market economy perspective, it an appropriate procedure to lead the economy on a climate friendly development path.

They reject direct public funding of sustainable energy sources regarding it generally inefficient and too expensive. Like the climate change sceptics the think tanks of the ordo theoretical category rely on free markets'flexibility, adaptability and ability to generate innovations.

Authors of contributions referring to the European Union furthermore stress the importance of free trade with energy efficient technologies pointing out that contributions to CO₂ economization of the EU internationally carry less weight than those of the U.S., China and in the future of India. While think tanks being sceptical of anthropogenic climate change exclusively emphasize how unnecessary and expensive any kind of climate protection policy is. Members of the Stockholm network who recognize the problem of anthropogenic climate change observe market oppotuntities due to regulatory frameworks, international economic development and uneven characteristics of economies. Such Market opportunities in turn give reason for both the theoretical and practical interest to further liberalize foreign trade.

By the By

Climate policy is one out of three thematic foci Stockholm Network (als Think Tank) that are represented by periodicals. The last issue of the periodical "Climate of Opinion" reports rather unemotionally about the failure of the Copenhagen climate change negotiations due to the international main emitters' unability to come up with an agreement. This failure reassured the author and soothes worries the state complying with internationally agreed climate protection goals would curtail market and business freedom.

Think Tanks Concerned with Climate Policy and Climate Change

The think tanks here are sorted into two categories. One group comprises those think tanks that acknowledge the anthropogenic climate change, they are affirmative of that fact and are labelled "affirmative". In the second group there are think tanks that deny or at least are sceptical of anthropogenic climate change. Those are labelled "sceptical" for short.

Belgium

ECIPE - http://www.ecipe.org/

is critical of tariff and non-tariff protective measures implemented by way of EU directive for EU producers of renewable energy. (Green Protectionism in the European Union: How Europe’s Biofuels Policy and the Renewable Energy Directive Violate WTO Commitments). According to this paper, the aformentioned EU directive on renewable energies does not formulate climate policy but rather energy policy. Further the paper claims that hindering non-EU providers of non-fossil energy sources to enter the market would thwart efforts of climate protection. Free trade would also enhance efficiency of climate protection policies. Only very high import tariffs according to carbon content of energy carriers would have an effect on exporters' climate policies, which, however, would at the same time yield high welfare losses. A more reasonable alternative would be the promotion of climate friendly goods.
affirmative

Institut Economique Molinari (IEM) - http://www.institutmolinari.org/

is of the opinion that climatology does not constitue as hard or accurate science; is also critical of the protectionist tnedency of the EU directive on renewables; opts for state regulation as measure for climate protection to support private initiative; criticizes welfare losses through climate protection measures resting upon questionable models.
rather sceptical

Institut Hayek - http://www.fahayek.org/

17 opinion pieces
denies scientific legitimacy of anthropogenic climate change assumption; criticizes the IPCC as political entity, does not consider it a scientific one; on the institute's website the item Environnement lists 100 URLs connecting to mainly external articles dealing with a variaty of environmental policy issues.
sceptical

Institute Thomas More - http://www.institut-thomas-more.org/

questions the efficiency of promoting green technologies (especially wind and solar power)in order to generate employment; at the same doubts about reliability climate change prognosis models; opts for nuclear energy, however, more so for reasons of energy security than for climate change protection reasons; although according to the institute nuclear energy also owns up to that quality.
affirmative

Bulgaria

Institute for Market Economics (IME) - http://www.ime-bg.org/

positively acknowledges carbon trade schemes as measure for generating public revenues.
affirmative (only secondary)

Czech Republic

Centre for Economics and Politics (CEP) - http://cepin.cz/

brings into question whether the current data base is sufficient to prove a warming trend of the planet's atmosphere(distribution of measuring stations, stratosphere measurments by NASA do not back a warming trend); energy policy should be guided by efficiency considerations and by a questionable hypothesis.
Vaclav Klaus is a decisive anthropogenic climate change denier and propagates his opinion internationally.
sceptical

Denmark

Centre for Political Studies (CEPOS) - http://www.cepos.dk/ criticizes the Danish wind energy policy as inefficient (Denmark exports surplus wind generated electrical energy to Sweden and Norway (about 50 percent), where low carbon energy is substituted by the import)); Energy produced by wind furthermore is held to be a very expensive way to save carbon (87 € per ton CO2). The institute acknowledges the need for an U-Turn in energy production in principle, but arguments suggesting long term employment effects due to subsidies for wind energy are rejected. Subsidies are held to move employment from traditional energy production to subsidized segements.
affirmative

The Copenhagen Institute - http://www.coin.dk/

(partly guest contributions from U.S. institutes ) published 258 opinion pieces on environmental policy issues from 2005 to 2010, partly on questions concerning climate change; denial of scientific tenability of anthropogenic climate change; is further of the opinion a liberal market economy is capable of adjusting to conditions of a potential climate change; presumes politcal motives for the thesis of the anthropogenic climate change; assaults the status of the IPCC and its scientific expertise by way of arguing that the involved state funded climate researchers are not unbiased.
sceptical

