to the German Edition
Failure to deliver on climate plans – Most countries miss key deadline: Almost all parties to the Paris Agreement have missed the 10 February deadline to submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). So far, only a few countries, including the US, Brazil, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates, have submitted their plans. The majority, including major emitters such as India and China, as well as EU member states, have announced that they will submit their plans later this year. Meeting these deadlines is crucial to assessing global progress in limiting global warming. With the global average temperature having already passed the critical 1.5-degree mark, the UN climate chief warns of a potential warming of about three degrees. The European Union is being called upon to intensify its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, especially after the US withdrew from the agreement under President Donald Trump. spiegel.de , n-tv.de , orf.at
Climate change among the top five threats to this country: Climate change poses a threat to Germany’s national security, could lead to increased migration and undermine European stability. A comprehensive study conducted by the University of the Federal Armed Forces, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Adelphi Research and the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) highlights these risks. BND President Bruno Kahl emphasises that the dangers posed by climate change are on a par with other serious threats, including the expansionist behaviour of Russia, China’s geopolitical goals, increasing cyber threats and global terrorism, and thus represent one of the five major external challenges for Germany. metisunibw.de , deutschlandfunk.de , zdf.de
2.5 billion euros
In 2024, the German Investment and Development Company (DEG) provided a record-breaking 2.5 billion euros in funding for international private investments. Almost half of these funds, around 1.2 billion euros, were used for projects in the field of climate and environmental protection. This represents a significant increase over the previous year, when commitments were 600 million euros lower. Particularly high commitments were made to projects in Latin America (795 million euros) and Africa and the Middle East (609 million euros). DEG also supports German medium-sized companies in their foreign investments by providing them with 620 million euros. In view of the decline in state development aid, particularly the loss of US aid, DEG emphasises the increasing importance of strengthening European cooperation. fr.de
Climate Risk Index 2025 – The Global South Will Pay the Highest Price: The latest Climate Risk Index from Germanwatch shows that the small Caribbean island of Dominica is most affected by extreme weather events such as storms and floods. The example of Hurricane Maria illustrates the dramatic economic and social impact of such events on the country. The index, which is based on data from the international disaster database EM-DAT, assesses the impacts of extreme weather worldwide and shows that, in addition to Dominica, countries such as China, Honduras, Myanmar, India and European countries such as Italy, Greece and Spain are also significantly affected. Germany ranks 48th out of 171. The study emphasises the need for global financial support for particularly affected countries and calls for more intensive international cooperation on climate protection in order to minimise the risks and costs of extreme weather events. tagesschau.de
Federal Environment Agency warns of poor air quality in Germany: The Federal Environment Agency warned of poor air quality in Germany due to increased particulate matter caused by traffic, heating, industry and current weather conditions. The situation was particularly acute in the east and north, as well as in metropolitan areas, where particulate levels, measured in terms of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter up to 10 micrometres, had been elevated for days. This is caused by emissions from road traffic, industrial waste gases and, in winter, additionally by wood and coal stoves. Weather conditions with weak winds and inversion, in which colder air remains in the lowlands, favour the accumulation of pollutants in the air. Furthermore, easterly winds contribute to the transport of polluted air from eastern Central Europe to Germany. Sensitive people, such as asthmatics and young children, may experience irritation of the respiratory tract, and it is recommended to avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors when particulate matter levels are high. By the end of the week, the situation had improved as weather changes led to rain and snowfall that washed out the particulate matter, and the wind direction turned to northerly directions, improving air quality. merkur.de , dnn.de
This is the new climate policy of the USA: Donald Trump’s climate policy is characterised by strong support for the fossil fuel industry, which represents a significant step backwards for environmental and climate protection in the USA. He has signed decrees that reduce environmental regulations and include the withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and the cessation of payments for international climate diplomacy. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and federal waters, which have been opened up for oil and gas drilling, are particularly affected by the deregulation. In addition, subsidies for renewable energies, especially wind power, were stopped and energy efficiency standards for household appliances were abolished. These measures are expected to increase US emissions and could have a global impact on climate policy in other countries, particularly with regard to the slowdown in investment in renewable energies. zeit.de
