Contents page 1 — “We must show the citizens not only cupping” page 2 — “Ideal would be a minimum price of 35 Euro per ton of CO2” page 3 — “The people how to get out of the mess out” On a page

read rise Shortly before the climate summit in Katowice, the United Nations published new calculations that show The emissions to decline. A major reason for this: many of the World’s coal-fired power plants will still be built.

coal energy is cheap. But if the governments take their commitment to climate protection seriously, you need to say goodbye to her. How can this be achieved? Questions to the climate economist Ottmar Edenhofer, designated Director of the Potsdam Institute for climate impact research PIK and Director of the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change MCC to follow.

TIME ONLINE: Mr. Edenhofer, three years ago, the Paris climate summit was celebrated as the beginning of the end of coal. It was thought, by the Treaty, the world’s available capital would flow henceforth in climate-friendly energy production. Instead, we are witnessing a Renaissance in Coal. How can that be?

Ottmar Edenhofer: I was skeptical. The Paris climate Treaty would Herald the farewell of the coal, I never believed. In truth, it stayed at the Renaissance of coal. There are a number of reasons.

TIME ONLINE: What are the?

Edenhofer: coal is too cheap. The market price does not reflect the social and environmental costs. Take air pollution: Which is not priced in. Added to this, investment in renewable energy is very capital-intensive. They respond strongly to the level of interest rates. The interest rates are high, coal is an advantage.

Zeit ONLINE: But the interest rates are at the Moment very low.

Edenhofer: In Europe, Yes. But in the U.S. the interest rate has started turning already, and in the Emerging and developing countries, interest rates are already high. Accordingly, the construction of plants generating electricity from renewable energy sources is much more expensive than in the industrial countries. The largest investments in coal power plants: in China, India, Vietnam, Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt. Even Bangladesh, which is threatened by climate change very strongly, is building coal-fired power plants.

TIME ONLINE: What happens when interest rates rise, soon, somewhere else in Europe?

Edenhofer: Then, the coal has an even greater advantage. A few percentage points more or less make already a big difference.

TIME ONLINE: not Can compensate for the policy, the risk premiums on interest rates in developing countries, for example, through guarantees?

Edenhofer: That would be a possibility. The multilateral development banks could undertake to promote climate-friendly investments. And the Green Climate Fund of the United Nations could grant guarantees in order to reduce the default risk for investment in Renewable.

TIME ONLINE: It is always that renewable energies had become so cheap. Why don’t you sit down?

Many governments promote the coal politically.

Edenhofer: It is true that the technical progress has brought a lot of. The was underestimated by all analysts. The Renewable have been expanded therefore strong. But the consequences are paradoxical: When the renewable energies are more used, drops carriers, the demand for fossil energy, and thus the price drops – which in turn leads them to be used yet again.

one is to Calculate the costs that arise because you have to compensate for the fluctuation of solar and wind power, Renewables are often still more expensive than coal. And these are just the fundamentals. In addition, many governments promote the coal, also politically, for example, in India. On the other hand can enforce the use of renewable energies.

TIME ONLINE: it sounds as if the coal would play in spite of all the climate summit in the future an important role.