The greenhouse effect and the global climate

Two of the main goals of Danish energy policy are 1) to reduce the emissions of CO2 to a level, which by 2005 shall be 20% below the 1988-level, and 2) to participate in the international efforts to establish a similar reduction target for global emissions. The fear of an increased greenhouse effect and a climate change provoked by human activities is as yet based entirely upon theoretical, scientific considerations, since measured climatic data have not so far delivered unequivocal proof of an increased greenhouse effect. A thorough understanding of the basic science involved is therefore regarded as very important, especially in connection with the public debate. The present project aims at sustaining a broad scientific expertise, which includes a solid understanding of the climate situation as a whole, and capacity to work out estimates - based on the most recent scientific understanding - of the climatic consequences of different national and international strategies for emission reduction. The project should be seen as a national supplement to the great number of research project pursuing highly specialised basic research, where overall conclusions concerning the advantages or disadvantages of different energy policy strategies usually are difficult to obtain