Trump deletes government websites on climate and health – activists want to save the data: The US government under Donald Trump has deleted numerous government websites on topics such as climate and health, which means that valuable data is at risk of being lost. Various organisations and activists are now trying to secure and archive this information before it is permanently destroyed. The measures include saving data on climate science and environmental justice, as well as archiving essential public databases. This step has been criticised as an attack on scientific operations and a significant loss of irreplaceable climate information. Various initiatives are working hard to capture as much data as possible and make it accessible to future generations, despite the challenges of archiving. t3n.de
Bundestag election Heating Act: Green Party leader Felix Banaszak has publicly made serious accusations against the SPD-led Federal Chancellery. He accused the Chancellery of deliberately leaking the draft of the ‘Building Energy Act’ to the ‘Bild’ newspaper. This action was part of a tactic to undermine the public reputation of Green Party politician and then chancellor candidate Robert Habeck. According to Banaszak, the leak occurred at a time when no agreement had yet been reached within the government on a socially staggered funding. The ‘Bild’ report on the bill, which was published in February 2023, triggered an unprecedented dispute within the coalition at the time and brought the coalition to the brink of failure. Publication of the draft at an early stage of its development led to significant public and political reactions, especially since the associated funding programme had not yet been worked out. Banaszak’s accusations bring a new dimension to speculation about the source of the leak. Previously, there were suspicions that the then-minister of finance, Christian Lindner (FDP), could have been behind the leak. In addition to Habeck’s Ministry of the Economy and Lindner’s Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Construction also had access to the draft, as did the Chancellery. The Greens had long suspected internally that the SPD could be responsible for the leak, but Banaszak’s public statement is the first time that suspicion has been confirmed by a high-ranking party figure. However, a government spokeswoman dismissed the allegations as ‘nonsense’. Banaszak, on the other hand, emphasised that the intention behind the leak was not supportive and aimed to weaken Habeck’s political position. These accusations shed light on the tense relations within the coalition and point to more far-reaching political and personal conflicts within the government. handelsblatt.com
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
The Big Soil Handbook
Regenerative gardening and organic vegetable growing – even without digging. The no-till method for healthy soil and more vegetables
‘The Complete No-Till Guide’ by Jesse Frost is a comprehensive work on regenerative gardening and organic vegetable growing using the no-till method. The 256-page, hardcover book addresses the question of how to make gardening efficient and environmentally friendly without turning over the soil. The author, who runs a market gardening farm himself, shares his experiences with soil health and shows how healthy soil can serve as protection against pests and diseases. Frost describes three central principles of no-till gardening: minimal soil disturbance, keeping the soil covered at all times, and intensive planting. These principles are designed to revitalise the soil while reducing the amount of work required in the garden.
The book offers practical guidance on implementing this method, including selecting suitable mulching materials, using compost, and integrating cover and intermediate crops. It also covers techniques such as companion planting and no-till farming, and Frost provides a useful overview of plant compatibilities. Through personal insights and stories, the author encourages readers to start their own experiments in the garden, always emphasising that perfectionism is not required. Illustrated by Hannah Crabtree, the book also offers appealing visual elements. ‘The Big Soil Book’ is aimed at hobby gardeners and professionals in the field of regenerative agriculture and offers both in-depth information and practical tips for using the no-till method. The work is a useful resource for anyone interested in sustainable gardening practices and in improving the health of their soil over the long term. oekom.de
In a Nutshell:
Energy policy: The parties‘ ideas about the future energy supply differ widely – but they all want affordable prices for industry and households. das-parlament.de
Habeck fights for the future: Climate policy should be the focus again. merkur.de , sueddeutsche.de
New alliance: European nuclear lobby strengthened by new industry alliance. euractiv.de
Study on the heating transition: The pure market solution makes heating a luxury. fair-economics.de
Thousands demonstrate for climate protection: A good week before the federal election, many people protested for climate protection last Friday and over the weekend. tagesschau.de
Sustainability: Federal Environment Minister Lemke speaks out in favour of a packaging tax. logistik-heute.de
Sustainability guideline: leading economists in favour of corporate relief. faz.net
