to the German edition
Germany on course for climate protection due to declining economic output: According to Economics Minister Habeck, Germany is on course for climate protection, but the reduction in CO2 emissions in 2023 is partly due to the industrial crisis caused by high energy prices. The reduction in greenhouse gases could make the climate targets for 2030 more realistic, although there are problems in the transport and building heating sectors and industry needs to recover from the negative effects of high energy prices. Progress and challenges in climate protection reflect the complex relationship between economic growth, energy prices and the transition to renewable energy. The decline in 2023 is historic, the largest since reunification in 1990, with a reduction of 10.1 per cent. A total of 673 million tonnes of greenhouse gases were emitted, which is 76 million tonnes less than in the previous year. However, this is also due to the decline in economic output. deutschlandfunk.de, fair-economics.de. wirtschaftswoche.de (commentary)
Climate protection contracts enter the first round: Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck initiates green industrial restructuring with billions in funding. The first round of tenders for climate protection contracts was launched last week. The aim of this initiative is to encourage the industrial sector, in particular industries such as steel, cement, paper and glass, to adopt a more environmentally friendly transformation by offering financial incentives of up to four billion euros. The auction allows interested companies to apply for the funds, with the ambitious goal of saving a total of 350 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2045. The measure, which is being driven forward by the traffic light coalition, aims to sustainably transform the basic materials industry through the use of climate-friendly hydrogen. These climate protection agreements mark a decisive step towards green production and emphasise the German government’s commitment to combating climate change and steering German industry onto a sustainable path. zeit.de
Twelve chemical parks account for 14 per cent of industry’s CO2 emissions
A recent study conducted by the Öko-Institut on behalf of WWF Germany reveals that the twelve most CO2-intensive chemical parks in Germany together are responsible for around three per cent of national greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, the total emissions of these sites amounted to around 23 million tonnes of CO2.
The list is headed by the BASF Chemical Park in Ludwigshafen with 5.9 million tonnes, followed by Ineos/Currenta in Cologne with 3.6 million tonnes and Basell in Wesseling and Evonik in Marl with 2.1 million tonnes of CO2 each. Viviane Raddatz, Head of Climate Protection at WWF Germany, emphasises the decisive role of the chemical industry in the German energy transition and sees considerable potential for a more sustainable energy supply in the industry through solar energy and wind power, particularly in combined heat and power plants. The study emphasises the need to drive forward the expansion of renewable energies in order to cover the chemical industry’s growing demand for electricity through electrification and the production of green hydrogen.
According to the analysis, 40 per cent of emissions come from the chemical parks‘ power plants, followed by steam crackers with 24 per cent and ammonia plants with 14 per cent. Raddatz also emphasises the importance of direct supply contracts for renewable energies, more flexible electricity use and a stronger focus on the principles of the circular economy for the chemical industry in order to reduce resource consumption and increase efficiency. She calls for binding resource targets and a resource tax in order to adequately internalise environmental costs. wwf.de
German LNG dreams could burst: A new study emphasises that methane, a gas that is up to 80 times more harmful to the climate than CO2, is being emitted worldwide in much larger quantities than previously assumed. In Germany, the rapid development of LNG terminals for liquefied natural gas imports, particularly from the USA, is causing controversy. Environmental organisations criticise this development as a step towards long-term dependence on fossil fuels. The study shows that actual methane emissions, particularly from oil and gas production, could be significantly higher than official estimates suggest. This increases the urgency of identifying and fixing leaks and switching to renewable energies in the long term. focus.de
Despite FDP blockade – EU member states agree on supply chain law and packaging directive: After lengthy negotiations, the EU member states voted in favour of a supply chain law and a packaging directive to reduce waste and promote more sustainable packaging. Despite Germany’s initial reservations, mainly due to the FDP, a majority was achieved. The packaging directive stipulates that companies should use less and more sustainable packaging, but does not burden them with the costs of waste disposal. rnd.de