Finland

Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA) - http://www.eva.fi/en

The EVA has published an aritcle concerning the question of climate change by Pentti Vartia, the then director of its sister institute ETLA. The article originates with a talk given at the Fortum Research Seminar 2000. Vartia contemplates on the scientific assessment of the intensity of climate change and mankind's share in the same, looks at regional consequences, appropriate protective measures as being in flux. Furthermore Vartia is of the opinion that the current state of knowledge necessitates on going research. Generally he is assertive of the Kyoto protocol demands. Climate protection measures should be administered as economically flexible as possible whereby CO₂ schemes are considered appropriate instruments. He points to the significance of economic technological innovations for coping with climate change. In October 2008 the EVA hosted a discussion round at which among others the environment minister talked about climate policy issues.
affirmative

France

Civil Society Institute (iFRAP) - http://www.ifrap.org/

A central issue is carbon tax (10 contributions)

- positive review of climate change sceptic book, which however is mainly concerned with efforts of reducing CO2 emissions stressing the futility of these efforts; the argument is that reduction in highly industrialized region will be compensated by increasing emissions in newly industrialized countries. (Sandrine Gorreri)
- carbon tax is partly considered inefficient and partly even economically harmful
- Europe-wide there should be a fixed carbon tax for reasons regarding competiveness and dimension
- has concerns about extrem expansion of wind power for energy-technological and economic reasons; no fundamental criticism however
  rather sceptical

Fondation pour l'Innovation Politique - http://www.fondapol.org/

presupposes anthropogenic climate change
the "Umwelt und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit: eine globale Strategie für Europa" suggests an economically favorable path to energetically remodelling Europe; the book points out that Europe's contribution should be limited in the face of CO2 emissions by the USA, China, and India. Favorable mechanisms would be active free trade policies that imply ecological issues, mobilizing innovational strength of markets, coordination of EU climate protection policies also considering implementing of compensatory measures for states with especially energy intensive industries (edited by Elvire Fabry, director of Fondapol, and Damien Tresallet, Research Fellow)
affirmative

Institut Euro 92 - http://www.euro92.com/ Considers several aspects in current state of climatology unsettled and dubious: 1. question of whether climate warming is caused by mankind; 2. assessment of economic and ecological consequences of climate change; 3. questioning of whether applied methods for preventing climate change are appropriate; suggests abandoning the precautionary principle and instead eliminating subsidies that stimulate redundant consumption ; further suggesting liberalizing markets for energy production and consumption in order to strengthen innovative potential; the institute also points to the fact that advantages and disadvantages of climate change are unevenly allocated in a global perspective and to the possible advantage of climate change for states in temperate zone.
rather sceptical

European Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow - http://www.cfact.eu/

Exclusive focus on environmental policy with emphasis on climate change; denies anthropogenic climate change, criticizes subsidies for climate friendly industries; also denies positive effects of ecologization of the economy on employment.
sceptical

Hamburg Institute for International Economics - http://www.hwwi.org/

No programmatic position regarding the question of climate change; considers climate policy merely as an area of negotiating foreign trade and innovation opportunities.
affirmative

Hayek-Gesellschaft - http://www.hayek.de/

Denies anthropogenic climate change illustrated in contribution by R. Nef, P. Bessard (Liberales Institut Zürich), F. Singer (NIPCC).
sceptical

Institute for Free Enterprise (IUF) - http://www.iuf-berlin.de/

Climate policies is one of the main areas of the Institute.
Denies anthropogenic climate change, attempts to undermine credibility of climate researchers by e.g. pointing to their dependence on third-party funds, by way of politicizing of the IPCC; co-organizes overall climate change sceptical international conferences; is critical of the precautionary principle and political decision making being influenced by mere hypotheses; Public funding of photovoltaics means supporting a kind of energy production, which is the most inefficient kind in our region. Superficially increased demand draws off volume of electrical energy from regions where the production of solar energy would be more productive.
sceptical

New Social Market Economy Foundation - http://www.chancenfueralle.de/
- acknowledges anthropogenic climate change
- opts for low carbon energy production resulting from innovation and optimal technologies disseminated by trade; considers economic growth generally compatible with climate protection.
  affirmative

Stiftung Marktwirtschaft - http://www.stiftung-marktwirtschaft.de/

Current: conference „Requirements for energy policies: secure energy supply, climate change, profitability?" (Berlin, April 20, 2010) "Instruments with market economies and environmental policy objectives substitute well-intentioned ecological micro coordination in order to utilize competiveness as driver for innovation, cost cutter and means of discovery for new technologies.” Different positions ranging from denying substantial effects of green house gas emissions to acknowledging certain IPCC assessments and to committing to renewable energies in connection with state subsidies for research on the latter; In the context of energy and climate policy the foundation opts for

internalizing of external costs
applying market economy consistent instruments such as emission rights trade
utilization of the market economy mechanism of competition in order to increase efficiency speed up the development of climate friendly technologies.