ESG criteria for banks and financial service providers: why consumers are demanding sustainability. it-finanzmagazin.de
When the political climate becomes a health hazard: the invisible consequences for migrant apprentices. fair-economics.de
Transport policy: associations see public transport at a critical turning point. omnibusrevue.de
Party positions: What are the parties planning in terms of a ban on combustion engines, purchase incentives, expansion of charging infrastructure and EU fleet limits? springerprofessional.de
Above all, costs related to cars: mobility costs more money. zdf.de
Wissing: The end of the Deutschlandticket would be fatal. busplaner.de
Joint planning: How spaces can be put to many uses and cars play a secondary role. fair-economics.de
Air taxis: The United Arab Emirates is beginning to map air corridors for air taxis and cargo drones to transform urban transport. afp.com
H2 filling stations: The number of hydrogen filling stations in operation worldwide is still low. But their number is increasing. Last year, for the first time, it even reached the four-digit range. automobil-produktion.de
Innovation from Saxony: Transporting hydrogen with rusty iron nuggets. pv-magazine.de
Pipelines: Transmission system operator prepares for hydrogen transport soon. erneuerbareenergien.de
Energy-intensive industry: A debate has erupted over the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries such as iron, steel and chemicals. Experts believe that it is not realistic for these sectors to continue as before in Germany. klimareporter.de
PODCAST OF THE WEEK:
The hydrogen turnaround – expensive, delayed, complicated
The hydrogen economy is supposed to play a major role in the energy transition and make Germany ‘number one in the world’. This was promised by the then Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Peter Altmaier, in June 2020, along with billions of euros. Now the coalition government has doubled the expansion targets. Large electrolysers for generating hydrogen from green electricity are to be built quickly, import terminals and pipeline networks are to be constructed, and metal, chemical and cement production is to be converted to hydrogen. However, industry is waiting for clear regulations. Other countries are further ahead. swr.de
COMMENTARY OF THE WEEK:
‘Those who emit 15 times more also have a 15 times greater obligation to protect the climate’
In his op-ed, Uwe Nestle argues that common climate narratives, such as the need for each individual to contribute and the idea that only the rich can afford climate protection, are misleading and even undermine social acceptance of climate policy. These narratives, Nestle argues, lead to confusion and fear among the population, especially among those who find themselves in socio-economically precarious circumstances. He shows that the less affluent segments of the population in Germany already have emissions at a level close to the 2030 targets, while the richest one per cent of society have emissions far above them.
Nestle suggests that climate policy should be redesigned to be fair and socially just. This includes introducing new narratives that identify the true main contributors to the climate crisis – the wealthiest segments of society – and emphasises that these groups should bear the brunt of the adjustment. Such adjustments would allow emissions to be significantly reduced without placing a disproportionate burden on the socially vulnerable. Furthermore, an effective climate policy would have to include supportive measures for low-income groups to help them cope with the costs and burdens of climate change.
The full text is available at Klimafakten
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Stricter controls on the import of biofuels: The federal government is contradicting the opposition’s claim that it is doing nothing to close the ‘control gap’ in the import of biofuels. In a response (20/14921) to a minor question from the CDU/CSU faction (20/14496), the responsible Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) writes that renewable fuels can only be counted towards the greenhouse gas reduction quota (GHG quota) and subsidised if if state inspectors had access to the production sites for on-site inspections. In mid-December 2024, the BMU had sent the parliamentary groups a ‘draft for a corresponding amendment to the Federal Immission Control Act and other ordinances,’ the response stated. In doing so, it is fulfilling the German Bundestag’s mandate to examine further regulatory options within the existing EU legal framework, the German government also writes in response to a question from CDU member of parliament Christian Hirte (20/14338, question 129), to which the German government refers. In addition to making it more difficult to count towards refusal of access, the proposed regulations also include more specific conditions for withdrawal: For example, it should be regulated by law under which circumstances the authorities can assume that the fuel suppliers were aware of the invalidity of the proofs, so that these can be denied. To improve fraud prevention, the German government submitted proposals at the European level at the Energy Council in May 2024 and called on the EU Commission to ‘identify and eliminate weaknesses in the existing governance system’. The proposals include, for example, the introduction of accreditation of certification bodies by national accreditation bodies, such as the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) in Germany. This is intended to improve audit conditions.
