Enlarge image Angela Merkel at the third Petersberg Climate Dialogue (© picture alliance) The Petersberg Climate Dialogue has its origin in a personal initiative of Chancellor Merkel in 2009. It was intended to bring the faltering dialogue process back on track after the Climate Conference in Copenhagen in the same year. Since then, each Petersberg Climate Dialogue is jointly organised with the host of the next UN Climate Conference.

The third Petersberg Climate Dialogue is jointly chaired by Germany and Qatar. Qatar holds the Presidency of the next United Nations climate summit which will be held in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

In addition to the new climate agreement, specific climate change strategies at national level and opportunities for enhanced cooperation on climate change were also on the agenda

"Many countries are already working very hard to protect the climate and reduce their emissions. However, this does not suffice to meet the 2-degree limit. We must all do more and we must do it together, "said Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Environment, Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

Altmaier welcomed in particular that many of the countries participating in the conference aim to take additional measures to limit the growth of emissions before 2020. In this context, he praised the efforts of major emerging economies such as Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Enlarge image (© picture alliance / dpa)

In her keynote speech on the previous day, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the next UN Climate Conference in Doha must give new impetus to climate protection.

She stressed that it was essential to develop a new concept of growth as economic activity should always be for the good of the people. She further explained the shared yet diverse responsibilities of the individual countries. Hence, a simple "business as usual" approach would have terrible consequences, and the desired 2-degree target would not be achieved. A purely quantitative approach would not be sufficient any longer, said Merkel.

She further explained that it was also important to seperate the use of resources from economic growth. Germany's energy turnaround put the issues surrounding energy supply on an entirely new footing. This was no easy matter, as all three principles - affordability, protection of the environment and safety - should have equal importance. "If this project succeeds, it can show other countries the way to more sustainable energy supply," said the Chancellor.

In his opening speech, Altmaier said that the next climate conference in Qatar should achieve concrete results. "We want to make international climate protection fit for the road again," he said. Thus sustainable economics could help nations to overcome crises.

In the negotiations about a new climate change agreement it would be evident that climate change is not an obstacle but an important element and a prerequisite for economic growth, the Federal Minister explained.

Since Copenhagen, there has been significant progress: for the first time in Durban in 2011, all countries have agreed to develop a common agreement on climate change. In addition, the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012, will be extended.

Enlarge image Federal Minister for the Environment Peter Altmaier with Qatar's Vice-PM Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah (© picture alliance / dpa) Funding for climate adaptation, technology and knowledge transfer has been secured beyond 2012: the Global Climate Fund will become operational this year. Germany has offered to host the fund.

Since 2008, the Federal Government's contribution for international climate protection and adaptation have increased to €1.5 billion (from €900 million).

The Federal Ministry for Environment, Conservation and Nuclear Safety supports climate projects worldwide each year with a total of €120 million.