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(Photo: Bundesrechnungshof)
Federal Court of Auditors criticises Habeck’s energy transition: In a 58-page report, the auditors from Bonn have meticulously highlighted what they believe is missing from the narrative often propagated by Robert Habeck: the claim that the green transformation and the restructuring of the electricity supply are finally gathering momentum after years of stagnation, not least thanks to the laws passed by the traffic light coalition and Habeck’s own efforts. However, the Federal Audit Office believes that Habeck’s core project, the energy transition, is far from successful. „The results are sobering: the efforts made so far are not enough. The federal government is lagging behind,“ explains President Kay Scheller. The significance of his warnings is further emphasised by his authority’s role in the conflict over the financing of the Climate and Transformation Fund, where the auditors drew attention to potentially unconstitutional debt practices at an early stage. These concerns were largely ignored in Berlin, but were later clearly confirmed in Karlsruhe. The Court of Audit also holds the federal government responsible for jeopardising the electricity supply due to its energy policy. „The secure supply is jeopardised, electricity is expensive, while the federal government is unable to comprehensively assess the impact of the energy transition on the landscape, nature and the environment,“ said Scheller. wiwo.de , zeit.de , t-online.de , bundesrechnungshof.de (Special report in the original)
Wind power was the most important source of electricity generation last year: Last year, coal was overtaken by wind power as the leading energy source for electricity generation in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 31 per cent of the electricity produced in Germany in 2023 came from wind power, generating a record 139.3 billion kilowatt hours. Coal, which has now been relegated to second place, saw its share of electricity generation fall by almost a third to 26.1 per cent compared to the previous year. With a share of 56 per cent and a total production of 251.8 billion kilowatt hours, renewable energies made a significant contribution to the electricity supply in Germany. zeit.de
In March, a new record high of 21.2 degrees Celsius was measured in the world’s oceans.
Researchers are still puzzling over what exactly causes the marine heatwave. However, they have several theories. Experts such as Brian McNoldy and Robert Larter express their concern about these unusual temperatures, which are well above the seasonal average, and the causes of these marine heatwaves are not yet fully understood. Various factors, including the El Niño phenomenon, less cloud formation leading to more solar radiation, and less wind activity reducing the exchange of warm surface water with colder deep water, are cited as possible explanations. The greatest influence, however, is global warming, which is leading to „extreme and unusual heat“ worldwide, according to the World Weather Organisation. This warming of the oceans has far-reaching consequences for the climate, marine biology and human society, including rising sea levels, an increase in extreme weather events and the loss of oxygen in the oceans, which poses a threat to marine life forms. rnd.de
Federal Environment Agency wants German CO2 storage sites: The traffic light coalition is pursuing plans to introduce technology to store CO2, although storage sites on the German mainland are not to be considered. The President of the Federal Environment Agency, Dirk Messner, criticises the approaches of Economics Minister Habeck and sees this as a strategy to shift responsibility for CO2 „waste“ to other countries. In an interview, Messner argued in favour of storing CO2 primarily within Germany, as is the case with other types of waste. He described it as disingenuous to shift this waste primarily abroad and warned of the unpleasant discussions that such a decision could lead to at home. n-tv.de
German government appeals against climate protection judgement: The German government has appealed against a court ruling requiring it to submit climate protection programmes for the transport and buildings sectors. This decision by the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court in November came after complaints from environmental organisations demanding immediate action. The Federal Ministry of Economics justified the move with the aim of creating the greatest possible legal certainty. Environmental organisations reacted indignantly to this announcement. The background to this is the failure to meet the climate targets in 2021 and 2022 in the sectors mentioned, which requires the development of immediate programmes to reduce CO2 emissions under the current Climate Protection Act. deutschlandfunk.de