Extension of the animal welfare label: The comments and criticisms expressed by the stakeholders concerned would be examined and included in further considerations regarding the extension of animal welfare labelling to beef. This is stated by the German government in its answer (20/14896) to a minor question (20/14618) from the FDP faction. Since work on the key issues paper is currently still ongoing, it is not yet possible to predict when an adapted version will be published. The background to this is the plans of the former traffic light coalition of SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens and FDP, which provided for an extension of animal husbandry labelling to beef. The coalition agreement included the introduction of mandatory animal husbandry labelling. This labelling has already been introduced for fresh pork and is to be extended in particular to other animal species and marketing channels. The aim of a key issues paper on the expansion of animal husbandry labelling to include beef is to ‘involve affected stakeholders in the process at an early stage in the interests of good governance and cooperation,’ the response stated. In this way, suggestions, criticisms and practical advice could be incorporated into further considerations on the expansion of animal husbandry labelling at this early stage of the project.
Expert Council calls for faster CO2 reduction: Cross-sectoral greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have fallen significantly since 2021, with all sectors except transport recording declines. The speed of the GHG emission reduction varies considerably between the sectors. This is stated in a briefing by the federal government on the report by the Expert Council for Climate Issues on the development of greenhouse gas emissions, trends in annual emission volumes and the effectiveness of measures (20/14900). In it, the Council comes to the conclusion, among other things, that the GHG emission reductions were sufficient to comply with the total annual emission levels set out in the Federal Climate Change Act (KSG) in the years 2021 to 2023 – but that the rate of GHG emission reduction observed in recent years would not be sufficient to achieve the legally established climate target for 2030. It is true that the trend of declining emissions accelerated from 2014 to 2023 compared to the decade from 2010 to 2019. However, if the target set in the Federal Climate Change Act of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent in 2030 compared to the reference value for 1990 is to be achieved, the average annual reduction rate from 2024 onwards would have to increase by more than half.
Climate protection effect of the coal phase-out: Regardless of the quantities to be cancelled, the scheduled, step-by-step reduction of emission-intensive lignite-based electricity generation significantly supports the transformation and decarbonisation of the electricity system. This is stated in the German government’s answer (20/14929) to a minor question ( 20/14641) from the FDP parliamentary group on the climate protection effect and the costs of the coal phase-out. It also states that coal-fired power generation in Germany is continuously declining as a result and that it continued to fall in 2024, despite the shutdown of the last nuclear power plants in 2023. When asked what climate protection effect the federal government expects from the legal coal phase-out, taking into account the current development of electricity generation from renewable energy sources and the increased electricity volume path in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) in 2022 until 2030 and beyond, the German government explains that the legal coal phase-out could help to ensure that the emission reduction target for the energy industry and for Germany as a whole is met in 2030 and beyond. The specific CO2 savings achieved by the legal coal phase-out depend on how the energy industry environment develops and to what extent coal would otherwise have been used to generate electricity in an economically viable way.
LITERALLY:
We need to link the fight against climate change more with competitiveness. And ensure a socially fairer transition. We also need to call on others outside Europe to do more. As Europeans, we are responsible for six per cent of global emissions. That means the rest of the world is responsible for 94 per cent – and the Chinese alone are responsible for more than 30 per cent. This deserves a thorough discussion.
Wopke Hoekstra, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, emphasises that the Green Deal is not in danger because there is no alternative to climate action, especially given the high costs of climate impacts on the economy, society and geopolitics. He acknowledges that approaches in the past have often been too one-dimensional and emphasises the need to link decarbonisation strategies with growth and competitiveness strategies. Hoekstra is determined to protect the European car industry while decarbonising it, and emphasises that he is committed to a holistic dialogue to shape the future together. He does not see the Green Deal as a competitive disadvantage, but as an opportunity to ensure that European companies and citizens, especially the middle class, are among the winners in the decarbonised future. Hoekstra, who used to work for the oil industry, distances himself from the ‘drill, baby, drill’ policy and emphasises the importance of appropriate investment frameworks, less bureaucracy and better financing opportunities to meet the challenges of the future.
