to the German edition
Germany without climate diplomacy? By abolishing the post of special envoy for international climate policy, the new German government under Friedrich Merz (CDU) has sent a clear signal – and has been met with criticism. Environmental organisations are warning of a step backwards in global climate protection and a loss of diplomatic clout. The previous commissioner Jennifer Morgan, an experienced voice in international climate diplomacy, had played a key role in launching multilateral climate funds and phase-out plans for fossil fuels. Now responsibility for international climate policy is being shifted from the Federal Foreign Office to the Ministry for the Environment – a restructuring that is giving rise to scepticism. spektrum.de, diepresse.com
This is the new Environment Minister: The transformation of the German economy towards a climate-neutral industry requires not only technological innovations, but also massive investment in infrastructure and renewable energies. Schneider is pursuing a pragmatic approach here: on the one hand, he is focussing on the rapid scaling up of hydrogen technologies and the expansion of renewable energies, while on the other, he is in favour of shaping structural change in a socially just way in order to secure jobs, particularly in energy-intensive regions. Within the SPD, Schneider is known for his realpolitik approach. As a former spokesman for the conservative Seeheimer Kreis, he represents a pro-business, yet socially balanced line. Schneider wants to interlink climate protection and the protection of nature and the environment more closely in future. „Only a healthy natural environment can help us to protect the climate and people effectively,“ he explained in Berlin on Wednesday after taking over the post from his predecessor Steffi Lemke (Greens). It is therefore „good and right“ that national and international climate protection as well as nature conservation and environmental protection are once again bundled in the Ministry of the Environment. fair-economics.de , evangelisch.de
The richest ten per cent caused two thirds of global warming
Heat transition in Europe – How the EU is making its buildings fit for the future: The energy transition is about more than just wind turbines and solar panels – it also affects our buildings. Around 40 per cent of total energy consumption in the EU is accounted for by buildings, which are also responsible for around a third of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. The figures are alarming: almost 75 per cent of European buildings are considered inefficient and the average renovation rate is just one per cent per year – far too little to achieve the climate targets. However, the EU countries‘ strategies for decarbonising their buildings could hardly be more different: While heat pumps have been standard in Scandinavia for decades and fossil fuels have been consistently banned from boiler rooms, countries such as Poland still rely heavily on coal. Italy takes a different approach and rewards refurbishment measures with generous tax breaks. With the new EU Buildings Directive, which was revised as part of the „Fit for 55“ package, all member states are now to significantly step up their efforts. The aim is to reduce the energy consumption of buildings by 16 per cent by 2030 and by up to 22 per cent by 2035. At the same time, fossil-fuelled heating systems are to be gradually phased out of the market – fossil-fuelled boilers are to disappear completely by 2040. However, the challenges are enormous: many European buildings are old, poorly insulated and dependent on fossil fuels. The energy crisis resulting from the Russian attack on Ukraine has further increased the urgency of the heating transition. Europe must now invest massively in order to reduce its energy dependency, cut energy costs and at the same time achieve its climate targets. energiezukunft.eu
EU wants out of Putin’s gas shadow: The European Union has presented its plan to completely dispense with energy imports from Russia by 2027. The aim is to strengthen Europe’s energy security, reduce geopolitical dependencies and diversify its own energy sources. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it became clear how risky the decades-long dependence on Russian gas was. Exploding prices, empty storage facilities and a looming energy crisis in winter revealed Europe’s vulnerability. Now a new package of measures is set to put an end to these dependencies once and for all. The EU Commission is planning to stop short-term gas contracts with Russia with immediate effect and to allow long-term supply contracts to expire by 2027. National phase-out plans by the member states are intended to ensure that the targets are met. At the same time, the EU is focusing on the expansion of alternative energy sources such as LNG from the USA, Qatar and North Africa as well as the rapid expansion of renewable energies. But the road ahead is rocky: 19 per cent of EU gas still came from Russia in 2024, a figure that is only set to fall to 13 per cent in 2025. „This jeopardises our energy security and makes us vulnerable to economic blackmail and manipulation,“ warned EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. Enriched uranium and crude oil from Russia are also to be gradually replaced by alternative sources of supply in order to end dependency in all energy sectors. sueddeutsche.de