Why the climate crisis affects women more: A recent report published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) entitled „The Unjust Climate“ highlights the drastic consequences of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and storms. These natural disasters pose a particular threat to the most vulnerable population groups, with women and children in the Global South at an alarmingly high risk: according to UN figures, they are 14 times more likely to die in such a disaster than men. The report also sheds light on how climate change directly affects the livelihoods of women in rural areas as well as poor and elderly people, emphasising the profound socio-economic inequalities that are exacerbated by global warming. taz.de , fao.org (report)
CO₂ storage at gas-fired power plants hardly realistic: In Germany, the debate about CO2 capture and storage, known as CCS technology, has flared up again. This has been triggered by the presentation of a „carbon management strategy“ by the Federal Ministry of Economics. Among other things, this strategy recommends the use of CCS in fossil gas-fired power plants as a possible measure. However, it seems unlikely that this recommendation will be put into practice. The technology is controversial for various reasons and is only used to a very limited extent globally. In Germany in particular, strong public opposition led to the failure of an initiative to „dispose“ of CO2 emissions from new large coal-fired power plants in CO2 storage sites around 2010 and CCS was effectively banned. klimareporter.de
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
Alles wird gut – nur anders
Stories from the year 2037
Young Paul and his elective grandparents guide us through the state of everyday life and society in the year 2037, an era characterised by minimalist tiny lofts, self-driving solar vehicles and nostalgic restaurants without vending machine service. Virtual journeys to Peru are made through the metaverse, while drones patrol lakes as lifeguards and robots conquer the summit of Mount Everest. In this world, three generations struggle to define an authentic life and responsible politics, confronted with issues such as environmental protection, energy transition, a climate court, digitalisation, innovation inertia, rapid capitalism, sustainability debates, an unconditional basic income, a digital tax, paid climate change deniers, disinformation and shaping the future. Rainer Grießhammer takes us into a narrative world that is based on real events up to 2023 and then turns into creative fiction, a mixture of facts and convincing imagination. The story, which unfolds through shared experiences, time travelling and conversations, encourages us to think about the future we want and our commitment to shaping it. oekom.de
German and Austrian climate data: Researchers around the world are getting nervous. focus.de
Water supply: Dams must cope with extreme weather. energiezukunft.de
Deutsche Umwelthilfe: Refuses transparency and does not disclose donors. focus.de
Climate models: Climate forecasts simply too inaccurate. agrarheute.com
EU Climate Change Service: February was also warmer than ever. tagesschau.de
Geologists: Reject „Anthropocene“ as a new epoch. sz.de
Foodwatch lawsuit: The supermarket chain Edeka is being sued by Foodwatch and the human rights organisation ECCHR. It is about the environmental offender palm oil. t-online.de
Finances: GLS Bank sees sustainable investment under pressure. handelsblatt.com
The seventeen goals magazine tells inspiring stories about how people move the world and shows how everyone can make a contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
PODCAST OF THE WEEK:
Climate crisis is already threatening our health
Marischa Fast from the „German Climate and Health Alliance“ can name several health risks off the cuff that are due to rising temperatures and extreme weather events. „The climate crisis has reached us in full,“ she said in the SWR Tagesgespräch – on the occasion of the „Poverty and Health“ conference in Berlin. Vulnerable groups in particular, such as poor and elderly people, are already feeling the effects, in some cases quite clearly: „Thousands die from the heat every year“. Listen to the interview to find out how the climate crisis is also harming younger people – and why the expert believes we urgently need an ecological handprint. swr.de
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
„Militant actions only take place when acceptance can be expected“
by Andreas Oppermann
The arson attack on Tesla’s power supply is dramatic. Not only because of its direct impact on the electric car factory in Grünheide, the goods distribution centre in the neighbourhood and tens of thousands of people in the region who were – or still are – affected by the power cut. The attack could also be a turning point for economic development in the region. …