The full interview is available at augsburger-allgemeine.de
AFRICA:
African Union: Mahmoud Ali Youssouf is elected as the new chairperson of the African Union. zeit.de
Due to expropriation law: US government imposes sanctions on South Africa. tagesschau.de
South Africa II: Mushin Hendricks shot dead – he was considered the world’s first openly gay living imam. deutschlandfunk.de
Kenya at a digital crossroads: AI, activism and bans. Kenya’s government is stepping up efforts to regulate artificial intelligence and social media. AI-generated content is causing unrest and has sparked a heated debate about freedom of expression. dw.com
Kenya II: ‘Intelligent and safe solutions for Nairobi’s traffic problems from WYRSAKe’. fair-economics.de
Climate financing bypasses people in Africa: Due to bureaucratic hurdles, the fact that payments are only made as loans, or are only made to large international organisations, global climate financing often does not reach those affected in Africa, criticise activists and local initiatives. klimareporter.de
Africa: The focus of the 2025 Munich Security Conference. fokus-afrika.de
READ MORE:
Repairing instead of throwing away: The ‘right to repair’ in the EU should make it easier to repair defective devices such as refrigerators or smartphones instead of replacing them, which not only saves costs but is also climate-friendly. In Germany, five million tonnes of electronic waste end up in landfill every year, 80 percent of which is recycled. However, this causes significant CO2 emissions and a loss of resources. A French model with a repair index could improve the reparability of devices, which is supported by the consumer advice centre. In addition, financial incentives such as the repair bonus in some German federal states have shown that repairs pay off. In the period from 2021 to 2023, almost 3,000 tonnes of CO2 and 390 tonnes of electronic waste were saved in Thuringia through repairs. spektrum.de
Controversial CO₂ storage – plantations for climate protection can harm the environment: A study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research shows that the use of large-scale plantations of fast-growing plants such as elephant grass for carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is severely limited when planetary boundaries are taken into account. Although in theory up to 42.1 billion tonnes of CO₂ could be removed from the atmosphere annually by such plantations, this amount is reduced to less than 0.2 billion tonnes when factors such as biodiversity, water consumption and land use are taken into account. The study highlights that over 90% of potential cropland for energy crops cannot be used due to ecological and regional restrictions. Thus, the fastest possible reduction of emissions remains the most important climate protection strategy. spiegel.de
What do gummy bears and climate change have in common? In his latest column for Terra X, Gregor Steinbrenner examines the psychological reaction of reactance in the context of climate policy. Reactance occurs when people feel restricted in their freedom, similar to children who react to forbidden sweets by secretly consuming them. Steinbrenner argues that presenting climate change as an opportunity rather than a constraint could increase acceptance of and motivation for climate protection measures. He suggests promoting positive visions of a sustainable future to strengthen public support for environmental initiatives. zdf.de
CALENDAR:
25–26 February: E-World in Essen
The E-World Energy & Water trade fair in Essen describes itself as the leading European trade fair for the energy industry. Among other things, companies show solutions for energy generation, energy efficiency and energy storage.
25–26 February: DGNB Annual Congress (digital)
The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) is the leading institution when it comes to making existing buildings more sustainable and climate-friendly. Ideas, approaches and current developments will be discussed at its digital annual congress.
12 – 13 March: Circular Valley Convention in Düsseldorf
The Circular Valley Convention is taking place in Düsseldorf for the first time. The trade fair format aims to provide a large stage for the circular economy. All players are to be networked in one place. The event is organised by Messe Düsseldorf in cooperation with the Circular Valley Foundation. GREEN.WORKS is a media partner.