affirmative

Walter Eucken Institut - http://www.eucken.de/

Several events concerned with environmental policies between 1997 and 2000, which are not documented; close to dominant positions in the Federal Republic of Germany;
affirmative

Italy

Adam Smith Society - http://www.adamsmith.it/default.asp

Lecture series: regulatory lectures engaging with question of energy markets and promoting renewable energies; no information regarding the lectures’ content provided;

Istituto Bruno Leoni - http://www.brunoleoni.it/

Rejects carbon taxes because they are considered inefficient, unfair and expensive; study subsidized wind and solar energy production in which the author denies positive effects on employment; further the study claims higher costs for energy generated by wind and solar power compared to implementation of energy saving innovations; does not regard the IPCC as scientific authority rather considers it as politicized entity; points to positions of climate change sceptics by conceding warranted doubts;

Magna Carta Foundation - http://www.magna-carta.it/

Demand construction of new nuclear power plants for reasons of energy supply security and national independence; No or little reference to issue of climate change; Study about renewable energies, however, only available in Italian; points to uncertainties in arguments pro anthropogenic climate change in one of its book publications; politics of reducing CO2 emissions are considered senseless and expensive given the fact that in their opinion science still owes hard proof of anthropogenic climate change;

deu:Umweltpolitik

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ==Acceptance of the Anthropogenic Climate Change==
-A number especially ordo theoratically oriented (cf.[[Financial and Economic crises]] think tanks take the anthropogenic climate change as given and consider precautionary intervention and measures of the state as necessary.
+A number especially ordo theoratically oriented (cf. [[Financial and Economic crises]] think tanks take the anthropogenic climate change as given and consider precautionary intervention and measures of the state as necessary.
 The majority of those think tanks opts for emission rights trade considering, from a market economy perspective, it an appropriate procedure to lead the economy on a climate friendly development path.
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 They reject direct public funding of sustainable energy sources regarding it generally inefficient and too expensive. Like the climate change sceptics the think tanks of the ordo theoretical category rely on free markets'flexibility, adaptability and ability to generate innovations.
-Authors of contributions referring to the European Union furthermore stress the importance of free trade with energy efficient technologies pointing out that contributions to CO<sub>2</sub> economization of the EU internationally carry less weight than those of the U.S., China and in the future of India. Während also die klimaskeptischen Think Tanks ausschließlich auf die Überflüssigkeit und Kosten jeder wie immer gearteten Klimaschutzpolitik abheben, sehen die klimaaffirmativen durch regulatorische Rahmenbedingungen und die internationale Wirtschaftsentwicklung wie internationalen wirtschaftlichen Proportionen Marktchancen, die zum theoretischen auch ein praktisches Interesse an der weiteren Liberalisierung des Aussenhandels begründen.
+Authors of contributions referring to the European Union furthermore stress the importance of free trade with energy efficient technologies pointing out that contributions to CO<sub>2</sub> economization of the EU internationally carry less weight than those of the U.S., China and in the future of India. While think tanks  being sceptical of anthropogenic climate change exclusively emphasize how unnecessary and expensive any kind of climate protection policy is. Members of the Stockholm network who recognize the problem of
+anthropogenic climate change observe market oppotuntities due to regulatory frameworks, international economic development and uneven characteristics of economies. Such Market opportunities in turn give reason for both the theoretical and practical interest to further
+liberalize foreign trade.
 ==By the By==
-Climate policy is one out of three thematic foci [[Stockholm Network]] (als Think Tank) that are representated by periodicals. The last issue of the periodical "Climate of Opinion" reports rather unemotionally about the failure of the Copenhagen climate change negotiations due to the international  main emitters' unability to come up with an agreement. This failure reassured the author and soothes worries the state complying with internationally agreed climate protection goals would curtail market and business freedom.
+Climate policy is one out of three thematic foci [[Stockholm Network]] (als Think Tank) that are represented by periodicals. The last issue of the periodical "Climate of Opinion" reports rather unemotionally about the failure of the Copenhagen climate change negotiations due to the international  main emitters' unability to come up with an agreement. This failure reassured the author and soothes worries the state complying with internationally agreed climate protection goals would curtail market and business freedom.