EU wants stricter regulations for building refurbishment: In its efforts to combat climate change, the European Union has revised the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. However, the new version of the Buildings Directive has met with considerable resistance from the member states, which has led to a weakening of important provisions. The discussions in recent months have centred in particular on the planned strict requirements, which were originally supported by the German government. However, in the course of the disputes, particularly in the context of the Building Energy Act, the German government distanced itself from its original position. A key concern was the fear of a cost explosion for homeowners, who could have been forced to carry out extensive refurbishment work on their properties. As a compromise solution, it was decided that it would be up to the EU member states themselves to decide whether and which minimum standards they would like to introduce for buildings in particular need of refurbishment. So-called energy saving targets are now to replace fixed requirements. The EU is leaving the decision on how to achieve these targets to the individual member states, which gives national governments more flexibility in dealing with the specific challenges and needs of their property market. stuttgarter-zeitung.de
Europe is not preparing enough for climate change: According to a report by the European Environment Agency, climate change threatens hundreds of thousands of deaths and significant economic losses. It emphasises the urgent need for European decision-makers to take action. The European Climate Risk Assessment identifies 36 climate risks with potentially serious consequences for Europe. The report emphasises that man-made climate change is already being felt, with 2023 being the warmest year on record. fair-economics.de
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
Die Klimaküche
Sustainable and enjoyable cooking with the CO2 traffic light
It is about fairness towards future generations, enabling them to enjoy living conditions similar to those we experience today. However, persistently high greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to the worsening climate crisis, which is already leading to an increase in natural disasters – a trend that is likely to get worse. Our diet plays a crucial role in this context. Every day – at every meal – each of us has the opportunity to make a positive contribution to protecting the environment. For this reason, a climate cookbook was created at Hildegardis-Gymnasium Kempten as part of a project seminar over a period of around 18 months. It not only offers a collection of delicious recipes, but also provides comprehensive knowledge about the environmental impact of our food. In addition, a CO2 traffic light for each recipe provides information about its climate friendliness.
France: Discussion about legal steps against fast fashion.tagesschau.de
Greenwashing: Greenpeace accuses various fund companies of not adhering to their own investment guidelines and continuing to invest massively in climate-damaging companies. focus.de
Glyphosate: Özdemir wants to further restrict its use in agriculture. agrarheute.com
Ethics Council sees politicians as having a duty: According to the German Ethics Council, the burdens and obligations in the fight against climate change should be distributed more fairly. tagesschau.de
Lobbying: Mask deals and the Graichen affair – the traffic light leaves these loopholes for lobbyists. tagesspiegel.de
Negotiations on the electricity grid: Tennet wants a quick sale. n-tv.de
The seventeen goals magazine tells inspiring stories about how people move the world and shows how everyone can make a contribution to achieving the sustainability goals.
PODCAST OF THE WEEK:
Almost the entire year is already allergy season
The allergy season is increasingly expanding due to climate change and invasive plant species. Allergy sufferers suffer from pollen counts right from the start of the year and well into the winter. The 2024 pollen season started particularly early, with hazel bushes already flowering in January, followed by ash trees. Throughout the year, grasses, mugwort, ragweed and even purple alder contribute to the pollen load. The current winter was one of the warmest on record, which meant that hazel and alder pollen appeared unusually early and in high concentrations. Even at higher altitudes and at Christmas time, the pollen count never stops. Experts such as Helmut Zwander and Markus Berger emphasise the increased stress and point to new challenges for allergy sufferers. In a podcast, protective measures and treatment options for those affected are discussed, while nature adapts to the warmer temperatures and shows an extended flowering period. kleinezeitung.at
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
Bavarian cannabis „line“: a bureaucratic super monster
from Uli Bachmeier
How nice it would be if the leading ladies and gentlemen in Berlin, as in Munich, were a little more relaxed about the partial legalisation of cannabis. There seem to be only two opinions on cannabis – legalise it or demonise it. In between, there seems to be nothing but ineffectual attempts by politicians to somehow adapt the current laws to reality. It is obvious that the previous restrictive drug policy has failed as far as cannabis is concerned. Tens of thousands of adults in Bavaria consume cannabis, just as millions of adults drink beer, wine or spirits – in well-dosed quantities, without harming others. At the same time, however, it is extremely dangerous to trivialise the effects of cannabis on adolescents and young adults.
