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Climate fund – doubts about actual increase in funding: The special fund totalling 500 billion euros should actually enable additional investment in climate protection and infrastructure. However, according to a recent analysis by environmental lawyer Roda Verheyen on behalf of the WWF, expenditure could be systematically shifted from the regular federal budget to the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF) – for example to reduce electricity prices. The criticism: this would hardly mobilise any additional funds for climate protection. The WWF is now calling for a climate protection requirement in the implementation law and the exclusion of fossil fuel investments. The draft budget for 2025 is due to be approved by the cabinet on 25 June. Green Party leader Felix Banaszak accused the government of breaking its word: „First making big announcements and then cutting back on the climate and transformation fund – that’s nothing more than budget trickery,“ said Green Party leader Felix Banaszak, adding that anyone who cuts future investments now is „sawing away at their own economic foundations“. Banaszak pointed out that the Greens had only agreed to the establishment of a credit-financed special budget of 500 billion euros to modernise infrastructure and finance climate protection measures on one condition: that the black-red coalition actually invests the money in Germany in addition to the regular federal budget. The Greens obviously have doubts about this. focus.de, zeit.de , sueddeutsche.de
Disagreement over nuclear power: German government divided over EU categorisation: The future of nuclear power is being debated in Brussels – and in Berlin too. While France is pushing for nuclear energy to be recognised as a sustainable technology at EU level, the German government is divided. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) is strictly opposed to such a categorisation and warns of incalculable risks and high costs. Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU), on the other hand, favours openness to technology and points to France’s need for a nuclear energy supply. A joint Franco-German paper, published during Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s inaugural visit to Paris, emphasises the equal treatment of all low-emission technologies – but how these are defined remains controversial within the German government. There is also criticism from the ranks of the Greens: party leader Banaszak warns against watering down the European climate targets by rehabilitating nuclear power. n.tv.de , tagesschau.de, spiegel.de,
The number of climate complaints has quadrupled
More and more people are taking legal action to force governments and companies to do more to protect the climate. Since 2020, the number of climate lawsuits has quadrupled – to over 2,500 worldwide. What is particularly striking is that it is not only NGOs but increasingly also individuals such as pensioners, young people or a small farmer from Peru who are taking legal action – often successfully. The case of the Peruvian Luciano Lliuya against RWE or the ECtHR ruling in favour of the Swiss „climate senior citizens“ show this: Courts are becoming an important place for climate justice. deutschlandfunk.de
EU Commission wants to raise awareness of water consumption: The EU Commission wants to encourage Europe’s citizens to use water more consciously. Measurable transparency in the household and a mental cultural change should help to reduce consumption. The background to this is the persistent drought in many regions of Europe – in Germany, too, only half the usual amount of precipitation fell recently. A comprehensive water strategy is to follow by the summer. zeit.de
CBAM – EU Parliament wants to reduce bureaucracy in CO₂ customs: The EU Parliament has voted in favour of easing the burden on small and medium-sized companies in the CO₂ border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). In future, only large importers of energy-intensive goods such as steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers will be subject to the strict reporting obligations. The new regulation would free around 90 per cent of importers from bureaucracy – while maintaining the same high level of emissions reporting. The member states still have to give their approval and the reform is due to come into force in 2026. recyclingportal.eu, stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
Construction Industry Day – lots of hope, little attitude towards climate protection: At the most important meeting of the construction industry, Chancellor Merz spoke of new beginnings, less bureaucracy and more affordable housing. Federal Construction Minister Hubertz also promised speed and investment. But despite promises of billions and energy policy challenges, one word was not mentioned once during the entire event: climate protection. At the EUREF-Campus, a self-proclaimed „place of the future“, it remained unclear how sustainable the announced construction boom really is. welt.de
CO₂ savings and fossil dependency – The contradictory climate balance sheet of DAX companies: Germany’s largest listed companies reduced their direct CO₂ emissions by six per cent in 2024. In total, the 40 DAX companies emitted around 11.6 million tonnes less greenhouse gases than in the previous year. However, this success has its limits. This is because the figures only reflect the emissions from direct business operations (Scope 1) and external energy purchases (Scope 2) – precisely the areas in which many companies have been able to realise comparatively simple savings for years. fair-economics.de
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
The future of our water
What can it do? Where is it missing? Who does it belong to?