-==Think Tanks Dealing with Climate Policy and Climate Change==
+==Think Tanks Concerned with Climate Policy and Climate Change==
+The think tanks here are sorted into two categories. One group comprises those think tanks that acknowledge the anthropogenic climate change, they are affirmative of that fact and are labelled "affirmative". In the second group there are think tanks that deny or  at least are sceptical of anthropogenic climate change. Those are labelled "sceptical" for short.
 '''Belgium'''
 * [[ECIPE]] - http://www.ecipe.org/
-kritisiert die tarifären und nontarifären Schutzmechanismen die durch die EU-Direktive zu Erneuerbaren Energieträgern für EU-Hersteller implementiert werden ([http://www.ecipe.org/publications/ecipe-occasional-papers/green-protectionism-in-the-european-union-how-europe2019s-biofuels-policy-and-the-renewable-energy-directive-violate-wto-commitments/PDF Green Protectionism in the European Union: How Europe’s Biofuels Policy and the Renewable Energy Directive Violate WTO Commitments]). Sie gestalte nicht Klima- sondern vielmehr Energiepolitik. Die Behinderung des Markzutritts für EU-fremde Anbieter von nonfossilen Energieträgern behindere den Klimaschutz. Freihandel würde auch die Effizienz der Klimaschutzpolitik steigern.
+is critical of tariff and non-tariff protective measures implemented by way of EU directive for EU producers of renewable energy.  ([http://www.ecipe.org/publications/ecipe-occasional-papers/green-protectionism-in-the-european-union-how-europe2019s-biofuels-policy-and-the-renewable-energy-directive-violate-wto-commitments/PDF Green Protectionism in the European Union: How Europe’s Biofuels Policy and the Renewable Energy Directive Violate WTO Commitments]). According to this paper, the aformentioned EU directive on renewable energies does not formulate climate policy but rather energy policy.  Further the paper claims that hindering non-EU providers of non-fossil energy sources to enter the market would thwart efforts of climate protection. Free trade would also enhance efficiency of climate protection policies. Only very high import tariffs according to carbon content of energy carriers would have an effect on exporters' climate policies, which, however, would at the same time yield high welfare losses. A more reasonable alternative would be the promotion of ''climate friendly'' goods.
-Am Karboninhalt orientierte Importzölle würden sich nur bei großer Höhe und korrespondierend hohen Wohlfahrtverlusten auf die Klimapolitik von Exporteuren auswirken. Die Förderung des Handels von ''klimafreundlichen'' Gütern sei der vernünftigere Weg.<br>klimaaffirmativ
+<br>affirmative
 * [[Institut Economique Molinari (IEM)]] - http://www.institutmolinari.org/
-Klimaforschung ist keine sichere Wissenschaft; kritisiert die protektionistische Tendenz der EU-Direktive zu Erneuerbaren Energien; zentralstaatliche Regulation als Mittel des Klimaschutzes der privaten Initiative unterlegen; kritisiert die Wohlfahrtsverluste durch Klimaschutzmaßnahmen auf Basis problematischer Modelle.<br>eher klimaskeptisch
+is of the opinion that climatology does not constitue as hard or accurate science; is also critical of the protectionist tnedency of the EU directive on renewables; opts for state regulation as measure for climate protection to support private initiative; criticizes welfare losses through climate protection measures resting upon questionable models.<br>rather sceptical
 * [[Institut Hayek]] - http://www.fahayek.org/
-Meinungsbeiträge<br>bestreitet die wissenschafliche Legitimation der Annahmen anthropogenen Klimawandels; kritisiert das IPCC als eine politische nicht wissenschaftliche Instanz; Unter dem Punkt ''Environnement'' finden sich 100 URLs typischerweise auf Fremdbeiträge ausserhalb der Website des Instituts zu verschiedenen umweltpolitischen Themen versammelt.<br>klimaskeptisch
+opinion pieces<br>denies scientific legitimacy of  anthropogenic climate change assumption; criticizes the IPCC as political entity, does not consider it a scientific one; on the institute's website the item ''Environnement'' lists 100 URLs connecting to mainly external articles dealing with a variaty of environmental policy issues.<br>sceptical
 * [[Institute Thomas More]] - http://www.institut-thomas-more.org/
-Moniert die Ineffizienz der Förderung grüner Technologien (insbesondere Wind- und Solarkraft) für die Entstehung neuer Arbeitsplätze, gleichzeitig Unsicherheit der Klimavorhersagemodelle; optiert für den Einsatz der Atomenergie mehr aus Gründen der Energiesicherheit als zur Dämpfung des Klimawandels, obwohl der Atomenergie auch diese Qualität zugestanden wird.<br>klimaaffirmativ
+questions the efficiency of promoting green technologies (especially wind and solar power)in order to generate employment; at the same doubts about reliability climate change prognosis models; opts for nuclear energy, however, more so for reasons of energy security than for climate change protection reasons; although according to the institute nuclear energy also owns up to that quality.<br>affirmative
