Factsheet 3/2009
The WBGU Budget Approach

German Advisory Council on Global Change
WBGU, Berlin

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The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) has developed an innovative approach to solving the problem of climate change. A key component is an agreement between the community of states regarding a cap, in the form of a global budget, for the total amount of carbon dioxide that may be emitted from fossil-fuel sources up to the year 2050, with a view to avoiding dangerous climate change. As the global budget would be apportioned among all countries in line with fundamental principles of equity, the budget approach can serve as the basis for a new global climate treaty. In its latest special report, “The budget approach” (2009), WBGU demonstrates that global warming must not exceed the 2°C guard rail if dangerous climate change is to be avoided.