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Dispute over climate targets – Wissing threatens weekend driving bans: Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing’s warning of possible car driving bans at the weekend sparked a heated debate in the context of the dispute over the Climate Protection Act within the coalition government. The Greens and SPD accuse him of stirring up unfounded fears and scaremongering, while the CDU/CSU criticise his comments as irresponsible and accuse him of a lack of preparation in the area of climate protection. The FDP as well as environmental protection organisations and the Federal Environment Agency have reacted with clear criticism, pointing out the need for realistic measures instead of incomprehensible driving bans.FDP leader Christian Lindner jumped to the side of his party colleague at the weekend. welt.de , wiwo.de , tagesspiegel.de
Advance of right-wing parties threatens EU climate protection policy: The European Green Deal, which aims to make the continent climate-neutral by the middle of the century, is meeting with resistance from right-wing parties that may be more strongly represented in the next EU Parliament. These parties reject far-reaching interventions in personal areas of life, which affects climate policy at its most sensitive point, such as heating or the transport sector. Right-wing parties are using citizens‘ dissatisfaction with these measures to promote a discourse that portrays climate protection as a patronising policy, which could further complicate the implementation of the Green Deal. Despite the fears, the hope remains that the EU Parliament and the EU Council will continue to push for climate protection, even if this may happen at a slower pace. derstandard.at
Twice the size of Luxembourg
In 2023, devastating forest fires ravaged Europe. An area twice the size of Luxembourg was devastated. The fires also emitted huge amounts of CO₂. The fires, particularly intense in the Greek region of Evros in September, marked one of the worst years for forest fires in the EU. Experts are sounding the alarm: climate change could make such fires even more frequent. The European Commission’s report documents catastrophic environmental damage and around 20 megatonnes of CO₂ emissions – almost a third of what all international air traffic in the EU emits each year. While last year’s fires redrew the maps, scientists warn that the future could look even more flaming. zeit.de
The top 10 climate sinners: A recently published study shows that 57 companies worldwide are responsible for around 80% of CO₂ emissions, with the majority falling on just ten major polluters. These companies, including private corporations such as Chevron and ExxonMobil as well as state-backed companies such as Saudi Aramco, contribute massively to global air pollution and climate change. The results of the study emphasise the urgent need to address the responsibilities of these major emitters and to take effective action against further greenhouse gas emissions. t3n.de , carbonmajors.org
China’s environmental technologies – both a curse and a blessing: China’s aggressive industrial policy, particularly in the production of solar modules and batteries, is causing concern in Brussels and Washington about possible market distortions. However, these low-cost products offer developing countries a valuable opportunity to organise their energy supply sustainably and thus actively contribute to climate protection. While Western countries warn of overcapacity, poorer nations see this as a way to switch to renewable energies at low cost. klimareporter.de
Sustainable forest utilisation protects larger mammals: The FSC seal of the Forest Stewardship Council is certainly an important pillar in the global endeavour for sustainable forestry. With more than 200 million hectares of certified forest worldwide, the seal guarantees compliance with high social and ecological standards. A new study carried out in tropical rainforests using camera traps has now revealed revealing results: The number of wild animals is significantly higher in FSC-certified areas. This provides important insights into the actual ecological benefits of such certifications, which were previously controversial with regard to the fauna of these sensitive ecosystems. deutschlandfunk.de
Özdemir wants healthier food in schools and daycare centres: The Bundestag debated for the first time the government’s nutrition strategy presented by Agriculture Minister Özdemir, which aims to provide a more balanced diet for children and young people by providing less meat and more fruit in daycare centres and schools, while professional associations and political critics criticise the measures as too vague and the political direction as patronising. Despite the proposed advertising restrictions for unhealthy foods and an EU-wide introduction of the Nutri-Score, there is still disagreement over the practical implementation and financing of the strategy. tagesschau.de
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
Moment der Entscheidung
How we can survive the climate crisis with lessons from Earth’s history
„Moment of decision: How We Can Survive the Climate Crisis with Lessons from Earth’s History“ by Michael E. Mann is a captivating book that takes the reader on an impressive journey through the history of the Earth. The author, a renowned climate researcher, shows how the climate fluctuations of the past have influenced the development of mankind and what lessons we can learn from them for overcoming the current climate crisis.