 '''Bulgaria'''
 * [[Institute for Market Economics (IME)]] - http://www.ime-bg.org/
-Nimmt Karbon-Handels-Schemata als Mittel der Generierierung öffentlicher Einnahmen positiv zur Kenntnis.<br>klimaaffirmativ (nur nebenläufig)
+positively acknowledges carbon trade schemes as measure for generating public revenues.<br>affirmative (only secondary)
 '''Czech Republic'''
 * [[Centre for Economics and Politics (CEP)]] - http://cepin.cz/
-problematisiert, ob die Datenbasis zureichend ist, einen aktuellen Erwärmungstrend für die Lufthülle des Planeten zu belegen (Verteilung der Messstationen, NASA-Messungen in der Stratosphäre die einen solchen Trend nicht belegen); die Energiepolitik soll nicht durch eine fragwürdige Hypothese, sondern durch Effizienzerwägungen reguliert werden.<br>Vaclav Klaus ist ein entschiedener Leugner des anthropogenen Klimawandels und tritt mit dieser Position international auf.<br>klimaskeptisch
+brings into question whether the current data base is sufficient to prove a warming trend of the planet's atmosphere(distribution of measuring stations, stratosphere measurments by NASA do not back a warming trend); energy policy should be guided by efficiency considerations and by a questionable hypothesis. <br>Vaclav Klaus is a decisive anthropogenic climate change denier and propagates his opinion internationally.<br>sceptical
 '''Denmark'''
 [[Centre for Political Studies (CEPOS)]] - http://www.cepos.dk/
-bemängelt die dänische Windenergiepolitik als ineffizient (Dänemark exportiert zu windreichen Zeiten Elektroenergie in der Größenordnung von knapp 50% nach Schweden und Norwegen, wo sie karbonarme Energieformen substituiert), weiterhin sei die Investition in Windenergie eine sehr teure Variante Karbon einzusparen (87€ pT CO<sub>2</sub>) - anerkennt implizit die Notwendigkeit der Energiewende, langfristige Arbeitsplatzzugewinne durch die Subventionierung von Windkraft werden nicht gesehen, nur die Verschiebung von Arbeitsplätzen aus nichtsubventionierten Bereichen in subventionierte.<br>klimaaffirmativ
+criticizes the Danish wind energy policy as inefficient (Denmark exports surplus wind generated electrical energy  to Sweden and Norway (about 50 percent), where low carbon energy is substituted by the import));  Energy produced by wind furthermore is held to be a very expensive way to save carbon (87 € per ton CO2). The institute acknowledges the need for an U-Turn in energy production in principle, but arguments suggesting long term employment effects due to subsidies for wind energy are rejected. Subsidies are held to move employment from traditional energy production to subsidized segements. <br>affirmative
 * [[The Copenhagen Institute]] - http://www.coin.dk/
-(teilweise Gastbeiträge von Angehörigen US-amerikanischer Institute)
+(partly guest contributions from U.S. institutes )
-hat von 2005-2010 258 Meinungsbeiträge zur Umweltpolitik veröffentlicht, ein Teil davon zu Fragen des Klimawandels
+published 258 opinion pieces on environmental policy issues from 2005 to 2010, partly on questions concerning climate change;
-leugnet die wissenschaftliche Haltbarkeit des anthropogenen Klimawandels; eine freie Marktwirtschaft kann sich den Bedingungen eines etwaigen Klimawandels anpassen; unterstellt die These als politisch motiviert; versucht die Stellung des IPCC als eines Gremiums wissenschaftlicher Expertise mit dem Argument anzugreifen, die an ihm beteiligten Klimawissenschaftler/innen würden durch Regierungsfinanzierung auch inhaltlich motiviert.<br>klimaskeptisch
+denial of scientific tenability of anthropogenic climate change; is further of the opinion a liberal market economy is capable of adjusting to conditions of a potential climate change; presumes politcal motives for the thesis of the anthropogenic climate change; assaults the status of the IPCC and its scientific expertise by way of arguing that the involved state funded climate researchers are not unbiased.<br>sceptical
 '''Finland'''
 * [[Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA)]] - http://www.eva.fi/en
-Das EVA veröffentlichte zu Fragen des Klimawandels einen Artikel des damaligen Direktors des Schwesterinstituts ETLA, Pentti Vartia. Der Artikel ging auf einen Vortrag gehalten beim Fortum Research Seminar 2000 zurück. Vartia betrachtet die wissenschaftliche Abschätzung der Intensität des Klimawandels, des anthropogenen Beitrags, der regionalen Konsequenzen wie der adäquaten Schutzmaßnahmen als im Fluss und weiterer Forschungen bedürftig. Er verhält sich aber grundsätzlich affirmativ zu den Forderungen des Kyoto-Protokolls. Klimaschutzmaßnahmen sollten ökonomisch möglichst flexibel gehandhabt werden, wozu CO<sub>2</sub>-Schemata ein mögliches geeignetes Mittel seien. Er weist auf die Bedeutung ökonomisch-technologischer Innovationskraft für die Bewältigung des Klimawandels hin. 10/2008 führte EVA ein klimapolitische Diskussionsveranstaltung mit u.a. der Umweltministerin durch.<br>klimaaffirmativ
