Ottmar Edenhofer Quotes

Climate policy has almost nothing to do anymore with environmental protection, says the German economist and IPCC official Ottmar Edenhofer. The next world climate summit in Cancun is actually an economy summit during which the distribution of the worlds resources will be negotiated.

First of all, developed countries have basically expropriated the atmosphere of the world community. But one must say clearly that we redistribute de facto the world's wealth by climate policy. Obviously, the owners of coal and oil will not be enthusiastic about this. One has to free oneself from the illusion that international climate policy is environmental policy. This has almost nothing to do with environmental policy anymore.

But one must say clearly that we redistribute de facto the world's wealth by climate policy...One has to free oneself from the illusion that international climate policy is environmental policy any more.

Climate change policy is about how we redistribute de facto the world’s wealth.

We cannot afford to lose another decade. If we lose another decade, it becomes extremely costly to achieve climate stabilization.

There is a clear message from science: To avoid dangerous interference with the climate system, we need to move away from business as usual.

It does not cost the world to save the planet.

Climate change is a global commons problem.