Water is the basis of life – and increasingly a source of conflict. In her book, Carolin Stüdemann, Executive Director of the NGO Viva con Agua, addresses the global handling of this scarce resource. It is a timely book. Because while the world’s population is growing, the availability of fresh water is shrinking in many places – with tangible consequences for agriculture, industry and societies.
Stüdemann expertly describes the many dimensions of the water crisis: from ecological issues to economic interests and political power asymmetries. She allows scientists, activists and celebrities to have their say – a broad spectrum that lends the topic a polyphonic depth.
The tone remains objective and solution-orientated. The focus is not on alarmism, but on the question of how fair access to water can be achieved – and what everyone can do to help. In its mixture of reportage, analysis and political reflection, this book is a well-founded contribution to the current water debate – and a plea for global responsibility in times of increasing resource scarcity. penguin.de
In a nutshell:
Gösta Beutin: Head of the Bundestag Committee on the Environment. fair-economics.de
EU deforestation law: These four countries are considered high risk. stol.it
Environmental mess!: North Sea beaches full of yellow lumps. bild.de
Impending sea level rise: Even limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees could probably no longer save polar ice sheets. spiegel.de
Controversial regulation: Bundestag controversially debates heating law reform. rnd.de
Climate protection: Too much bureaucracy jeopardises climate-friendly river heating projects. sonnenseite.com
Climate policy: CO2 emissions fall in China for the first time. Is this the turning point? derstandard.at
Environment: International waste export gang smashed in Spain. zeit.de
Especially clothes and books: More and more people are buying second-hand. n-tv.de
Development Minister Alabali-Radovan: „I will fight for my department’s budget“. rnd.de
Socially just under power: How a cleverly designed „social leasing“ could make electric cars affordable for all. fair-economics.de
Italy: Mussels threatened in the Adriatic. watson.de
End of US development aid: Food for millions threatens to rot. t-online.de
Mowing prohibited: Why tall grasses are climate heroes. telepolis.de
Land rights as the key to fair climate policy: Current report shows solutions. iwd-online.de
Destruction of tropical forests: “ This is a global red alert“. tagesschau.de
Protection from advertising: Denmark wants to ban junk food adverts aimed at children. spiegel.de
Deutsche Bahn: Uses electricity storage from old e-car batteries. saarbrücker-zeitung.de
Dataforce analysis: Four car brands are on track with CO2 limits. vision-mobility.de
The lack of vision has led transport policy to a dead end: Cities can significantly expand their cycle path networks for e-bikes and bikes – without additional congestion on the roads. ethz.ch
Corporate Mobility: Rethinking mobility with a budget instead of company cars. automotiveit.eu
„Berlin is in the Middle Ages „: Even the ADAC criticises the transport senator. berliner-zeitung.de
Bundestag: Tarek Al-Wazir takes over chairmanship of the transport committee. verkehrsrundschau.de
Energy supply: Green hydrogen from the north-west to save industry. ndr.de
New EU rule causes horror in the hydrogen industry: The EU Commission wants to tighten the rules on when hydrogen is considered a „low-carbon“ energy source. The industry warns that the green transformation of the industry will be delayed. handelsblatt.com
Researchers produce golden hydrogen from biogas: Scientists at TH Köln want to produce CO2-negative hydrogen. The carbon produced in the process is to be reused. zfk.de
Nikola sell-off: 103 fuel cell lorries go under the hammer. 24auto.de
Hydrogen is a real beacon of hope for the economy: an overview offunding programmes . dihk.de
PODCAST OF THE WEEK:
Climate Update°
The Swiss company Climeworks is cutting 106 jobs, around a fifth of its workforce. The company operates two plants in Iceland that filter CO2 directly from the air – but not nearly as much as originally planned.
Forests also bind carbon in trees and other plants through photosynthesis. However, reforestation projects also have disadvantages: for example, they require a lot of space. This could lead to more and more displacement of indigenous groups in the future, especially in the Global South – because their land is often not legally protected. A recent NGO report warns against this. But it also makes suggestions on how things could be better.