+The EVA has published an aritcle concerning the question of climate change by Pentti Vartia, the then director of its sister institute ETLA. The article originates with a talk given at the Fortum Research Seminar 2000. Vartia contemplates on the scientific assessment of the intensity of climate change and mankind's share in the same, looks at regional consequences, appropriate protective measures as being in flux. Furthermore Vartia is of the opinion that the current state of knowledge necessitates on going research. Generally he is assertive of the Kyoto protocol demands. Climate protection measures should be administered as economically flexible as possible whereby CO<sub>2</sub> schemes are considered appropriate instruments. He points to the significance of economic technological innovations for coping with climate change.  In October 2008 the EVA hosted a discussion round at which among others the environment minister talked about climate policy issues.<br>affirmative
 '''France'''
 * [[Civil Society Institute (iFRAP)]] - http://www.ifrap.org/
-Zentrales Thema ist CO2-Steuer (10 Beiträge)
+A central issue is carbon tax (10 contributions)
-** positive Rezension eines klimaskeptischen Buchs, das aber hauptsächlich auf die Sinnlosigkeit von CO2-Reduktionsbemühungen abhebt, weil Einsparungen der hochindustrialisierten Staaten durch Ausweitung des Verbrauchs in nachholend industrialisierenden Staaten kompensiert würde (Sandrine Gorreri)
+** positive review of climate change sceptic book, which however is mainly concerned with efforts of reducing CO2 emissions stressing the futility of these efforts; the argument is that reduction in highly industrialized region will be compensated by increasing emissions in newly industrialized countries. (Sandrine Gorreri)
-** Karbon-Steuer teils ineffizient teils ökonomisch schädlich
+** carbon tax is partly considered inefficient and partly even economically harmful
-** aus Gründen der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und der Größenordnung muss eine CO2-Steuer europaweit fixiert werden
+** Europe-wide there should be a fixed carbon tax for reasons regarding competiveness and dimension
-** äußert Bedenken gegen den extremen Ausbau der Windkraft aus energietechnischen und ökonomischen Gründen, keine Grundsatzkritik<br>eher klimaskeptisch
+** has concerns about extrem expansion of wind power for energy-technological and economic reasons; no fundamental criticism however<br>rather sceptical
 * [[Fondation pour l'Innovation Politique]] - http://www.fondapol.org/
-setzt anthropogenen Klimawandel voraus<br>
+presupposes anthropogenic climate change<br>
-schlägt mit dem Buch "Umwelt und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit: eine globale Strategie für Europa" einen ökonomisch günstigen Weg des energetischen Umbaus für Europa vor, wobei darauf hingewiesen wird, dass der europäische Beitrag angesichts des CO2-Verbrauchs von USA, China und Indien limitiert bleiben müsse. Die Mechanismen seien eine aktive Freihandelspolitik, die ökologische Belange einbeziehe, die Mobilisierung der Innovationskraft der Märkte, Koordinierung der EU-Klimaschutzpolitiken unter Implementation von Ausgleichsmechanismen für Staaten mit besonders energieintensiven Industrien (Herausgegeben von Elvire Fabry, Direktorin von Fondapol, und Damien Tresallet, Research Fellow)<br>klimaaffirmativ
+the "Umwelt und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit: eine globale Strategie für Europa" suggests an economically favorable path to energetically remodelling Europe; the book points out that Europe's contribution should be limited in the face of CO2 emissions by the USA, China, and India. Favorable mechanisms would be active free trade policies that imply ecological issues, mobilizing innovational strength of markets, coordination of EU climate protection policies also considering implementing of compensatory measures for states with especially energy intensive industries (edited by Elvire Fabry, director of Fondapol, and Damien Tresallet, Research Fellow)<br>affirmative
-* [[Institut Euro 92]] - http://www.euro92.com/
-Sieht in der heutigen Klimawissenschaft mehrere Aspekte der Unsicherheit: 1. der menschliche Beitrag zur Klimaerwärmung, 2. Abschätzung der ökonomischen und ökologischen Konsequenzen der Klimaveränderung 3. betreffend angemessener Methoden zur Verhinderung der Klimaveränderung; schlägt Abkehr vom von diesen Unwägbarkeiten kontaminierten Vorsorgeprinzip vor, stattdessen Beseitigung von überflüssige Konsumtion anregenden Subventionen, Liberalisierung der für Energieproduktion und -verbrauch relevanten Märkte um Innovationspotential zu stärken; ein weiterer Punkt ist globale Ungleichverteilung der Schäden und Vorteile durch die Klimaveränderung und der mögliche Nutzen für Staaten der gemäßigten Breiten durch ihn.<br>eher klimaskeptisch
-* [[Institut Montaigne]] - http://www.institutmontaigne.org/
-(zwei Publikationen unter dem Topos "nachhaltige Entwicklung")
-anerkennt den anthropogenen Klimawandel (Menschheit und Klimawandel, Studie aus 2002)<br>