Climate data on the run: While scientific data is increasingly coming under pressure in the USA due to political interference, it is finding a new home in Germany. German research institutes such as the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) are now securing valuable climate and environmental data from the USA in order to protect it from possible deletion or restrictions. The data has found a digital asylum on the open access platform PANGAEA – and will thus remain accessible to researchers worldwide in the future. scinexx.de
Stricter CO2 limits watered down: EU gives car manufacturers more time . The European Parliament has agreed: Car manufacturers will be given three more years to comply with the new CO₂ limits for cars. Instead of having to meet the stricter requirements of 93.6 grams of CO₂ per kilometre immediately, they now only have to do so from 2026 or 2027. This is the EU’s response to demands from the industry, which is suffering from declining sales and a high level of competition. At the same time, the transition to e-mobility is to be accelerated. The EU Commission is planning new purchase incentives and the expansion of charging infrastructure to boost demand. tagesschau.de, zdf.de, focus.de
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
Dicht besiedelt
Die Wildnis beginnt vor unserer Tür
With his new book „Dicht besiedelt“, Burkhard Friedrich opens up an unusual perspective on nature – right on our doorstep. Instead of looking for wilderness only in remote national parks or unspoilt forests, Friedrich directs our attention to the inconspicuous, often overlooked ecosystems in cities and settlements. Here, where deer roam across building sites, foxes scurry through gardens and crows watch us from the treetops, an invisible but omnipresent nature unfolds.
Friedrich knows how to explore the tension between nature and civilisation with a keen eye and narrative power. His book scrutinises our understanding of property and territory and poses radical questions: Do cities really only belong to people? Do animals have rights? And what does it really mean to recognise wilderness? These questions make „Densely populated“ a philosophical as well as political work – a call to see the world around us in a new light and to critically rethink the role of humans in the fabric of nature.
For anyone who wants to see their own environment with new eyes and view the relationship between humans and nature from an unfamiliar perspective, „Densely populated“ is an inspiring and profound reading experience. oekom.de
In a nutshell:
More reusable: An alliance of environmental and industry associations is calling for stricter regulations for beverage systems – the new German government should make disposable products less attractive and increase recycling. fr.de
Fair cultivation and trade: German citizens are buying significantly more Fairtrade products. saarbrücker-zeitung.de
200 billion dollars in 20 years: Bill Gates wants to donate his fortune more quickly. spiegel.de
Disposable nappies: Comfort with consequences. fair-economics.de
Showdown for the wolf: EU Parliament votes in favour of weakening protection. rnd.de
Often more expensive than heat pumps: consumer centres call for a price cap on district heating. spiegel.de
Industry rebates: divide between grid agency and new German government. handelsblatt.com
Space debris: upcoming satellite rain could affect the climate. mdr.de
Health consequences of the climate crisis: fighting the heat with a smartwatch. taz.de
Climate factor: travel: Tourism agency Visit Berlin develops „climate roadmap“. tagesspiegel.de
Data-driven transport transition: Ariadne Monitor as a guide for climate policy. erneuerbareenergien.de
New transport minister: Schnieder wants a realistic transport policy. dvz.de
Rail network: Deutsche Bahn only installed around 20 kilometres of new overhead lines in 2024. spiegel.de
Bosses warn against e-mobility by law: For two major European car bosses, a lot is going wrong in Europe’s car policy. Their joint interview sounds more like an ultimatum. focus.de
Court: car bans in Berlin city centre permissible after all. zeit.de
UAE has ambitious plans for hydrogen: The government of the Gulf state sees hydrogen as a solution for the future. It wants to make the country a leading global supplier by 2030. gtai.de
Hydrogen storage: Storag Etzel stores 45 tonnes of hydrogen for the first time. ndr.de
Start-up for green hydrogen: „EU projects should use European technology“ n-tv.de
Infrastructure: Rotterdam pushes ahead with hydrogen projects. thb.de
Western Australia could become Europe’s energy supplier: Perfect conditions, plenty of space and low costs could fuel H2 production in Australia. Just a fraction would be enough for Europe. golem.de
PODCAST OF THE WEEK:
Hemp – the climate-friendly crop
Hemp is much more than an intoxicant. Cannabis medicines relieve pain. Roots and leaves, seeds and flowers are used to produce additives for tea, cosmetics and vegan foods.
