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Focus on Climate Change

November 28, 2005

A year after Russia ratified the Kyoto Protocol, the world is gathering in Montreal to discuss methods of further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. DW recalls the past year's environment stories.

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The hole in the ozone layer is being increased by greenhouse gas emissionsImage: AP

More than a year ago, the international community was focused on whether or not Russia would sign on to the Kyoto Protocol, allowing the treaty to curb greenhouse gas emissions to go into force. Next to the US, Russia is the single largest pollutent, and its approval was needed for Kyoto to go into effect. When Moscow ratified the treaty, Europe heralded the news as a success for global climate control and prophesized a brighter future for the environment.

At last year's climate conference in Buenos Aires, environmentalists began to hammer out goals for the coming decades. But despite several smaller conferences focusing on renewable energies and reducing the world's dependency on oil, not much has really changed in terms of global environmental committment, as DW commentators point out.

A selection of the year's past environmental articles highlights the ups and downs of establishing an effective global climate policy and indicates the long road ahead.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

Europe Facing Environmental Disaster Through Global Warming

Europe is facing the worst climate change in five millennia as a result of global warming, the European Environment Agency warned in a report issued Tuesday as the UN's summit on climate control entered its second day.
November 29, 2005

Rich Countries Cut Emissions, More Needed

UN scientists say rich nations have managed to bring down greenhouse gas emissions by around 6 percent. But they also warn that without further efforts emissions could rise significantly.
November 20, 2005

Opinion: Kyoto Clears Final Hurdle

After seven years in limbo, Russia's parliament finally ratified the Kyoto Protocol, the last obstacle before the climate treaty comes into force worldwide. It is a victory for politics, says DW's Jens Thurau.
October 22, 2004

Opinion: Katrina Holds Familiar Lessons

Even as the damage caused by hurricane Katrina in the US is assessed, the reason for its brutality is already known -- global warming. It underlines yet again there is no alternative to global climate protection.
August 31, 2005

Opinion: A Good Beginning, But That's All

On Feb. 16, the Kyoto Protocol, the international environment accord on global warming, comes into force. It's a landmark in climate protection, but governments can't afford to rest on their laurels.
February 16, 2005

What Can the World Expect Post-Kyoto?

A two-day United Nations’ meeting on climate change is taking place in the German city of Bonn. One goal of the informal conference is to start considering what to do after the Kyoto protocol runs out in 2012.
May 17, 2005

Drastic Climate Change Affects Germany

A study from the Max Planck Institute of Meteorology in Hamburg reveals that Earth is heading towards a climate catastrophe. The consequences for Germany and the world are drought, floods and glacial melt.
September 30, 2005

Europe Leads Way in Climate Talks

At the Climate Change Conference in Buenos Aires, the EU has focused attention on the post-Kyoto process. Now that Russia has ratified the pact and it goes into force next year, it is time to look beyond 2012.
December 15, 2004