13 and 14 March: Cardle to Cradle Congress in Berlin
In March, the 9th edition of the Cradle to Cradle Congress will take place at the Technical University of Berlin. The internationally oriented event is aimed at all players in the Crade-to-Cradle ecosystem and the circular economy.
26-27 March: SZ Sustainability Forum Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing 2025 in Munich
The event, hosted by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, is all about sustainable finance. On 26 March, the conference will focus on the topic of ‘Impact Investing in Real Estate’; on 27 March, the focus will be on German and European sustainability policy.
31 March – 1 April: Green Business Disruption Summit in Vienna
The Green Business Disruption Summit in Vienna is all about sustainable digitalisation. The conference will cover topics such as sustainable digital business models, data and AI for sustainability, and risk management and regulation.
19–20 March: The 3rd European Automotive Decarbonisation and Sustainability Summit 2025 in Düsseldorf
The Automotive Decarbonisation and Sustainability Summit is taking place as part of the European Green Vehicle Congress and is all about decarbonisation in the automotive sector. The event, which is aimed at managers in the automotive industry, is taking place both in person and online.
20 March: German Packaging Congress 2025 in Berlin
On 20 March, the German Packaging Congress celebrates its 20th anniversary. Under the motto ‘Challenge accepted! Mastering crises and seizing opportunities’, the conference will address topics along the packaging value chain.
20 March: Urban Innovation Forum 2025 in Berlin
This year’s Urban Innovation Forum is aimed at representatives from the climate tech sector. The event aims to bring together start-ups, investors, politicians and decision-makers from the business world. To the website
5–7 May (digital) and 26–28 May: Berliner Energietage in Berlin
The Berliner Energietage will take place in 2025 as a digital event and then in person in Berlin. The conference describes itself as ‘the leading event for the energy transition in Germany’ and, according to its own statement, is the largest congress in the energy and climate protection sector in the German-speaking world.
22 – 26 April: Hannover Messe in Hannover
The motto of this year’s world’s leading industrial technology show is ‘Shaping the Future with Technology’. Companies from the mechanical engineering, electrical and digital industries, as well as the energy sector, will be demonstrating how climate neutrality can be achieved through electrification, digitalisation and automation.
24–26 April: ChangeNow! in Paris
ChangeNow! in Paris describes itself as an event with the greatest impact on the planet. Over three days, it offers a mix of trade fair, conference and meetings. The aim is to bring together more than 35,000 people in total. The list of speakers includes well-known representatives from politics, companies and NGOs.
29 April: Sustainable Investment Forum Europe 2024 in Paris
The congress is aimed primarily at investors and asset managers. The fair is organised by the Climate Action organisation in cooperation with the UN Environment Programme.
29 April: Digisustain in Frankfurt
The name, a portmanteau of ‘digitalisation’ and ‘sustainability’, is intended to be the programme at Digisustain. The trade fair is designed as a B2B conference and revolves around digitalisation and future technologies in connection with sustainability.
11 March: Circular Design Summit 2025 in Stuttgart
The Circular Design Summit brings together leading minds from business, industry and design who are pursuing a common vision: economic success in harmony with ecological sustainability. Find out how circular design – design for the circular economy – is driving the transformation of the economy and how you can become part of this development. to the website
5 – 6 May: Global Solutions Summit in Berlin
The Global Solutions Summit is an international conference that addresses the most important political challenges for the G20, the G7 and other global governance bodies. The event brings together high-level representatives from politics, science, think tanks, international organisations and companies. It is also possible to participate online. to the website
6–7 May: OMR Festival 2024 in Hamburg
The OMR Festival at the Hamburg Messe is considered a mecca of the German marketing scene and describes itself as ‘The Festival for the Digital Universe’. But the event is also relevant to the topic of sustainability and climate protection, and part of the programme is expected to revolve around sustainability issues, as it did last year.
21 May: Fashion Law – 2nd German Fashion Law Day in Berlin
For the textile industry, legal issues of the sustainability transformation play an important role. The detailed programme for the event is yet to be announced.
12–14 May: Global Water Summit in Paris
Water is becoming an increasingly important issue in the face of climate change. Germany is also affected by water stress. The Global Water Summit in Paris brings together decision-makers from the water industry; this year’s event is themed ‘Accelerating Investment’.
