Examines how the global climate change is having initial tangible impacts upon humankind and nature today and how through the cooperation of the international community and through national-level efforts is possible to stabilize the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and thus prevent the most severe changes. With this special report, the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) provides recommendations for future negotiations within the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), particularly relating to the Kyoto Protocol. For this special report, the Council has commissioned three expert's studies, which are available for download from the website. Also links to simultaneous edition in German.