The first joints can have much worse psychological and physical consequences than the first beers. So in principle, everyone is a little bit right – the federal government and the Bavarian state government. However, the result is a grandiose mess. The federal government’s law on the partial legalisation of cannabis is extremely complicated and bureaucratic. There are good reasons to doubt that it can be implemented in practice as intended. However, the „close-meshed“ enforcement measures planned in Bavaria will in all likelihood not improve anything. The Berlin bureaucracy monster is being turned into a bureaucratic super monster in Bavaria with Prussian thoroughness. How nice it would be if the ladies and gentlemen in charge in Berlin, as in Munich, took things a little more calmly. augsburger-allgemeine.de
MOBILITY:
Flight diversions should reduce contrails and slow down global warming: small changes to a few flight routes could significantly reduce global warming and would also be cost-effective. This is confirmed by new studies. As a small percentage of flights are responsible for the majority of climate-damaging contrails, rerouting them could be an effective and quick solution to reducing climate change. heise.de
Low emission zones are increasingly being abolished – at least for the time being: driving bans for cars with poor exhaust emissions have long been a hot topic, but are becoming increasingly superfluous. Introduced 15 years ago, low emission zones are now becoming less important as they are being abolished in more and more German cities. The reason: air quality has improved, with many cities falling below the limits for pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. This is a result of stricter Euro standards, the use of soot particle filters in diesel vehicles and cleaner cars. Nevertheless, the Federal Environment Agency emphasises that new cars alone will not solve the problem. More people would have to switch to public transport or bicycles. Tyre abrasion from cars, including electric vehicles, remains a major source of particulate matter. Despite the progress made, experts and politicians warn that efforts to clean the air should not be reduced, as the limits are still being exceeded in some cities. sueddeutsche.de
Bike sharing in major German cities has met with little response: despite the initial upswing during the pandemic, when many Germans switched to bike sharing services due to restrictions on public transport and supply bottlenecks for bicycles, the industry is now seeing a significant decline in interest. In his analysis from 15 March 2024, Florian Zandt sheds light on the current state of the bike sharing market in Germany, which is primarily dominated by the providers Call a Bike, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, and Nextbike. The latter was integrated into Tier Mobility two years ago, but is up for sale due to economic challenges. The latest figures show a significant decline in the use of these mobility services, which raises questions about the long-term sustainability and acceptance of rental bikes in Germany. statista.de
16 control centres for the mobility of tomorrow: How the federal states can use their room for manoeuvre in transport policy to improve quality of life, social participation and climate protection. An analysis by Agora Verkehrswende sheds light on how the federal states in Germany can use their room for manoeuvre in transport policy to make the mobility of the future more attractive, socially fairer and climate-neutral. Firstly, the formal responsibilities of the federal states in comparison to local authorities and the federal government are discussed, including the structure of the departments responsible for transport and climate protection in all 16 federal states. In the second part, the study is based on interviews with experts from six selected federal states – Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia – in order to draw a diverse picture of state practices and identify effective strategies for climate-friendly transport concepts. Finally, recommendations for action are formulated for the federal states in order to fully utilise their potential in transport policy. agora-verkehrswende.de
HYDROGEN:
Germany to play a key role in Europe’s hydrogen future: Germany’s endeavours to take a leading role in the European hydrogen market are essential in view of the imminent coal phase-out and the need to replace Russian natural gas. Initiatives such as H2 Mobility to establish a nationwide network of hydrogen refuelling stations and the plans of Gasunie and Thyssengas to build a transport infrastructure between the North Sea and the Ruhr region mark the first steps in this direction. However, CEPA, the Center for European Policy Analysis in the USA, a specialist organisation, identifies significant challenges, including the material properties of pipelines that could be damaged by hydrogen and the need to build up sufficient production capacity without being undercut by cheaper offers from China. Despite Europe’s strength in electrolyser manufacturing, CEPA recalls past losses in the photovoltaic sector due to Chinese competition and emphasises the importance of maintaining Europe’s competitiveness. With an estimated energy demand of 95 to 130 terawatt hours by 2030 and plans for hydrogen imports from Denmark, Namibia and other countries, Germany faces the task of massively increasing production and imports. If Germany can overcome these hurdles, CEPA believes it could play a key role in shaping a networked and sustainable European energy system, thereby strengthening its position in the continent’s energy policy. cepa.org