Mann makes it clear that the existence of humans on Earth has always been and continues to be dependent on climatic conditions. He sheds light on historical events such as the drying up of the tropics during the Pleistocene and the sudden cooling of the North Atlantic 13,000 years ago, both of which were decisive turning points in human evolution. He emphasises the fragility of the present moment and the need to actively tackle the climate crisis in order to secure a future worth living.
The book is introduced by a foreword by meteorologist and presenter Özden Terli and offers a well-founded yet captivating presentation of complex scientific contexts. Mann’s work is a call to action and a plea for a sustainable future, which should appeal to both those with a specialist interest and readers with a general interest in climate change. oekom.de
EU special summit: less climate protection but more competition. wiwo.de
Unesco: Calls for more investment to protect the oceans. dlf.de
Greenhouse gases: Still at record high worldwide. derstandard.at
No operating licence: BASF’s battery factory in Finland is on the brink and with it the supply chains. faz.net
Wind farm near Oslo is paralysed: Siemens Gamesa turbine loses huge rotor blade. 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:
Lea Bonasera in a podcast interview: „Please don’t call me a climate activist“
Lea Bonasera doesn’t want to talk about why she left the „Last Generation“ organisation she co-founded. But in the podcast with Jakob Augstein, she revealed something else: Was she the republic’s first climate change campaigner? This is how Lea Bonasera had imagined her 20s: Going to university, doing nice things, continuing to eat meat and flying on holiday every now and then. Then she became involved in the ecological crisis and became one of Germany’s best-known climate activists. She co-founded the „Last Generation“ and even went on a dry hunger strike in 2021. In this podcast interview with Jakob Augstein, Bonasera talks about her motives, her new book Die Zeit für Mut ist jetzt! – and about how climate protests can finally be successful. freitag.de
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
Climate protection now a human right
In a commentary, Dr Franziska Ring has highlighted the remarkable ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), in which a climate action was successful for the first time and a collective action was also recognised. She emphasises the importance of this precedent, as the ECtHR made it clear that states can violate the rights of their population under the European Convention on Human Rights if they do not adequately fulfil their duty to protect the climate. Dr Ring sees the decision to consider the complaint of an association rather than individual persons as admissible as an important step towards strengthening collective law enforcement in the area of climate protection and expects that many other associations and environmental organisations will follow this example in order to obtain more ambitious climate protection measures by legal means. the whole commentary is available here – lto.de
MOBILITY:
Sustainable mobility as an economic factor: Sustainable mobility, represented by sectors such as public transport, trains, buses, taxis and sharing companies, is proving to be a significant economic driver and generates around 117 billion euros annually. Alexander Möller, Managing Director of Public Transport at the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), emphasises the industry’s dual role in public services and climate protection and stresses that the sector is not only dependent on taxpayers‘ money, but also offers considerable economic added value. In view of rising operating costs and the need for better infrastructure for cyclists and public transport, Möller is calling for further political support and investment in order to expand and secure sustainable mobility services. inforadio.de
Money instead of company cars: companies such as SAP and Siemens offer employees a monthly budget for bicycles, public transport and e-scooters: Has the company car had its day? And is it worth it for employees and the climate? spiegel.de
Strict CO2 targets for commercial vehicles: EU Parliament votes in favour. verkehrsrundschau.de
Electric cars: More often in the workshop than combustion engines. handelsblatt.com
Paris: Bicycle overtakes car. spiegel.de
HYDROGEN:
Energy transition is the biggest challenge since reunification: TÜV Nord sees hydrogen as essential for climate neutrality and emphasises the need for an effective import strategy and a reliable infrastructure for transport and storage, according to CEO Dirk Stenkamp. Stenkamp calls for an acceleration of the realisation of planned large-scale hydrogen projects in Germany, which he sees as the greatest challenge and opportunity since reunification. The German government is focussing on „green“ hydrogen as a future energy source to replace fossil fuels and reduce emissions of climate-damaging gases, although the large-scale use of hydrogen is currently still reaching its technical limits.zeit.de
Can we use blue hydrogen? Experts from the Paul Scherrer Institute emphasise the importance of CO2 capture technologies for climate neutrality and see blue hydrogen as playing a key role in the transition to a carbon-neutral society. Despite the recommendation in favour of a green hydrogen economy, they praise the advantages of blue hydrogen, especially its cost-effective production and the possibility of using existing infrastructures. These could even help to produce climate-neutral synthetic fuels and provide a solution for the internal combustion engine, although the use of renewable energies such as solar and wind will remain essential in the long term. ingenieur.de
Bundestag: Law on financing the hydrogen core network passed. mdr.de
Infrastructure: EU Parliament passes legislation to switch from gas to hydrogen. euractiv.de
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Agroecology as a contribution to food security: Experts at a public hearing in the Bundestag emphasised the central role of agroecology as a sustainable form of agriculture for global food security and recommended the transition from conventional agriculture to agroecological practices. They discussed the need to combine traditional knowledge with modern methods in order to conserve nature while increasing yields, emphasising the importance of promoting mixed crops and soil conservation. In addition, the importance of seed banks for the preservation of biodiversity and the development of new, climate-resistant plant varieties was emphasised, which is seen as crucial for the future of food security in the face of climate change. bundestag.de
Study commission called for the implementation of sufficiency: Experts at a public expert discussion held by the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Sustainable Development emphasised the need to recognise sufficiency as a key sustainability principle and implement it in the German sustainability strategy in order to reduce consumption and production levels and comply with planetary boundaries. Astrid Hake and Jörg Göpfert criticised the fact that sufficiency has so far received insufficient attention, despite its importance for overcoming ecological crises, and called for greater political support to reduce absolute energy and resource consumption. Carina Zell-Ziegler and Isabel Rutkowski proposed concrete measures, such as the taxation of second homes and frequent flyer taxes, and emphasised that many young people are already practising sufficiency-oriented lifestyles, which should be further promoted politically. bundestag.de
Target of 15 million electric cars in Germany by 2030: 15 million fully electric vehicles are to be on the roads in Germany by 2030. This is according to an answer from the German government (20/10852) to a minor interpellation (20/10591). According to the answer, the German government, car manufacturers and trade unions have jointly set themselves this target. There is no corresponding target for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The environmental bonus has been a very successful funding instrument that has supported buyers over eight years with a total of around ten billion euros for the purchase of an electric car and has thus decisively advanced electric mobility in Germany, writes the federal government. However, in order to achieve the target of 15 million fully electric cars by 2030, the purchase costs for electric vehicles would have to be reduced and the variety of models increased. In response to the question of whether the increased purchase price trend for fully electric vehicles is an obstacle to achieving the target, the answer states that „very volatile and rising purchase prices have been observed for all vehicles in recent years, regardless of their drive type“. „In the field of electric vehicles, several car manufacturers have announced that they will be launching new affordable models on the market in 2024 and 2025,“ the German government continues.
TAKEN LITERALLY:
El Niño was huge, with unprecedented effects in all the major oceans and seas. They have warmed up incredibly quickly and now it looks like they will only cool down again very slowly.