Hemp fibres are suitable as a raw material for climate-friendly construction, low-pollutant textiles and comparable sustainably produced moulded parts in the automotive industry. Researchers believe that drug-free industrial hemp will play a key role in the fight against species extinction and global warming.Will cannabis legalisation bring about a turning point for this long-established crop? swrkultur.de
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
One minister alone won’t save it
In her column, Petra Pinzler criticises the climate policy of the new German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. She argues that a single environment minister like Carsten Schneider is not enough to effectively combat the climate crisis. Although the coalition is committed to the climate targets in its agreement, many measures such as the abolition of the Heating Act or the planned weakening of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme significantly weaken climate protection. It also takes a critical view of the appointment of a financial politician with little climate experience to the Ministry of the Environment. In addition, the government lacks strong institutional structures for climate policy, for example by abolishing the Climate Foreign Policy Commissioner. Pinzler warns that the government cannot rely on simply managing away environmental problems. Instead, she calls for the issue to be more firmly anchored in government policy. zeit.de
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Tax revenue from nuclear power plants: The German government has published data on the nuclear fuel tax for the years 2011 to 2019 in an answer (21/102) to a minor interpellation (21/54). According to the information, 0.5 million euros in repayments had to be made in 2019 due to the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court of 13 April 2017 on the incompatibility of the Nuclear Fuel Tax Act with the Basic Law, as can be seen from the answer. The government is unable to provide information on tax revenue from the operation of nuclear power plants. „The monthly statistics on cash tax revenues compiled by the Federal Ministry of Finance do not contain a breakdown according to the economic activity of taxpayers,“ it explains.
TAKEN LITERALLY:
The persistent and increasing dry periods are leading to a lack of water everywhere. This massively weakens the vitality of trees and then leads to leaf yellowing, premature leaf shedding and dead branches and bark cracks. In the long term, this drought damage can lead to increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, such as the bark beetle in conifers. The waterlogging caused by flooding causes the roots to die, as there is a lack of oxygen in the root area as a result. This then impairs water and nutrient uptake. Soil erosion, root exposure and storm damage can also occur during heavy rainfall.
Frank Bechstein, one of the first German tree climbers and a pioneer of tree care in Germany. The tree care expert explained how the care of trees has changed due to the increasing extremes of weather. In dry periods, deep watering is now used instead of shallow watering in order to reach the roots directly. Irrigation bags are used for this purpose, which release water slowly and continuously. Layers of mulch protect the soil from overheating and evaporation. At the same time, drought-resistant tree species such as oaks and gleditsia are planted to increase the adaptability of urban trees. Mixed cultures are favoured in order to avoid monocultures and their susceptibility to pests.
