At a time when public finances are tight, the German Government should systematically examine how the funds available can be used as effectively as possible. This is precisely what the principle of cost-effectiveness – enshrined in international law under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change but now largely forgotten – calls for. It requires climate protection measures to be targeted where they achieve the greatest global climate benefits. This principle requires nothing less than a fundamental shift in domestic climate policy, as high-quality climate protection contributions can often be achieved in the Global South for 50 euros per tonne of CO₂(and less). By contrast, avoiding one tonne of CO₂in Germany easily costs a four-figure sum, particularly in the building and transport sectors.
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