Maximiliano Herrera, climate historian, … A period of record heat can occur during a cooler summer overall. However, a very hot summer could also occur without individual extreme values. Overall, the probability of extreme events increases many times over due to higher global temperatures, but it is not possible to say when and where, for example whether there will be a heat record in Germany in summer. It is easier in the tropics, as there are fewer fluctuations there and these seemingly never-ending heat records occur under El Niño. t-online.de
AFRICA:
Niger: Receives Russian weapons system and military personnel. sz.de
Nigeria: Boko Haram members have been terrorising the population in north-eastern Nigeria for more than fifteen years. The local authorities have now launched successful exit programmes. Nevertheless, the militia is constantly recruiting new members. nzz.ch
Zimbabwe introduces gold currency: Zimbabwe has introduced a new gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), to replace the unstable Zimbabwe dollar, with a fixed exchange rate and a drastically reduced interest rate of 20%. The currency, which will also be backed by other valuable minerals, is part of efforts to combat ongoing currency volatility and create a stable economic environment, despite concerns about the sufficiency of reserves and the volatility of the gold price. The reform marks the sixth attempt since 2008 to establish a functioning national currency and comes at a time when the Zimbabwe dollar has depreciated sharply and inflation has risen dramatically.
bnnbloomberg.ca
Sudan: After a year of war, Sudan is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. How long will the international community continue to look the other way? ipg-journal.de
Rwanda: One million victims, two million accused – the genocide against the Tutsi has not yet been fully dealt with. Perpetrators are still living in Germany too. taz.de
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
As the Arctic shrinks, we can only see half of it: The Arctic is melting into the unknown – a climatic hotspot that is increasingly plunged into darkness due to political tensions. Since the war in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions, half of the Arctic landmass has been made inaccessible to international research by Russia, resulting in a huge loss of data. This not only significantly affects the accuracy of climate predictions, but also undermines global efforts to understand and combat climate change, putting the scientific and geopolitical future of the Arctic at stake. nzz.ch
Alarm in the idyll! In the picturesque landscape of the Hainich National Park, whose diverse nature is reminiscent of an African bush savannah, Herbert Nickel, a nature observer, sounds the alarm. Despite the enchanting calls of grey buntings and the elegant flight of golden fritillaries over the pastures near Bolleroda, there is also cause for concern. The colourful mosaic of prickly shrubs, flowering herbs and idyllic ponds, home to many endangered species, is paradoxically under threat from the very idea of a national park. Where nature conservation should be, unintended dangers could be lurking. spektrum.de
Study on the most climate-friendly foods: A new study shows that fresh, seasonal and regional foods are the most climate-friendly options, especially when compared to products with high carbon footprints such as imported pineapples or out-of-season strawberries. The study, conducted by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg (ifeu), analysed 200 food products and confirmed that transport, packaging and cultivation methods have a decisive influence on the carbon footprint. In particular, it showed that fruit and vegetables from regional and seasonal production not only have a lower impact on the environment, but also help to significantly reduce the carbon footprint. utopia.de
Elephants from Botswana: Why Germany is arguing about this gift. fair-economics.de
Greenpeace: IKEA destroys Romania. zeit.de
Indonesia’s risky game with palm oil: Industrialisation versus long-term ecological and social costs. fair-economics.de
CALENDAR:
Expert discussion on the topic of „Efficient and sustainable water utilisation
Time: Wednesday, 24 April 2024, 5.45 p.m.
Place: Berlin, Paul Löbe House, Conference Room E 700Registration 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, 19 April 2024, 11:00 am
THE LAST:
Bavaria’s state government cannot say whether it is already climate-neutral:
In a wonderful act of green symbolism, Bavaria’s Minister President Söder moved press conferences outdoors to emphasise the state’s climate protection ambitions. But behind the green façade, the foundations appear to be crumbling: despite solemn promises to be climate-neutral by 2023, the State Chancellery and the ministries seem to know surprisingly little about their own CO2 emissions. The government is holding out for clarification at a later date, while the Greens‘ energy policy spokesperson, Martin Stümpfig, branded the process as „cheeky“ – so much for Bavarian climate neutrality, which even those responsible don’t seem to know whether it is more than just a nice press conference in the countryside.
sz.de
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