20 – 22 May: Greentech Festival and Greentech Conference in Berlin
The Greentech Festival is one of the largest sustainability conferences in Germany. The Greentech Conference, at which stakeholders from the fields of politics and business discuss sustainable business solutions, is held as part of the trade fair. In 2025, the conference will be divided into the areas of mobility & transport, energy & infrastructure, and industry & materials.
22–23 May: Circular Republic Festival in Munich
Several thousand people attended the first Circular Republic Festival in Munich. The circular economy event is inviting people to the second edition on 22 and 23 May 2025. It describes itself as ‘Europe’s leading event for innovations in the circular economy’. Companies, start-ups and visionaries are invited to discuss topics such as scarcity of resources, climate change and supply chain resilience. GREEN.WORKS is a media partner.
26–28 May: Re:publica in Berlin
The Re:publica digital conference discusses the influence of digitalisation on the economy and society. In 2025, the festival will be held under the motto ‘Generation XYZ’. The aim is also to find sustainable solutions for tomorrow’s economy.
2–3 June: Hamburg Sustainability Conference
The motto of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference is ‘Together We Co-Create Sustainable Development’. The conference in Hamburg focuses on achieving the UN sustainability goals. The aim of the event is to bring together decision-makers from politics, business, science and civil society from around the world to explore opportunities and practical ways to achieve the 17 sustainability goals.
2–3 June: ZNU Future Conference in Ludwigsburg
The event discusses solutions and ways to achieve greater climate protection and sustainability in companies. It is one of the established and renowned events on the sustainability scene and is organised by the Center for Sustainable Corporate Governance at the University of Witten/Herdecke.
3–4 June: Scope 3 Innovation Forum in Amsterdam
The Scope 3 Innovation Forum focuses on the challenge of Scope 3 emissions. At the conference in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, opportunities and innovations that can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain will be discussed.
10 – 12 June: European Sustainable Energy Week 2025 in Brussels and online
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is, by its own account, the largest annual event in Europe dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency. It is organised by the European Commission and takes place in the Belgian capital.
16 – 18 June: European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2025 in Rimini
The ECCAC revolves around the topic of climate adaptation. Experts will come together in the Italian city of Rimini to discuss smarter, faster and more systematic climate adaptation in Europe.
25–26 June: Sustainability Summit in Hamburg
The Sustainability Summit in Hamburg is a trade fair and conference for sustainability in business, taking place for the second time in 2025. The summit is aimed at companies and start-ups. In the exhibition area, participants present their IT solutions for sustainability and ESG.
1–2 July: LZ Summit Packaging & Sustainability in Frankfurt
The conference is aimed at executives and managers in the field of sustainability management and strategy and focuses on optimising sustainable corporate governance in the consumer goods industry.
21 – 22 July: Sustainability Standards Conference 2025 in Frankfurt
The German Accounting Standards Committee (GASC), the IFRS Foundation, the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE are jointly organising the Sustainability Standards Conference. The conference will focus on the implementation and further development of the IFRS sustainability standards.
2-3 September: Carbon Capture Global Summit in London
The Carbon Capture Global Summit 2025 aims to advance the capture and storage of CO2. The conference in London brings together industry representatives, policymakers, investors, financiers and buyers.
9–10 September: BME Sustainable Procurement Summit 2025 in Darmstadt
The BME Sustainability Summit is a conference hosted by the German Association for Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Logistics, which focuses on sustainable procurement.
17–18 September: Impact Festival in Frankfurt
The Impact Festival is intended as a meeting place for greentech start-ups and SMEs, corporate sustainability managers and investors. In 2025, the conference will be held for the fifth time – and for the second time at the Messe Frankfurt exhibition centre.
21–28 September: Climate Week NYC in New York
Climate Week is an annual event held in New York that offers over 900 events and activities in the city. Every year, decision-makers from business, politics and civil society travel to the conference to debate transformation and climate change.
