An ambitious resource policy supports the development of an integrated, social and competitive Europe. Even though a global coordination for climate protection is economically, environmentally and socially necessary in the long term, the EU can provide a significant contribution to such a development singlehandedly. Doing so would even be of great economic advantage! The newest results of a comprehensive model show that. In separate scenarios they display a global solution, a European solo effort with predominantly market-based instruments, and the effects of an engaged civil society in the EU.