Production of green hydrogen: Berlin calls for short distances between power source and gas production: Berlin and Brandenburg are campaigning for a more sustainable production of green hydrogen by calling for short distances between power generation from renewable sources and the hydrogen production site. Contrary to the European regulation, which allows the production of green hydrogen regardless of the regional availability of renewable energy sources, both federal states want to use a Bundesrat initiative to ensure that hydrogen is only produced where there is direct access to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The Berlin Senate adopted this proposal on Tuesday in order to adapt the guidelines for green hydrogen accordingly. tagesspiegel.de
How liquid manure, sunlight and algae can help combat the shortage of green hydrogen: Green hydrogen is in high demand – but in short supply. Alternative technologies are set to change this in the future and also consume less energy than electricity-powered electrolysis. handelsblatt.com
Market researchers predict a boom in the green hydrogen market by 2030: According to estimates by market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the market for green hydrogen is set for an unprecedented boom. By the end of the decade, the market could be worth an impressive 30.6 billion dollars – a huge increase compared to the 1.1 billion dollars in 2023. The predicted growth spurt will be driven primarily by increasing demand from the mobility sector and the renewable energy sector. Advances in electrolysis technology and falling costs for the production of renewable energies are seen as the main drivers of this trend. If the forecast materialises, this could lead to a real boom in the green hydrogen segment and thus also have a significant impact on the stock market values of the companies concerned. Europe in particular is expected to play a key role in this context, emphasises the MarketsandMarkets report. marketandmarkets.com
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Union wants to utilise heat from wastewater: In the opinion of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, one technology that has received too little attention in climate-neutral heat generation to date is the generation of energy from wastewater heat. In their motion (20/10617) entitled „Tapping the untapped potential of heat from wastewater“, the CDU and CSU MPs call on the German government to clearly identify and promote wastewater heat as a key option for a climate-neutral heat supply and to develop a strategy for greater utilisation of wastewater heat in cooperation with the federal states, local authorities and the energy and water industry. According to the motion, up to 15 per cent of the heat demand in the building sector could be covered by wastewater heat. The energy obtained from the immediate surroundings is clean, can be used directly on site and is CO2-neutral. For a secure, affordable and sustainable heat supply, this still hidden resource urgently needs to be tapped and utilised.
Limiting the ecological impact of artificial intelligence: Kilian Vieth-Ditlmann from AW AlgorithmWatch gGmbH emphasised the need for a political framework for ecologically sustainable artificial intelligence (AI) at an event organised by the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Sustainable Development. He emphasised that the EU AI Regulation is already taking steps in the right direction by providing for a standardised documentation procedure for the energy and resource use of high-risk AI systems and generative AI models (GPAI). Nevertheless, he criticised the underestimation of energy and water consumption by AI systems and called for immediate action to limit their ecological impact. A ChatGPT search, for example, requires four to five times more energy than a conventional web search, and the energy requirements of large AI systems could soon be equivalent to those of entire countries. Friederike Rohde from the Institute for Ecological Economy Research argued in favour of a life cycle approach in AI development that takes all ecological aspects into account and called for the introduction of sustainability criteria for all AI systems. She emphasised the importance of giving equal consideration to social and ecological sustainability in AI development and also referred to the high energy and water consumption of AI systems. Both experts see an urgent need for action to reduce the energy consumption of AI systems and call for a change in the way technology is developed towards a more responsible and participatory development methodology. bundestag.de
Stable finances as a prerequisite for sustainability: At a meeting of the State Secretaries‘ Committee for Sustainable Development, Wolf Heinrich Reuter, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Finance, emphasised the need for a stable financial policy to promote fiscal resilience and ensure investment in climate protection. He emphasised that a sound financial policy is crucial to mobilise private investment and support the financing of sustainability goals, particularly in developing and emerging countries. Reuter spoke out in favour of reducing climate-damaging subsidies and emphasised the importance of CO2 pricing as a key instrument for achieving climate targets. Despite the debt brake, which serves as a means of preventing excessive government debt, he emphasised that investment in climate protection remains possible and necessary, even in financial emergencies. bundestag.de
Vote on the Federal Immission Control Act: On Thursday, the Bundestag voted on the amendments submitted by the Federal Government to the Ordinance on the Implementation of the Federal Immission Control Act (20/9844). The Federal Immission Control Act serves to protect against harmful effects on the environment caused by air pollution, noise, vibrations and similar processes. New European requirements for the production of liquid and gaseous renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin for transport and for the method for determining the greenhouse gas savings of these fuels necessitate adjustments to national law. The Committee on the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection has submitted a recommendation for a resolution (20/10646) on the vote.