But because Tesla doesn’t communicate properly, many people don’t realise this. That makes it so easy to criticise Tesla as a company. That’s why forest squatters get attention, even if no trees are currently allowed to be felled. That’s why the people of Grünheide are rejecting a development plan that could bring them a lot of relief. … Potential investors at home and abroad will take a very close look at this. If even investments in future technologies are so massively rejected that terrorists feel emboldened to carry out attacks, then Berlin-Brandenburg as a business location is in danger. Then the willingness to invest here will decline. And then, sooner or later, the availability of jobs, social security and prosperity for all of us will also decline. rbb.de
MOBILITY:
GDL strike shows effect: Following the strike by the train drivers‘ union GDL, which has severely restricted Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance and regional services since early Thursday morning, the first effects are being seen: Deutsche Bahn has offered GDL negotiations for today, and the union is willing to talk under certain conditions. This could indicate that further strike action, such as wave strikes, could be avoided for the time being. While long-distance services are to be fully resumed from Saturday, regional and suburban rail services will be gradually ramped up from Friday. wiwo.de
Why women-led businesses are important for urban mobility: EIT Urban Mobility is committed to supporting European mobility start-ups to develop sustainable solutions to urban and environmental challenges. The organisation focuses on innovations that reduce traffic congestion, combat air pollution and promote inclusive urban spaces. With a strong focus on networking and partnerships, EIT Urban Mobility supports start-ups from idea to market maturity. In doing so, it emphasises a positive net impact, particularly in the environmental sector, and actively promotes the participation of women in the start-up scene. startupvalley.de
Study – Car industry still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to sustainability: In a report, the „Lead the Charge“ alliance, consisting of climate, environmental and human rights organisations, criticises the 18 largest car manufacturers for their slow transition to alternative drive technologies and neglecting CO2 emissions in their supply chains. The report emphasises that a „clean“ car should not only be based on electric drive, but should also have a fair, fossil-free and environmentally sustainable supply chain. The latest assessment shows steady progress in the industry, particularly in the use of fossil-free steel and respect for human rights. US manufacturers, with Tesla in the lead, are showing the fastest improvements. However, overall progress is insufficient; almost half of the manufacturers assessed have yet to take concrete action on steel and aluminium, and progress in responsible sourcing is minimal. On average, companies scored only 19 per cent of the possible points, with no manufacturer scoring more than half. Ford and Mercedes-Benz lead the ranking, but even these market leaders are still a long way from sustainable production. ecomento.de
Some cities are abolishing low emission zones: Low emission zones were introduced in Germany to reduce emissions of harmful substances such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, which are mainly emitted by cars, lorries and motorbikes. These zones, which were mainly established in cities with high levels of air pollution, prohibit access for vehicles that emit a lot of pollutants (characterised by red and yellow stickers). While cities such as Hanover, Karlsruhe and Heilbronn are cancelling their low emission zones and thus reopening them to more polluting vehicles, other cities are sticking to this concept. The question is: why are some cities deciding to abolish them while others continue to maintain their low emission zones? deutschlandfunk.de
HYDROGEN:
Six federal states establish „Initiative for Hydrogen in Eastern Germany„: The six eastern German states are now joining forces to develop a sustainable hydrogen economy. The „Initiative for Hydrogen in Eastern Germany“ (IWO) was officially launched in Berlin on Sunday as a platform for this. It is intended to closely network politics, business and science in the east on the topic of „green hydrogen“ in order to fully utilise its great potential for the energy transition and climate neutrality. magdeburg-news.de