-Kritisiert das Windenergieausbauprogramm Frankreich als zu kostspielig und ehrgeizig, schlägt einen moderaten Ausbauweg vor.<br>klimaffirmativ
-* [[Institut Turgot]] - http://www.turgot.org/
-leugnet den anthropogenen Klimawandel, übt Kritik an den methodischen Verfahren der dominanten Klimawissenschaft, unterstellt die Politisierung des IPCC und das Fehlen wissenschaftlicher Autorität.<br>klimaskeptisch
-'''Germany'''
-* [[Center for European Policy]] - http://www.cep.eu/
+[[Institut Euro 92]] - http://www.euro92.com/
-Das CEP hat zum Themenbereich Klimaschutz 25 Kurzanalysen und zwei Studien publiziert.
+Considers several aspects in current state of climatology unsettled and dubious:  1. question of whether climate warming is caused by mankind; 2. assessment of economic and ecological consequences of climate change; 3. questioning of whether applied methods for preventing climate change are appropriate; suggests abandoning the precautionary principle and instead eliminating subsidies that stimulate redundant consumption ; further suggesting liberalizing markets for energy production and consumption in order to strengthen innovative potential; the institute also points to the fact that advantages and disadvantages of climate change are unevenly allocated in a global perspective and to the possible advantage of climate change for states in temperate zone.<br>rather sceptical
-Förderung erneuerbarer Energien nicht ausdrücklich EU-weit implementieren, stattdessen CO2-Emissionsziel festlegen und Handel mit Emissionsrechten einführen; Handel mit Emissionsrechten ist Ausstoß-Quoten vorzuziehen (gilt auch für entsprechende Festlegungen zu Nutzfahrzeugen)
-Planvorgaben für technische Neuerungen stehen im Widerspruch zu marktwirtschaftlichem Findeprozess für effektive Lösungen
-aus Wettbewerbsgründen sei ein globaler Konsens über CO2-Ausstoßbegrenzungen notwendig<br>klimaaffirmativ
 * [[European Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow]] - http://www.cfact.eu/
-Alleiniger Schwerpunkt Umweltpoltitik, wobei das Hauptgewicht wiederum auf dem Klimawandel liegt. Leugnet den anthropogenen Klimawandel, kritisiert Subventionen für klimafreundliche Industrien, leugnet den Arbeitsplatznutzen der Ökologisierung der Wirtschaft.<br>klimaskeptisch
+Exclusive focus on environmental policy with emphasis on climate change; denies anthropogenic climate change, criticizes subsidies for climate friendly industries; also denies positive effects of ecologization of the economy on employment.<br>sceptical
 * [[Hamburg Institute for International Economics]] - http://www.hwwi.org/
-keine programmatischen Positionen zum Klimawandel, betrachtet Klimapolitik allein als ein Feld der Bestimmung von Außenhandels- und Innovationschancen.<br>klimaaffirmativ
+No programmatic position regarding the question of climate change; considers climate policy merely as an area of negotiating foreign trade and innovation opportunities.<br>affirmative
 * [[Hayek-Gesellschaft]] - http://www.hayek.de/
-leugnet durch einem Beitrag von R. Nef, P. Bessard (Liberales Institut Zürich), F. Singer (NIPCC) den anthropogenen Klimawandel.<br>klimaskeptisch
+Denies anthropogenic climate change illustrated in contribution by R. Nef, P. Bessard (Liberales Institut Zürich), F. Singer (NIPCC).<br>sceptical
 * [[Institute for Free Enterprise (IUF)]] - http://www.iuf-berlin.de/
-Klimapolitik ist ein Schwerpunkt der Arbeit des Instituts.<br>
+Climate policies is one of the main areas of the Institute.<br>
-Es leugnet den anthropogenen Klimawandel, versucht die Glaubhaftigkeit von Klimaforschern zu untermininieren durch z.B. Verweis auf ihre finanzielle Abhängigkeit von geeigneten Drittmitteln, Politisierung des IPCC, organisiert internationale klimaskeptische Kongresse mit; kritisiert das Vorsorgeprinzip und die Bindung von politischen Entscheidungen an Hypothesen
+Denies anthropogenic climate change, attempts to undermine credibility of climate researchers by e.g. pointing to their dependence on third-party funds, by way of politicizing of the IPCC; co-organizes overall climate change sceptical international conferences; is critical of the precautionary principle and political decision making being influenced by mere hypotheses;
-Förderung von Photovoltaik bedeutet, dass die in unseren Breiten ineffizienteste Variante der Energieerzeugung gefördert wird und durch die künstlich gesteigerte Nachfrage Volumina aus Regionen abgezogen werden in denen die Solarenergieproduktion produktiver wäre.<br>klimaskeptisch
+Public funding of photovoltaics means supporting a kind of energy production, which is the most inefficient kind in our region. Superficially increased demand draws off volume of electrical energy from regions where the production of solar energy would be more productive.<br>sceptical
 * [[New Social Market Economy Foundation]] - http://www.chancenfueralle.de/
-** anerkennt den anthropogenen Klimawandel
+** acknowledges anthropogenic climate change
-** setzt auf CO2-arme Energieproduktion als Resultat von Innovation und der Verbreitung optimaler Technologien durch Handel; Vereinbarkeit von Wirtschaftswachstum und Klimaschutz
