Go to German version
From Green Deal to Clean Deal: The European Commission is planning to significantly reduce red tape, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a new ‘omnibus package’. The package, which was presented in the middle of last week, aims to reduce reporting requirements, which have increased significantly under the Green Deal and other labour regulations. The central point is the relaxation of due diligence requirements in supply chains, whereby companies will only have to take into account direct business partners. This is particularly intended to relieve the burden on smaller companies, which are currently suffering from the high administrative costs. Over 85 per cent of companies could benefit from the new regulation, particularly from higher thresholds for reporting requirements, which will only apply to companies with 1,000 or more employees and an annual turnover of over 450 million euros. These measures have been well received by the business community, although there is also criticism that warns of a watering down of the legislation. wiwo.de, euractiv.de, rnd.de
Biodiversity Conference COP 16 – Financing plan in place: The breakthrough came in the middle of the night in Rome: after tough negotiations, more than 190 countries agreed on a financing plan to implement the species rescue programme agreed in the ‘World Nature Treaty’ by 2030. Four months earlier, the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, had failed – too many delegates from poorer countries had prematurely returned home, thus losing the quorum. Now the diplomats applauded with relief. For the first time, there is a concrete ‘global plan’ for how to finance the preservation of biodiversity on earth. But challenges are already emerging that are reminiscent of previous points of contention. fair-economics.de, tagesschau.de, mdr.de
According to the IUCN, at least 1,677 of 15,060 European species are threatened with extinction.
In Europe, many species are threatened with extinction. Among the 1,677 endangered species, snails, mussels and fish are particularly affected. More than half of the endemic tree species, such as the horse chestnut and the rowanberry, as well as around a fifth of amphibians and reptiles, are also endangered. The most threatened mammals include the Arctic fox, the European mink, the Mediterranean monk seal, the Atlantic northern right whale and the polar bear. The decline in pollinator populations is also alarming, with one in ten bee and butterfly species threatened with extinction. According to the IUCN, 36 species have become extinct in Europe since 2015, including numerous freshwater fish and the Viola cryana violet. Important animal species such as the aurochs and the Sardinian hare have already become extinct. Further research into the situation of bees, marine mammals and fish is urgently needed. europarl.europa.eu
The new German government’s climate policy challenges: The new German government faces significant climate policy challenges, particularly in relation to energy policy and the reduction of CO2 emissions. Electricity prices in Germany are among the highest in Europe, and there is pressure to reduce them through changes to the tax and levy system. Furthermore, the expansion of renewable energies is being called for, but this requires significant government subsidies. In addition to the financial challenges, the government will have to present a new climate protection programme to meet national and European climate targets, including phasing out coal use and reducing building emissions. There are also concerns about the stability of the electricity grid and the need to build new power plants to avoid potential energy shortages. All these issues need to be addressed in a context where the new European emissions trading scheme begins in 2027. fr.de
More difficult conditions for the IPCC – Trump administration hinders work on new climate report: The Trump administration has cut staff support for the IPCC working group on climate change, which significantly affects work on the new climate report. This was done by closing the US office of the IPCC and cancelling travel expenses for US delegates. These measures were declared as part of a policy to ‘eliminate unnecessary consultants’. The current IPCC chair, Jim Skea, and other stakeholders are now facing more difficult conditions at the important meeting in Hangzhou, China. The developments could further undermine US participation and influence at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference and global efforts to achieve the Paris climate goals. tagesspiegel.de
Carmakers fear millions of jobs will be lost as the EU Commission presents a new strategy this week: Europe’s automotive industry is under pressure from strict EU fleet targets, which are feared to result in massive job losses and economic losses. Representatives from major automotive regions, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and Italy, met in Brussels to push for an adjustment to the current CO₂ limits and a postponement of the fines. These sanctions could cost the industry up to 16 billion euros. The EU Commission plans to present a new automotive strategy on 5 March that will take into account an adjustment of the targets to the changed global situation, without, however, risking a complete reversal of the measures taken so far to reduce CO₂ emissions. EU Commissioner Tzitzikostas emphasises the need for a more flexible policy that supports the transition to electric mobility without overburdening industry. derstandard.at
New Generation instead of Last Generation: The climate activist group ‘Last Generation’ has renamed itself ‘New Generation’ and is planning a strategic realignment to gain broader support. According to spokesperson Raphael Thelen, the group aims to establish a more democratic basis for climate action by creating a ‘parliament of the people’ – a network of local councils across Germany. This network is to come together in September for a national assembly in Berlin. The initiative is open to anyone interested in far-reaching social change and is intended to address not only climate issues but also resistance to lobbying. This marks a change from the group’s previous, often controversial protest actions, which had featured road blockades and direct resistance. zeit.de
BOOK RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK:
zukunftsfähig arbeiten
Ways to an environmentally conscious and humane working environment
In the book, which brings together the topics of work and sustainability, it is impressively argued that the way we work is not only of central importance for the health and personal development of the individual, but also plays an essential role in environmentally conscious behaviour. The work takes an in-depth look at what humane and sustainable work design can look like and offers practical examples that both inspire and demonstrate practical ways to make workplaces and processes more environmentally friendly and humane.