First German hospital dares to experiment with hydrogen: A hospital in Erkelenz in the Rhenish lignite mining region is breaking new ground in its energy supply. Part of the electricity and heat will soon be generated using hydrogen. The project at Hermann-Josef Hospital is unique in Germany. A combination of two hydrogen technologies is partially replacing the conventional energy supply. Until now, only a combined heat and power plant and a conventional heating system supplied the electricity and heat for the 409-bed hospital in Erkelenz. 20 per cent of energy and 40 per cent of CO2 emissions are to be saved in the first phase, which will run until the end of 2026. The centrepiece of the new energy supply in the hospital in the Rhineland region is a 110-kilowatt system consisting of ten fuel cells, which went into operation yesterday and will initially be supplied with natural gas. Over the course of this year, the fuel cells will be enriched with hydrogen. In the medium term, the hospital aims to save 150 tonnes of CO2 per year. This is how the technology works: the so-called solid oxide fuel cells generate electricity from natural gas or hydrogen. This generates temperatures of between 500 and 700 degrees. The hospital uses this heat for heating and for reorganising the hydrogen. focus.de
Hydrogen storage in salt caverns costs 0.66 to 1.77 euros per kilogramme: The EWI Cologne determined the costs of storing hydrogen in salt caverns. The costs are heavily dependent on the degree of utilisation of the caverns and precise demand planning is therefore absolutely essential. The research institute believes that the German government has a duty to take action as soon as possible. ewi.uni-koeln.de
Idle running is dangerous for the financing of the hydrogen core network: The hydrogen core network is facing financial challenges, as idling risks could jeopardise financing. The German government has commissioned experts to analyse its financial viability. The planned financing concept envisages that in the initial years, the amortisation account will make up the difference between high construction costs and low income, with the federal government securing this account. Later, the grid users are to take over the long-term amortisation of the account. The report emphasises the need for state funding in the initial phase and warns of financial risks if network utilisation is too low. It is recommended that construction measures be postponed in line with demand in order to avoid expensive idling. BMWK report
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
German government plans 10 gigawatts of new power plant capacity: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner have agreed on the key elements of a power plant strategy. This is evident from the Federal Government’s response (20/10553) to a minor interpellation (20/10346) from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. According to this, it was agreed that, as a first step, 10 gigawatts of power plant capacity can be put out to tender by 2026 and that work on the future electricity market design will be advanced immediately and concepts for a market-based, technology-neutral capacity mechanism will be developed, which should be operational by 2028 at the latest. The tenders as part of the power plant strategy have been adapted in order to integrate new power plants into the future capacity mechanism. The tenders for H2-ready power plants now focus exclusively on new plants. Flexibility has been introduced with regard to the conversion date and operating conditions with hydrogen. The eligible full utilisation hours for H2-ready power plants have been reduced from 1,000 to 800 hours per year and the funding period has been limited until 2040. Funding for power plants already operating with hydrogen has been limited to 500 megawatts, whereby operation with hydrogen and natural gas is envisaged. In addition, a technology-neutral programme for long-term electricity storage was announced, with the German government emphasising that the agreements are aimed at ensuring a secure, affordable and climate-neutral electricity supply. The adjustments are intended to enable a cost-efficient implementation of the power plant strategy. Further talks are planned with the EU Commission to explain and deepen the agreement. Concrete cost calculations will only be possible once the further details of the power plant strategy have been worked out and implemented.
TAKEN LITERALLY:
We need to look at the governance mechanisms, the organisational principles and instruments: An annual climate conference made sense when we were still 15, 20 years away from global warming of 1.5 degrees. But after a year like last year, when the world averaged over 1.5 degrees for the first time, can we continue to say that we only meet once a year? When we are so close to a rendezvous with destiny? Shouldn’t we meet at least twice a year? Then we would have the chance to reach a consensus on how we come to decisions. And then finally take action.
Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, said that without financial resources for climate adaptation, many countries would face enormous challenges. Coastal erosion and the risk of saltwater intrusion, flooding and cyclones are examples. Taking out loans to tackle these problems limited the funds available for essential areas such as education and health, with the causes of these problems stemming from the development of other countries. Mottley draws a comparison: it’s like someone dumping their rubbish in their neighbour’s garden, who then has to borrow money to clean up the problem, while the polluter is hardly held accountable. She points out that the Global South has long been struggling to provide basic services for its population and is now falling into a debt trap by taking out loans to cope with natural disasters. The situation would be further exacerbated by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, with richer countries being able to support their economies with new debt, while poorer countries had only been granted a debt deferral. Mottley is in favour of solutions based on historical measures, such as the handling of British war debt, and calls for a similar plan to tackle the climate crisis. She suggests that multinational companies and the private sector should contribute, for example by taxing air travel and financial transactions, to raise the necessary funds for climate adaptation and mitigation. taz.de
AFRICA:
UN summit ends in Nairobi: The 6th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi, chaired by Morocco’s Minister for Energy Transition, Leila Benali, and attended by some 7,000 representatives from 182 countries, including 170 ministers, adopted 15 out of 19 proposed resolutions on issues such as tackling global air pollution, restoring degraded lands and protecting the oceans. A particular focus was on the equitable distribution of profits from the extraction of minerals critical to the energy transition, with African countries supporting a resolution that promotes sustainable extraction practices and aims to ensure that resource-rich countries and their populations benefit. The Assembly made progress on the protection of global water resources and the management of hazardous chemicals, but rejected a resolution on solar radiation modification technology, mainly due to concerns from African countries about insufficient data and the neglect of addressing the root causes of climate change. The member states reaffirmed their commitment to a comprehensive climate policy and set guidelines for the future work of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Progress will be reviewed at the next UNEA-7 in December 2025 under the leadership of the new President Abdullah Bin Ali Amri. africa.cgtn.com
Cross-border support for Lake Victoria: As part of its Africa policy and development cooperation with the East African Community, the German government is promoting measures for the integrated water resource management of Lake Victoria in order to counteract the consequences of pollution and threats to the water body. The German government writes this in its response (20/10528) to a minor interpellation (20/10343) . Over the past three decades, the ecosystem of Lake Victoria has changed considerably, including massive algal blooms, a decline in water transparency, an increase in water-borne diseases and significant changes in biodiversity, according to the answer. As a result of these developments, „more than 200 native fish species are threatened with extinction“, which is partly due to man-made factors such as more intensive land use, overfishing or pollution of the rivers flowing into the lake. A steadily growing population coupled with the region’s advancing economic development is increasing the pressure on water resources. In addition to the environmental damage listed, climate change is causing irregular rainfall in the catchment area and leading to more droughts and floods. „Without coordinated cross-border measures for integrated water resource management (IWRM) in the neighbouring countries, negative effects on the immediate living conditions of poorer and vulnerable groups in particular, on economic development and the environment and even local conflicts over water resources are to be expected,“ writes the German government.
EU Commission concludes partnership with Mauritania on migration: The EU Commission has concluded a migration partnership with the North African country of Mauritania. The aim is to promote legal migration and combat smuggling and human trafficking, as the Brussels-based authority announced on Thursday. In addition, the country is to be supported in the reception of refugees. watson.ch
The South African safari grannies: Seven grandmothers went on safari on an unexpectedly chilly day in a private reserve near the Kruger National Park in South Africa and soon came across a herd of elephants. In the past, these women had little contact with technology, but that has changed. They were trained by the organisation „Elephants Alive“ in the areas of species protection and nature conservation. Now they use smartphones and tablets to collect information about flora and fauna in the African wilderness. Their aim is to support a research project that investigates the behaviour of wild animals. The data and findings will be shared with universities worldwide. dw.com
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
What do we do with our plastic waste? A recent report by the Office of Technology Assessment in the German Bundestag (TAB) clearly shows that Germany has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the circular economy and recycling of plastic packaging. More than half of the plastic packaging in the country is still incinerated instead of being recycled. Food packaging in particular, which is often made of composite materials that are difficult to separate or cannot be recycled to a high standard due to impurities, dark dyes and residues from labels and paints, poses a major problem. Johannes Betz from the Öko-Institut emphasises that many products are not designed for recycling and that a large number of plastics and additives make recycling difficult. The report suggests that although Germany has an efficient waste management system, it is not sufficiently utilised for an effective circular economy. Progress could be made by investing in better sorting technologies and reducing the variety of materials and ingredients used in the packaging industry. The introduction of incentives such as a plastic tax could also improve the recycling rate by driving research and development in this area. faz.net