To monitor tree health, the experts use modern techniques such as sonic tomography and resistographs to detect hidden damage at an early stage. This is particularly important as unstable trees can pose considerable risks to passers-by and arborists during storms and heavy rainfall. Private individuals can also do a lot to protect trees: regular, thorough watering, mulching and an appropriate location for new plantings help to extend the lifespan and vitality of trees. Support stakes and shading are particularly important for young trees in the first few years. In the long term, according to the expert, tree care will become more intensive and complex. In view of increasing weather extremes, new strategies and climate-resilient species are needed to stabilise urban ecosystems and safeguard the quality of life in cities. gabot.de
AFRICA:
International justice: Court dismisses Sudan’s genocide case. sueddeutsche.de
Mali: In Mali, the military junta wants to extend its rule – without democratic elections – until 2030 and also restrict the existence of political parties. dw.com
Volkswagen Kariega: The Volkswagen plant in Kariega is a global specialist for small cars. And therefore has big things to celebrate this year. automobil-produktion.de
The business with African harvester ants: Poachers are not only after rhinos or elephants – collectors also pay high prices for harvester ants. Belgian smugglers have been sentenced in Kenya. derstandard.at
Rwanda: In talks with the USA about accepting deported migrants. allafrica.com
Electric cars in the fast lane in Africa: While e-mobility is only slowly gaining market share in Europe, the momentum is much greater in other parts of the world, for example in Africa. ingenieur.de
How hard will Trump’s cuts to USAID hit Africa? The US was the largest donor of aid to Africa, but that’s over now. Some countries in Africa are adjusting their policies and financial plans. dw.com
WFP cancels food aid for one million people in Uganda: Not only the USA, but also other Western governments are cutting their development aid. The UN warns of dramatic consequences for people in crisis areas. Ugandan refugee camps are already running out of food. spiegel.de
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
Chemicals with a risk – EDCs in everyday life: From cosmetics to food packaging – endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are all around us and can affect our health without us realising it. Women are particularly affected, as an EU-funded study shows. Researchers are working to better understand these hidden dangers and develop new test methods to reduce exposure to these harmful substances. fair-economics.de
Water resources in climate change: Water is life – this is often said and just as often forgotten. Yet it is the resource that is most directly affected by climate change. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and extreme weather events are changing the availability of water worldwide. But while we talk about burning forests and melting glaciers, the question of the consequences for our water resources often remains unanswered. A new online tool aims to change this. fair-economics.de
The unknown universe of the deep sea: only 0.001 per cent of the seabed has been visually documented to date – roughly equivalent to the area of Rhode Island. According to a study by the Ocean Discovery League, around 44,000 deep-sea expeditions have been carried out since 1958, most of them in the coastal waters of a few countries such as Japan, New Zealand and the USA. Yet the deep sea is of central importance for the global climate and could harbour potential sources of new medicines and food. In order to better protect these valuable ecosystems, researchers are calling for much more intensive research. „So much in our oceans remains a mystery,“ says Ian Miller from the National Geographic Society. heise.de
CALENDAR:
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; the theme of this year’s event is „Accelerating Investment“.
To the website21 May: Fashion Law – 2nd German Fashion Law Day in Berlin
Legal issues relating to sustainability transformation play an important role for the textile industry. The exact programme for the event is yet to be announced.
To the website
20 – 22 May: Greentech Festival and Greentech Conference in BerlinThe Greentech Festival is one of the largest sustainability conferences in Germany. The Greentech Conference, where stakeholders from politics and business discuss sustainable business solutions, takes place as part of the trade fair. In 2025, the conference will be divided into the areas of Mobility & Transport, Energy & Infrastructure and Industry & Materials. to the website
22 – 23 May: Circular Republic Festival in Munich
Several thousand participants attended the first Circular Republic Festival in Munich. The second edition of the circular economy event will take place 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 resource scarcity, climate change and supply chain resilience. | GREEN.WORKS is a media partner.
To the website26 – 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“. It is also about finding sustainable solutions for the economy of tomorrow.
To the website
2 – 3 June: Hamburg Sustainability Conference
The motto of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference is „Together We Co-Create Sustainable Development“. The conference in Hamburg will focus on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of the event is to bring together leaders from politics, business, science and civil society from all over the world to explore opportunities and practical ways to achieve the 17 sustainability goals.
To the website2 – 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 Centre for Sustainable Leadership at Witten/Herdecke University.
To the website3 – 4 June: Scope 3 Innovation Forum in Amsterdam
The Scope 3 Innovation Forum focuses on the challenge of Scope 3 emissions. The conference in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, will discuss opportunities and innovations that can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain.
To the website10 – 12 June: European Sustainable Energy Week 2025 in Brussels and online
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is the largest annual event on renewable energy and efficient energy use in Europe. It is organised by the European Commission and takes place in the Belgian capital.
To the website16 – 18 June: European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2025 in Rimini
The ECCAC is centred around the topic of climate adaptation. Experts will come together in Rimini, Italy, to discuss smarter, faster and more systematic climate adaptation in Europe.