The approach presented, which makes it possible to evaluate good work economically, is particularly innovative. This economic framework could be an incentive for companies and organisations to view sustainable practices not only as ethical, but also as economically advantageous decisions.
Another significant contribution of the book is the integration of occupational psychology criteria into the model of the doughnut economy. This connection builds a bridge between psychological research and sustainable economics, showing the important role of work design in achieving a sustainable society.
In summary, this book is a well-founded and practice-oriented resource that shows that sustainable work design is not only possible but also necessary to meet the great challenges of our time. It is a recommended read for anyone interested in industrial psychology, sustainable development and innovative economic models. oekom.de
In a nutshell:
Criticism of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s question on the funding of non-governmental organisations (NGOs): A parliamentary question from the CDU/CSU faction on the funding of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has caused a stir. The SPD has harshly criticised the motion, saying that it was ‘a foul play’ and ‘pillories’ organisations that work for democracy, said party leader Lars Klingbeil. The Left Party and the Greens are also outraged, seeing it as an ‘attack on civil society’. zdf.de , bundestag.de (original document)
Climate policy after the federal election: Climate activists concerned about coalition between CDU and SPD. taz.de
Elon Musk: US government accidentally cut funds for Ebola prevention, according to Musk. zeit.de
Climate damage war: Russia’s war against Ukraine drives up emissions. energiezukunft.eu
Geothermal energy: base load from the depths and the future of geothermal energy. golem.de
Dark doldrums: Between energy crisis and weather conditions. fair-economics.de
Poorer households: Pay almost half of their income for rent. spiegel.de
Trump’s tariffs on chips: The curse of the global supply chain. handelsblatt.com
Unprotected environmentalists: Those who fight for the preservation of nature in Colombia live dangerously.internationalepolitik.de
Phasing out combustion engines: Doctors call for sticking to the phase-out. mdr.de
Smart City Index: Big cities are fully committed to digitisation when it comes to mobility. bitkom.de
Rural living for little money? Those who live in the countryside may have long commutes and have to spend a lot of money on mobility. Until now, lower costs for rental apartments or building land stood in the way. But that has changed. br.de
Bidirectional charging: What electric cars can do besides drive. fair-economics.de
E-mobility, electricity price cap, infrastructure ‘Quick clear perspectives’: IG Metall leader takes Merz to task. focus.de
Deutsche Bahn: Wants to lure customers onto trains with bargains. wiwo.de
Storage: Successful testing of large-scale storage of fossil-free hydrogen. marktsteel.de
After affair: Bernd Pitschak is the new DWV boss. electrive.net
Misjudged: Bosch trims hydrogen strategy – 550 employees affected. handelsblatt.com
‘We are firmly convinced that hydrogen is coming’: Hydrogen is considered a key element of the energy transition. Sefe manager Hermes explains the challenges of building the infrastructure. edison.de
Hydrogen is becoming superfluid after all: Experiment confirms a good 50-year-old theory about an exotic state of hydrogen. scinexx.de
PODCAST OF THE WEEK:
One month of Trump: What are the consequences for the environment and climate?