German government between hope and challenge with timber construction initiative: The German government’s timber construction initiative, a project to promote climate-friendly and resource-efficient construction, was discussed in depth at the most recent meeting of the Committee on Housing, Urban Development, Construction and Local Authorities (20/7500). The aim of the strategy, which was adopted in June 2023, is to significantly increase the use of wood and other renewable raw materials in the construction industry by 2030, particularly in the area of building modernisation and structural engineering. While the SPD sees the initiative as a positive step towards a growing market for timber construction, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group criticises the slow implementation and the lack of budget funds for the coming year. Alliance 90/The Greens emphasise that grey emissions must also be taken into account and call for clarification on financing. The AfD questions the economic efficiency and sustainability of the increased use of wood, while the FDP emphasises the rationalisation potential of industrial timber construction without displacing conventional construction. The Left Party also sees potential, but calls for reforestation programmes for the sustainable use of wood. Despite differing views and unresolved issues, the German government promises progress, including by convening a wood round table in the near future. Although lengthy processes are challenging, the government is well on the way to establishing a more efficient and climate-friendly construction method, provided the federal states can agree on a standardised timber construction guideline.
TAKEN LITERALLY:
„Our position in the DNR is very clear: conservationists don’t vote for Nazis – and we don’t co-operate with Nazis. Incidentally, I’m not at all worried that the leadership of our 100 member organisations will make things difficult anywhere. Even if some right-wing extremists superficially claim to pursue the same goals – for example, ecological agriculture – this does not mean that they share the same values. These values – democracy, openness to the world, sustainability – are enshrined in our statutes. And we point out to our member organisations that they can – and should – distance themselves by referring to their statutes or reject offers of cooperation from the far right. The Specialist Unit for the Prevention of Radicalisation and Engagement in Nature Conservation (FARN), for example, does extremely important work in this area, as its speakers go into training sessions with youth groups in order to prepare young people with arguments. We will need something like this even more in the future.“
Kai Niebert researches and teaches as a sustainability expert at the University of Zurich and has been the honorary president of the environmental umbrella organisation Deutscher Naturschutzring since 2015. It is indeed the case that nature conservation has a difficult past to some extent. We are familiar with blood-and-soil nature conservation from Germany’s darkest days, organisations that were very quick to pander, and one of his predecessors as DNR President was also found to have a denazification file an inch thick. He had to say that he was very proud to be able to head an organisation whose members had come to terms with this difficult past in various studies and were able to show, firstly, that the end of the Second World War had also marked a clear turning point in nature conservation against brown tendencies and, secondly, that they had also actively built firewalls to prevent this from happening again. Today, we would see that organisations such as Greenpeace would help to uncover right-wing machinations; after all, they even helped to initiate the Correctiv research. Or his colleagues at Campact, who enthusiastically support the alliances for democracy. For him, this shows how high the level of awareness has become. And yet: our member organisations represent eleven million people in Germany. It is important to make it clear right down to the last local organisation: There is no place for Nazis in nature conservation. geo.de
AFRICA:
Extensive internet outages in Africa due to damaged submarine cables: On 15 March 2024, several African countries experienced internet outages, some of which were severe. This was caused by damage to submarine data cables off the west coast of Africa, according to Bayobab, a subsidiary of South African network operator MTN. The damage affects at least twelve West and South African countries and is causing significant disruption to Internet connections. The most affected countries include Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, Ghana and Burkina Faso, while moderate to mild restrictions have also been observed in other countries, including Nigeria and South Africa. Services affected by the outages include email, online banking, social networks and international phone calls. Microsoft reported damage to four fibre optic connections along the West African coast. The disruptions are not limited to West Africa; undersea cables in the Red Sea were also recently damaged, severely affecting internet capacity for the entire continent. Most of these cables connect Europe with Asia and run south through the Atlantic to the Gulf of Guinea and on to South Africa. The global importance of submarine cables as critical infrastructure for worldwide data traffic was again emphasised at the G7 summit in Italy, where better protection of these vital links was on the agenda. One of the longest submarine cables connects Portugal to Cape Town in South Africa, emphasising the crucial role these cables play in global communications and the economy. tagesschau.de
Because of El Niño – Africa is drowning in rain and drying out at the same time: Africa is currently under the unprecedented influence of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which is bringing extreme droughts and floods to the continent. These extreme weather conditions are threatening the livelihoods of millions, leading to hunger, crop failures and exposing entire ecosystems and animal populations to extreme conditions. Areas from Angola to South Africa are particularly affected by drought and parts of Congo and Burundi by flooding. The consequences are not only a direct threat to human health through the spread of diseases, but also long-term economic and ecological damage. Experts see El Niño as an amplifier for the frequency and intensity of these weather extremes and emphasise the need for global efforts to support the affected regions and combat the climate crisis. Sustainable agriculture and increased international cooperation are seen as essential to strengthen the resilience of African communities. wwf.de
War in eastern DR Congo: Rebels on the advance: While international troops protect the megacity of Goma, the M23 rebels are conquering other areas. Congo’s army is doing nothing to stop them. taz.de
Nigeria: Kidnappers of hundreds of schoolchildren apparently demand more than 500,000 euros. Following the abduction of almost 300 schoolchildren in north-west Nigeria, the kidnappers are apparently demanding a ransom. According to a media report, they allegedly threatened to kill all the children. spiegel.de
Tensions in the run-up to the South African elections – ANC versus Zuma supporters: In South Africa, political tensions between the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party and supporters of former president Jacob Zuma are intensifying. At the centre is the newly founded MK (uMkhonto weSizwe – Spear of the Nation) party, named after the former military arm of the ANC. A few months before the national elections on 29 May, there is growing concern about a renewed civil war. The government under head of state Cyril Ramaphosa is taking legal action to prevent the MK from taking part in the elections, as it bears the historic name of the ANC’s military wing. This development is historic, as never before has a former president contested against the incumbent president. Critics accuse Ramaphosa of authoritarian behaviour. The judiciary is now at the centre of a legal dispute over the MK’s name and party logo. Supporters of the party are threatening unrest if the courts rule against MK. The province of KwaZulu-Natal in particular is seen as a potential epicentre of violence. In response, Ramaphosa has made it clear that troublemakers will be arrested. The situation is reminiscent of the outbreaks of violence in 2021 following Zuma’s imprisonment, which claimed over 300 lives. The current political situation emphasises the deep rifts within South Africa’s political landscape and poses a challenge to the country’s stability. taz.de
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
What is a sponge city? Denmark’s capital Copenhagen has a new strategy to prevent flooding: The metropolis is becoming a sponge. The concept of the sponge city is becoming increasingly important in Copenhagen, especially after extreme weather events have repeatedly hit the city. The aim is to design the urban infrastructure in such a way that it can absorb water like a sponge to prevent flooding and at the same time promote the natural environment. By integrating green spaces and reducing the use of asphalt and concrete, natural water management is improved. This approach is in line with efforts to make cities climate resilient and improve the quality of life for their inhabitants. dw.com