Flood protection – a step towards the predictability of disasters: Surprising floods and landslides could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a European Space Agency (ESA) project that is researching the prediction of such events using data from space. Climate change is increasingly leading to extreme flooding incidents, as the devastating example in the Ahr Valley and other recent floods in Europe and beyond illustrate. The consequences are often catastrophic, with thousands of victims, such as in Libya, where around 11,000 people died according to UN figures. However, improved forecasting and early protective measures could save lives.’The Vienna University of Technology has now made significant progress by developing a method for more precise forecasting of such extreme flood events. This is based on a comparison of international data from hydrologically similar regions. With the support of the ESA, a „digital twin“ of the hydrosphere has been created in collaboration with the Italian National Research Council, which simulates the water cycle and associated phenomena with physical precision in a computer model. ingenieur.de
Thailand: Bad air after burning fields. dw.com
John Kerry: After three years, the former Secretary of State relinquishes his post as the US government’s special envoy for climate protection. tagesschau.de
Fish: At higher water temperatures, they switch to a lean diet. spiegel.de
CALENDAR:
Consultation on registers of guarantees of origin for gas, heating and cooling
Time: Monday, 11 March 2024, 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, conference room E.800
On Monday, 11 March 2024, the Committee on Climate Protection and Energy will hold a public hearing on the Gas Heating and Cooling Proof of Origin Register Ordinance (GWKHV, 20/10159). According to the German government, the Guarantees of Origin Register Act created the legal basis for a register of guarantees of origin for gas, including hydrogen, as well as for heating or cooling from renewable energy sources or unavoidable waste heat. With the GWKHV, it is now specifying requirements for the issuance, recognition, transfer and cancellation of guarantees of origin, which are necessary for the establishment and operation of the register of guarantees of origin.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the Internet at www.bundestag.de.
The ordinance also serves to implement EU legal requirements in Article 19 of Directive (EU) 2018 / 2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources for the energy sources gas, hydrogen, heating or cooling. The task of setting up and operating both registers is to be transferred to the Federal Environment Agency.
Consultation on concepts for air travel
Time: Wednesday, 13 March 2024, 3 p.m. to 4.15 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, conference room 4.600On Wednesday, 13 March 2024, the Tourism Committee will discuss the topic of „Concepts in air travel„. The public hearing will begin at 3 p.m. in room 4.600 of the Paul Löbe Building and will last around an hour. With its 19 members, the committee is committed to good framework conditions for tourism and advocates the timely recognition and marketing of global trends. (01.03.2024)
The session will be broadcast live on parliamentary television and online at www.bundestag.de. bundestag.de (documents)
Consultation on modern tourism concepts: Sharing economy (urban and rural)
Time: Wednesday, 20 March 2024, 3 p.m. to 4.15 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, conference room 4.600Focus of the hearing:
- Requirements for the acceptance of the tourism sharing economy among the local population
- Opportunities for sharing mobility models in rural regions
Interested visitors can contact the secretariat of the Tourism Committee (e-mail: tourismusausschuss@bundestag.de), stating their first name, surname and date of birth, by 15 March 2024. An identity document must be brought to the entrance (Paul-Löbe-Haus, West Entrance).
„Sustainability aspects of the European Football Championship 2024 in Germany„
Time: Wednesday, 20 March 2024, 5.15 pm
Location: Berlin, Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, conference room 3.101Registration for public hearings
A limited number of local citizens can attend the public meetings of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Sustainable Development.
Registration by e-mail is required for this:
Surname, first name and date of birth to
nachhaltigkeitsbeirat@bundestag.de
Deadline: Friday, 15 March 2024, 11:00 a.m.
THE LAST:
India: A young girl dives for a plastic-free ocean
On her first dive off the coast of Chennai, nine-year-old Thaaragai Aradhana discovered an underwater world that was as fascinating as it was worrying: while numerous colourful fish amazed her, the sea was also littered with plastic waste, which poses a serious threat to flora and fauna. Sea creatures get caught in plastic nets and die – a sad sight that prompted Aradhana and her father to take action beyond their regular diving trips. They initiated weekly clean-up campaigns to remove plastic waste from the sea, an initiative that is supported by volunteers from the community. These actions are evidence of a growing environmental awareness in the region. Even if Aradhana and the volunteers cannot completely solve the problem of marine pollution, they are setting an important example for environmental protection and the start of a long overdue change.
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All images, unless otherwise stated: pixabay.com
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