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Mrusek, Konrad
3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Making economy and ecology compatible
Even in times of financial and economic crisis, we must not allow climate protection to become an issue of secondary importance, writes the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. "The crisis is the result of short-sightedness in the handling of financial capital. It would be wrong to act as carelessly with our natural capital. In this of all areas we must act consistently and look beyond economic cycles rather than giving in whenever there's a crisis. And we must remember that this is not about the costs for the climate in the recession year of 2009 but about the years after 2013. ... The atmosphere is a common asset, like a piece of common land. All states need to cooperate. But this will only be possible if the rich take the lead and signalise their willingness to pay pollution charges for CO2 emissions. Europe and America now have the opportunity to show that economy and ecology can be combined even in times of crisis."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Global
The EU as a pioneer in climate protection
Today the UN climate summit opens in Bali. Konrad Mrusek comments that although many countries want to take action against climate change, there is a "copycat trend" in this area of policy. "Moralists may bemoan this, but there's an economic logic to it. Those responsible for climate change and those who suffer the consequences are not one and the same, and there are winners and losers. The climate is public property; the atmosphere is like a global piece of common land that is used by all and - as is often the case with common property - also overused. ... One nation must take the lead otherwise nothing will change. The EU has done this. Under the German presidency the decision was made that the EU would cut its emissions by 20 percent by 2020, and if others join the initiative that target is to go up to 30 percent. This was an important message in the game of climate poker."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Environmental Policy, » Europe, » Global
Cimate change and the individual
The German government is currently compiling a climate agenda based on the climate protection goals Europe plans to achieve by 2020. In an effort to reduce energy consumption, old heating systems and electrical installations are to be replaced and old buildings renovated. Konrad Mrusek comments: "Private households and businesses will have to invest heavily in heat insulation or new heating systems - they will finance the lion's share of the climate protection measures. But the concrete figures aren't very conclusive because these are investments. So it comes down to whether this climate protection programme generates enough profit in terms of energy saving and reduction of greenhouse gases. The nation is evidently willing to do something about the climate, but it will make sure that environmental measures take account of the economic aspects."
» to the homepage (external link, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Germany
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