Klaus Scharioth, Germany’s ambassador to the United States, said he believes the U.S. can become more environmentally friendly and save money by doing it.
He outlined several major issues requiring international cooperation, including climate and energy security at the UNC School of Law on Wednesday.
He said Germany hopes to reduce global warming by using the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, which is a partnership between Germany, the U.S. and Canada that aims to improve climate control on local, state and national levels.
After drastically altering its energy policies in the 1990s, Germany headed the collaboration, which the United States joined in December 2008.
Scharioth said that since implementing that progressive climate policy, Germany has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 28 percent. He also said the nation has plans to cut its emissions by 40 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050.
Solar and wind power alternatives are largely responsible for these reductions, he said, noting that Germany is the top solar energy user worldwide.
He likened Germany’s energy sources to those in this country — he said both nations have roughly equal amounts of power coming from coal and nuclear energy — so the U.S. could adapt a climate policy similar to Germany’s.
He said the United States’ first step toward greener policies should include monetary incentives.
“You should reward efficiency gains,” he said, adding that making energy resources like natural gas more expensive would encourage wiser usage.