24 September: TW Sustainability Summit in Hamburg
The Sustainability Summit of the textile industry (TW) is a meeting place for everyone who has set out to achieve more sustainability in the fashion industry – from big players to first movers.
25 – 26 September: German Climate Management Conference in Hamburg
The conference focuses on the topic of climate stress, which is primarily considered from the perspective of communities and municipalities.
25–26 September: ESG Reporting and Management 2025 in Düsseldorf
The conference, organised by Handelsblatt, focuses on the topics of sustainability reporting and ESG management. In attendance and digitally.
3–4 November: Dena Energy Transition Congress in Berlin
At the energy transition congress of the German Energy Agency (dena), more than 1,200 high-level participants from business, politics and science will meet to discuss climate protection and the integrated energy transition. As part of the congress, the dena Energy Efficiency Award will also be presented to companies with innovative concepts.
10–21 November: UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém (Brazil)
In light of the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and natural disasters, the parties to the Paris Agreement will meet in the Brazilian city of Belém in 2025 to discuss the next steps in achieving global climate targets.
13–14 November: EcoCompute in Berlin
After taking place in Munich last year, the 2025 edition of EcoCompute will be held in Berlin. It is dedicated to digital sustainability in hardware and software and, according to the organisers, aims to provide a platform for experts to discuss current trends, research and practices in the field of green technology.
17–21 November: Euro Finance Week with Green Finance Forum in Frankfurt
The Green Finance Forum, which focuses on ESG and green investments, will once again be held in 2025 as part of the Euro Finance Week organised by the dfv media group. It will take place on the second day of the conference (18 November) and will bring together high-profile speakers.
02 – 05 December: Global Carbon Markets Conference in Barcelona
The Global Carbon Markets Conference 2024, hosted by financial specialist S&P, will focus on the development of global carbon markets. Market participants will gain insights and background information on what they need to prepare for in the future.
4–5 December: 18th German Sustainability Day and 18th German Sustainability Award in Düsseldorf
The German Sustainability Day is a fixed date in the annual events calendar. The German Sustainability Award is also presented during the conference. Every year, the most comprehensive national sustainability competition honours companies in various categories. In addition, the ‘Next Economy Award’ is presented to particularly innovative start-ups.
Probably in September: Blue Compass Award ceremony of the UBA and BMUV in Berlin
Every year, the German Environment Agency and the Federal Ministry for the Environment present the Blue Compass Award to five companies, municipalities, research and educational institutions, and associations that can present innovative, effective and sustainable solutions for dealing with the effects of climate change.
Probably in November: Circulaze Summit 2025 in Munich
The Circulaze Summit is expected to take place again in Munich in late autumn in 2025. The conference, which is aimed at circular economy start-ups as well as companies and their managers working in the field, will focus on the circular economy.
Probably November: 10th Annual Conference of the Climate Economy Foundation in Berlin
The annual conference of the Climate Change Foundation is expected to take place again in November. The event, which will probably be held for the tenth time in 2025, is aimed at experts from the fields of politics, business and science.
LAST:
US nuclear weapons agency wants to bring back fired officials
In Washington, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), headed by Elon Musk, has caused quite a stir. As part of the austerity measures ordered by former President Donald Trump, around 300 employees of the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) were dismissed in a night-time operation. This agency, which has nothing more important to do than to monitor the existence of thousands of US nuclear weapons, experienced an abrupt reduction in staff, the scope of which apparently no one had really understood – not even those who had ordered the dismissals.
The big clean-up led to a strange situation: the NNSA initially had no way of reaching the dismissed employees to reverse the dismissals, because the official email addresses had already been shut down. The irony of the situation was not lost on anyone: here you are, worrying about the security of nuclear weapons, but you can’t even contact your own employees.
Musk’s team, which is combing through one US agency after another to uncover alleged waste of money, had apparently not considered that lists of essential employees existed that were simply ignored. The result: administrative chaos, in which no one really knew whether they were still employed or not. In the face of this confusion, the layoffs were eventually put on hold. A classic example of how the efficiency of a wrecking ball can also tear down the wrong walls. handelsblatt.com
To the German Edition
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