Reefs can be successfully replanted: The future of coral reefs looks bleak in 2024 as average global ocean temperatures continue to reach record highs. Experts from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are warning of further global coral bleaching due to unusually high water temperatures over the course of the year. This phenomenon, which threatens the vitality of the reefs, could occur for the fourth time in the last 25 years. Despite this worrying outlook, there is also a ray of hope: A study from Indonesia, published in the scientific journal „Current Biology“ by Ines Lange and her team from the University of Exeter, shows that mechanically damaged reefs can be successfully restored using restoration measures. spektrum.de
Study on the flight behaviour of migratory birds: they cross the Alps instead of flying around them: Every year, millions of migratory birds set off northwards from Africa to reach their breeding grounds, a journey full of dangers that they skilfully master. Scientists have now discovered that, contrary to previous assumptions, many of these birds cross the Alps directly. Thanks to the latest technology, such as vertical radar, researchers from the University of Zurich and the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach have been able to prove that thousands of birds cross the Alps on some nights – a phenomenon that puts the number of migrating birds in the millions. The study shows that crossing the Alps is an important, albeit risky, route for many species, which is favoured by geographical and meteorological factors. The future expansion of wind energy in the Alps harbours new dangers for migratory birds, which is why the researchers are calling for targeted monitoring and flexible protection measures to avoid collisions. These new findings emphasise the importance of protecting migratory bird routes and call for nature conservation strategies to be adapted to the dynamic patterns of bird migration. nzz.ch
Reforestation: Another four hectares are being reforested on the 2022 forest fire site in the Beelitz city forest – with horses, which, unlike forestry machines, cause hardly any damage to the soil. rbb.de
Last Generation: With a new strategy. fair-economics.de
Counties and their climate protection: Map shows how far Germany has come with the „green job miracle“. focus.de
CALENDAR:
Consultation on the Children’s Future Programme
Time: Monday, 18 March 2024, 2 p.m. to 3.45 p.m.
Place: Berlin, Paul Löbe House, conference room 2.200The public hearing will be broadcast live at www.bundestag.de and will be available in the media centre afterwards.
If you would like to attend the public hearing passively in the gallery, please register by sending the date and topic of the hearing, your surname, first name and date of birth to familienausschuss@bundestag.de two working days before the meeting Tel.: +49 30 227 37474
21st meeting of the Subcommittee on Global Health
Time: Monday, 18 March 2024, 5 p.m. to 6.45 p.m.
Place: Berlin, Paul Löbe House, meeting room E 600It is possible to follow the public part of the meeting of the Subcommittee on Global Health on 18 March 2024 from 6 p.m. via livestream. This can be found at www.bundestag.de and on the website of the Subcommittee on Global Health.
Consultation on the sharing economy in tourism
Time: Wednesday, 20 March 2024, 3 pm to 4.15 pm
Place: Berlin, Paul Löbe House, conference room 4.600Focus of the hearing:
- Prerequisites for the acceptance of the tourism sharing economy among the local population
- Opportunities for sharing mobility models in rural regions
Interested visitors can register with the secretariat of the Tourism Committee (e-mail: tourismusausschuss@bundestag.de) by 15 March 2024, stating their first name, surname and date of birth. An identity document must be brought to the entrance (Paul-Löbe-Haus, West Entrance).
Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue
Time: 19 and 20 March 2024
Venue: Federal Foreign Office, Werderscher Markt, Berlin
Programme: energydialogue.berlin
THE LAST:
Wild plan: How US researchers want to save the climate with cloned mammoths
A US company has announced a major advance in mammoth revitalisation by successfully converting special cells from elephants. This development could help to repair the tundra and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by releasing cloned mammoths into the wild in the Arctic. Researchers from „Colossal Biosciences“ have obtained so-called „induced pluripotent stem cells“ from Asian elephant cells that are almost identical to mammoth DNA. These could be used to breed mammoth-elephant hybrids, which could represent a significant step towards combating the climate crisis.
focus.de
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