+** opts for low carbon energy production resulting from innovation and optimal technologies disseminated by trade; considers economic growth generally compatible with climate protection.<br>affirmative
-klimaaffirmativ
 * [[Stiftung Marktwirtschaft]] - http://www.stiftung-marktwirtschaft.de/
-aktuell: Konferenz "Anforderungen an die Energiepolitik: Versorgungssicherheit, Klimaschutz, Wirtschaftlichkeit?" (Berlin, 20.04.2010)
+Current: conference „Requirements for energy policies:  secure energy supply, climate change, profitability?" (Berlin, April 20, 2010)
-"Marktkonforme Instrumente und umweltpolitische Zielvorgaben treten […] an die Stelle von gut gemeinter ökologischer Detailsteuerung, um den Wettbewerb als Innovationstreiber, Kostensenker und Entdeckungsverfahren für neue Technologien zu nutzen."
+"Instruments with market economies and environmental policy objectives substitute well-intentioned ecological micro coordination in order to utilize competiveness as driver for innovation, cost cutter and means of discovery for new technologies.”
-verschiedene Standpunkte von Leugnung erheblicher Wirkungen der Treibhausgasemmissionen über die Anerkennung des IPCC-Einschätzungen und Bekenntnis zu ereuerbaren Energien im Verbund mit staatlicher Forschungsförderung
+Different positions ranging from denying substantial effects of green house gas emissions to acknowledging certain IPCC assessments and to committing to renewable energies in connection with state subsidies for research on the latter;
-Im Rahmen der Energie- und Klimapolitik optiert die Stiftung für
+In the context of energy and climate policy the foundation opts for
-# die Internalisierung externer Kosten
+# internalizing of external costs
-# Anwendung marktwirtschaftlicher Instrumente wie Zertifikatehandel
+# applying market economy consistent instruments such as emission rights trade
-# die Nutzung des marktwirtschaftlichen Konkurrenzmechanismus im Dienst der Effizienzsteigerung und beschleunigten Entwicklung klimafreundlicher Technologien.
+# utilization of the market economy mechanism of competition in order to increase efficiency speed up the development of climate friendly technologies.
-klimaffirmativ
+<br>affirmative
 * [[Walter Eucken Institut]] - http://www.eucken.de/
-Zur Umweltpolitik nicht dokumentierte Veranstaltungen in den Jahren 1997 und 2000. Nähe zu in der Bundesrepublik politisch dominanten Positionen und damit eine klimaffirmative kann vorausgesetzt werden.
+Several events concerned with environmental policies between 1997 and 2000, which are not documented; close to dominant positions in the Federal Republic of Germany;<br>affirmative
 '''Italy'''
 * [[Adam Smith Society]] - http://www.adamsmith.it/default.asp
-Vorlesungen aus der Reihe ''regulatory lectures'' zu Energiemärkten und Förderung erneuerbarer Energien, keine inhaltlichen Information
+Lecture series: ''regulatory lectures'' engaging with question of energy markets and promoting renewable energies; no information regarding the lectures’ content provided;
 * [[Istituto Bruno Leoni]] - http://www.brunoleoni.it/
-Lehnt Karbonzölle als uneffektiv, ungerecht und kostspielig ab. Studie zur Förderung der Wind- und Solarenergieerzeugung, die den Arbeitsplatznutzen leugnet und die Kosten als höher auszeichnet, als sie sich durch energiesparende Innovationen ergäben. Autorität des IPCC: das IPCC sei eine politisierter Zusammenhang und darum nicht als wissenschaftliche Autorität zu betrachten. Weist auf die Positionen der Klimaskeptiker als eine begründeten Zweifels hin.
+Rejects carbon taxes because they are considered inefficient, unfair and expensive; study subsidized wind and solar energy production in which the author denies positive effects on employment; further the study claims higher costs for energy generated by wind and solar power compared to implementation of energy saving innovations; does not regard the IPCC as scientific authority rather considers it as politicized entity; points to positions of climate change sceptics by conceding warranted doubts;
 * [[Magna Carta Foundation]] - http://www.magna-carta.it/
-Fordert den Bau neuer Atomkraftwerke aus Gründen der Energiesicherheit und nationalen Unabhängigkeit. Kein oder kaum Bezug zur Klimaproblematik.
+Demand construction of new nuclear power plants for reasons of energy supply security and national independence; No or little reference to issue of climate change;
-Studie zur Erneuerbaren Energiequellen liegt vor, jedoch nur italienisch. Weist auf die Unsicherheiten der Argumente für den anthropogenen Klimawandel in einer Buchpublikation hin. Die Politik der CO2-Reduktion wird als sinnloser und kostspieliger Vorgriff auf noch zu erzielende wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse ausgewiesen.
+Study about renewable energies, however, only available in Italian; points to uncertainties in arguments pro anthropogenic climate change in one of its book publications; politics of reducing CO2 emissions are considered senseless and expensive given the fact that in their opinion science still owes hard proof of anthropogenic climate change;
-[[de:Umweltpolitik]]
+[[deu:Umweltpolitik]]