The US president sends political shockwaves almost daily. Climate policy is a particular focus. What does this mean for the rest of the world? It was foreseeable that Donald Trump would withdraw from the Paris Agreement after his successful election as US president. But the numerous decrees that the Republican has issued since taking office in January make it difficult even for experienced observers to keep pace with the changes in climate policy in the US. What does the course mean for Europe? And how does the renewed US focus on oil and gas fit with the economy there, which had long since adjusted to the green transformation under Trump’s Democratic predecessor Joe Biden? This is the topic of this episode of Handelsblatt Green & Energy with campaign strategist Julius van de Laar. handelsblatt.com
COMMENTARY OF THE WEEK:
It was a climate election
by Joachim Wille
The Union won the federal election. The SPD will foreseeably govern and now has the job of making the energy transition socially just. The recent federal election in Germany, which was won by the CDU, turns out to be a decisive climate election. Although climate protection played a minor role in the election campaign, around 70 per cent of voters support parties that pursue the goal of climate neutrality by 2045. The SPD is expected to join Friedrich Merz’s government and faces the challenge of making the energy transition socially acceptable.Despite the CDU’s support for climate targets under Merz, there are concerns about the specific implementation and the preference for more traditional energy sources. The new government urgently needs to develop effective climate protection strategies to achieve the ambitious CO2 reduction targets over the next 20 years, while ensuring social balance.
The full comment is available at klimareporter.de
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Animal testing in Germany: Last year, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) approved a total of 2126 so-called project summaries for animal testing projects. So far this year, 177 such projects have been published. This is stated by the Federal Government in its answer (20/15018) to a minor question (20/14881) from the Die Linke group. A summary of the project must be attached to every application for the approval of an animal experiment. This summary is sent to the BfR by the approval authority within three months of the project being approved. The BfR publishes these project summaries in the Animaltestinfo database (www.animaltestinfo.de) within twelve months of their submission. The search mask can be used to search this database using various keywords or criteria (e.g. year of publication). The duration, which is applied for and approved individually for each experimental project, can be found in the respective project summaries in the above-mentioned database, the response states. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of federal funding provided for research involving animals and for experimental projects in the field of the so-called 3Rs – replacement, reduction and refinement of animal testing. No separate records are kept of what proportion of the expenditure is provided for animal testing projects and for non-animal testing projects.
LITERALLY:
We are in a historically unique situation. Now another actor is coming into play who plays a role in this historical process. This actor is the planet itself. Until now, we have always told the story of humanity from a purely human perspective. People make their own history. And humanity or individual societies shape their historical process. The climate crisis is now showing us for the first time that it is not only people who make their own history, but now the planet is coming into it. Issues such as the climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity, the loss of livelihoods and the depletion of resources are now becoming a massive historical factor that we as humanity can no longer control. The problems are man-made, but we no longer have the effects and feedbacks under control. In this respect, there are indeed reasons to be more than a little worried.
Achim Landwehr, a professor of early modern history at the University of Konstanz, explains the complex interactions between climate change, prosperity and economic interests. He argues that these issues are often erroneously treated as independent factors in public discourse, although they are closely interrelated. In particular, he emphasises that many migratory movements are directly caused by the effects of the climate crisis. However, this fact is often overlooked or deliberately separated in the political debate, which makes it difficult to honestly address the causes and solutions to migration crises. Landwehr also criticises the widespread tendency in European and Western societies to ignore uncomfortable truths rather than confront them. This ‘head-in-the-sand policy’ extends not only to obvious climate deniers and conspiracy theorists, but also manifests itself in more subtle forms of ignoring critical issues. The climate crisis in particular is often ignored or trivialised, leading to a kind of social schizophrenia in which the urgent need for action is undermined by a collective desire for normality and comfort.
He also talks about the historical uniqueness of the current situation, in which the planet itself is emerging as an actor, responding to human activities. He highlights that, for the first time, humanity is facing the immediate and inescapable consequences of its own actions, which it can no longer control. These consequences are profound and will persist over the long term, creating lasting uncertainties and challenges. He emphasises the urgency of recognising this reality and acting accordingly to minimise future impacts.