To the website25 – 26 June: Sustainability Summit in Hamburg
The Sustainability Summit in Hamburg is a trade fair and conference for sustainability in business, which will take place for the second time in 2025. The summit is aimed at companies and start-ups. In the exhibition area, participants will present their IT solutions for sustainability and ESG.
To the website1 – 2 July: LZ Summit Packaging & Sustainability in Frankfurt
The conference is aimed at managers and those responsible for sustainability management and strategy and focuses on optimising sustainable corporate management in the consumer goods industry.
To the website21 – 22 July: Sustainability Standards Conference 2025 in Frankfurt
The German Accounting Standards Committee (GASC), the IFRS Foundation, 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 IFRS sustainability standards
To the website2 – 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, policy makers, investors, financiers and buyers.
To the website9 – 10 September: BME Sustainable Procurement Summit 2025 in Darmstadt
The BME Sustainability Summit is a conference organised by the German Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics, which focuses on the topic of sustainable procurement.
To the website17 – 18 September: Impact Festival in Frankfurt
The Impact Festival is a meeting place for greentech start-ups and SMEs, corporate sustainability managers and investors. In 2025, the conference will take place for the fifth time – and for the second time at the Messe Frankfurt exhibition centre.
To the website21 – 28 September: Climate Week NYC in New York
Climate Week is an annual event that takes place in New York and 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.
To the website24 September: TW Sustainability Summit in Hamburg
The Sustainability Summit of the textile industry (TW) is an industry meeting place for all those who have set out to achieve greater sustainability in the fashion industry – from big players to first movers.25 – 26 September: German Climate Management Conference in Hamburg
The conference will focus on the topic of climate stress, which will be viewed primarily from the perspective of municipalities and local authorities.
To the website25 – 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 presence and digitally.
To the website
3 – 4 November: Dena Energy Transition Congress in Berlin
At the Energy Transition Congress organised by the German Energy Agency (Dena), more than 1,200 high-calibre participants from business, politics and science will meet to discuss climate protection and the integrated energy transition. The Dena Energy Efficiency Award will also be presented to companies with innovative concepts as part of the congress.
To the website10 – 21 November: World Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém (Brazil)
Against the backdrop of increased weather extremes and natural disasters, the parties to the Paris Climate Agreement 2025 will meet in the Brazilian city of Belém to discuss the next steps towards achieving the global climate targets.
More information13 – 14 November: EcoCompute in Berlin
After taking place in Munich last year, EcoCompute will be held in Berlin in 2025. 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.
To the website17 – 21 November: Euro Finance Week with Green Finance Forum in Frankfurt
As part of the Euro Finance Week organised by the dfv Media Group, the Green Finance Forum will once again take place in 2025, focusing on ESG and green investments. It will take place on the second day of the conference (18 November) and will bring together high-calibre speakers.
To the website02 – 05 December: Global Carbon Markets Conference in Barcelona
The Global Carbon Markets Conference 2024 organised by financial specialist S&P will focus on the development of the global carbon markets. Market participants will gain insights and background information on what they need to prepare for the future.
To the website04 – 05 December: 18th German Sustainability Day and 18th German Sustainability Award in Düsseldorf
The German Sustainability Day is a firm fixture in the annual event calendar. The German Sustainability Award is also presented as part of the conference. Every year, companies are honoured in various categories in the most comprehensive national sustainability competition. The „Next Economy Award“ is also presented to particularly innovative start-ups.
To the websiteExpected in September: UBA and BMUV Blue Compass award ceremony in Berlin
Every year, the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Ministry for the Environment award the „Blue Compass“ prize 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.
Expected in November: Circulaze Summit 2025 in Munich
The Circulaze Summit is once again expected to take place in Munich in late autumn 2025. The conference is centred around the topic of the circular economy and is aimed at circular economy start-ups as well as companies active in this field and their managers.
To the websiteExpected in November: 10th annual conference of the Climate Economy Foundation in Berlin
The annual conference of the Climate Economy Foundation is expected to take place again in November. The event, which will probably host its tenth edition in 2025, is aimed at experts from politics, business and science.
To the website
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