the whole interview on ndr.de
AFRICA:
Botswana: Signs improved 10-year diamond deal with De Beers. ippmedia.com
Ghana: Mahama’s second attempt – better cabinet or business as usual? theafricareport.com
Cuts in development aid for Africa: ‘These kinds of shocks, like the one we are now experiencing with Trump, accelerate change’. spiegel.de
Initiative against foreign debt: Eight former African heads of state have joined forces to campaign for the cancellation of African countries‘ foreign debt. vaticannews.va
Kenya: Launches $900 million 2027 bond buyback offer. investing.com
Art: Nigeria’s National Museums Commission takes over responsibility for Benin Bronzes. deutschlandfunkkultur.de
South Africa: South Africa’s rural provinces are benefiting from programmes to boost the rural economy and create jobs by investing in one of the country’s most valuable assets – its nature. worldbank.org
ANALYSIS:
Surprise discovery: plasticiser comes from sunscreen: A plasticiser used in sunscreen, which was banned in cosmetics across the EU in 2019, has been detected in the urine samples of children. Research has shown that this substance, di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHexP), could originate from the UV filter diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (DHHB), which is produced as an impurity during manufacturing. Authorities such as the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV) and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) have confirmed the presence of minute traces in the samples, but do not see any immediate health risk. Nevertheless, they are calling on manufacturers to adapt their production processes so that no more harmful plasticisers are produced. The discovery has prompted a review of sunscreens and their ingredients to ensure that they are safe for consumers. spektrum.de
It is not only AI and data centres that are driving the worldwide increase in demand for electricity: global electricity demand is rising sharply, driven not only by AI and data centres, but also by increasing demand in developing and emerging markets, particularly in China, India and Southeast Asia. According to a report by the International Energy Agency, annual growth of almost 4% is expected in the coming years. In addition to technological developments, the increasing use of air conditioning and electric vehicles, as well as growing industrial production, are significant drivers of this increase. Climate change and the energy transition pose additional challenges, as the increasing demand must be sustainably met in order not to jeopardise global climate targets. The EU plans to expand renewable energies to meet growing demand while reducing emissions. t3n.de
Atlantic current system – The Gulf Stream won’t tip after all? A new study has debunked fears that the Gulf Stream, a critical part of the Atlantic current system, could tip due to global warming. Researchers, including British climate scientist Jonathan A. Baker, found that even extreme warming – a quadrupling of CO2 levels – would not cause the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) to collapse completely. These findings were published in the journal Nature. Nevertheless, the study shows that a significant weakening of the current system is possible by the end of the century, mainly due to the additional meltwater from Greenland changing the density and salt content of the North Atlantic Water. This development could have serious climatic and economic impacts, but is not considered irreversible. Scientists emphasise the importance of limiting global warming to avert the most severe consequences. tagesschau.de
CALENDAR:
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: Cradle 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 revolve around 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 Decarbonization and Sustainability Summit 2025 in Düsseldorf
The Automotive Decarbonisation and Sustainability Summit will take place as part of the European Green Vehicle Congress and will focus on decarbonisation in the automotive sector. The event, which is aimed at automotive industry executives, will be held 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 most important industrial fair is ‘Shaping the Future with Technology’. Companies from the mechanical engineering, electrical and digital industries, as well as the energy industry, will be showing 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 exhibition, 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, business 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 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 Foundation on the Climate Economy 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.
THE LAST ONE:
Next ice age delayed: due to climate change
It sounds like a Deutsche Bahn delay announcement. The next big cold snap was planned in about 10,000 years. Now, it seems that humanity has been a little over-enthusiastic in turning up the heating already. A team of researchers has revealed in a study that the Earth’s orbit had actually made all the preparations for a frosty party. But our collective carbon footprint has nipped the invitations in the bud. According to the brainpower at Cardiff University, we were on course to greet a new ice age, like a lost friend that drops by every 100,000 years. But scientists have found that our penchant for turning up the thermostat to tropical is going to have to turn the door on these cyclical guests. Peering deeper into the past than any family tree, researchers have managed to unlock the secret rhythms of the Earth’s orbit through innovative analysis of ancient ice sheets and oceanic temperatures. And although the next ice age would have been a sure thing without human influence, everything points to the fact that our industrial activities have already sent an irreversible invitation. This means that nature’s plans for a frosty future could have been thoroughly rewritten by our influence on the climate. So anyone hoping to explore an Arctic landscape in ten thousand years should perhaps adjust their expectations.
more weiss: heise.de
To the German edition
All images, if not otherwise stated: pixabay.com
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