Balcony power stations are very popular. However, not all models are recommendable, according to Stiftung Warentest. It tested eight popular products and found only two to be „good“. It even rated five as „inadequate“. However, the reason is not solar technology – but something else entirely. taz.de
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
„Now is the right time to invest in climate tech“
Tove Larsson, Partner at sustainability fund Norrsken VC, argues that despite geopolitical crises and economic uncertainty, now is the best time to invest in climate technologies. The reason: the technologies are now mature, cost-efficient and marketable. Renewable energies such as solar and wind power are now the cheapest sources of electricity worldwide – and their expansion is also dominating in the USA.
Larsson describes a quiet, market-driven energy revolution that is being accelerated by falling costs, electrification and rising demand for storage solutions. Political setbacks – for example under the Trump administration – could mislead investors, but climate technology is developing into one of the most dynamic growth sectors of all.
As an example, she points to China, which invested around USD 940 billion in clean energy in 2024 – more than ever before. She also sees Europe in a strategic position: as there are no fossil fuel alternatives, the energy transition is not only possible, but absolutely necessary.
Her central thesis: the economic arguments in favour of climate technology investments have never been more convincing – not as idealism, but as a rational market decision. Read the full guest commentary at handelsblatt.com
VIDEO OF THE WEEK:
Coalition agreement unconstitutional?
New coalition agreement – and already unconstitutional? Why heat-related deaths, mega-floods, the climate crisis and missed protection are threatening our basic rights – and how a court judgement could suddenly change the new government’s entire energy and climate policy.
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Greens: Better labelling of genomically modified food: The Bündnis90/Die Grünen parliamentary group is pushing for mandatory product labelling for foods that have been genomically modified. The reason for this is a proposal by the European Commission, which presented a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on plants derived from genomic techniques and the food and feed derived from them in July 2023. Both the European Parliament and the European Council gave their opinion on this. As a result, the European Parliament decided to make changes in favour of consumer protection in July last year. It calls for mandatory product labelling for food and traceability for genetically modified plants and the food and feed derived from them along the entire value chain. In their motion (21/221), the Green MEPs are now calling on the German government to insist that mandatory labelling on foodstuffs and traceability for genomically modified plants and foodstuffs along the entire value chain be enshrined in the Commission’s regulation text in a legally binding manner – and to base this on the wording of the European Parliament and not to approve the regulation if this requirement is not met.
Greens present draft „Fair Rents Act“: The Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group has presented a draft „Fair Rents Act“ (21/222). According to the parliamentary group, the draft aims to better protect low-income tenants from rent increases and excessive asking rents by improving social tenancy law for residential tenancy agreements. The draft was debated in the Bundestag last Friday at first reading. Amongst other things, the draft provides for the rent freeze to be made permanent. In this context, the Greens are also proposing stricter rules for the letting of furnished flats in order to limit the circumvention of the rent cap. The Greens are also proposing new regulations for index-linked tenancy agreements. In future, rent increases should be based on the development of the index for net cold rents in Germany provided by the Federal Statistical Office over the same period. Further regulations concern the local comparative rent to be taken into account for rent increases. In this regard, the parliamentary group is proposing, among other things, to extend the observation period from six to 20 years. The MPs hope that this will curb the scope for rent increases. In areas with tight housing markets, the cap is also to be lowered to nine per cent over three years. The draft also provides for stricter conditions for owner-occupancy cancellations in these areas. The parliamentary group is also proposing a tightening of the rent usury paragraph. In addition to increasing the fine, the offence is to be reworded in order to extend the application of the standard.
Wolfgang Stefinger heads the Development Committee: CSU MP Wolfgang Stefinger is chairing the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development in this parliamentary term. At the constituent meeting chaired by Bundestag Vice-President Andrea Lindholz (also CSU) on Wednesday, Stefinger was elected Chairman of the committee, which has 18 members, by secret ballot. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group has six members, while the AfD and SPD parliamentary groups each have four members. The Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and Die Linke parliamentary groups each have two members on the committee. CDU/CSU: Diana Herbstreuth, Philip Hoffmann, Thomas Rachel, Wolfgang Stefinger, Johannes Volkmann, Nicolas Zippelius, SPD: Sanae Abdi, Lars Castellucci, Christoph Schmid , Nina Scheer, AfD: Rocco Kever, Johann Martel, Matthias Rentzsch, Denis Pauli,Bündnis 90/Die Grünen: Schahina Gambir, Claudia Roth, Die Linke: Gökay Akbulut, Charlotte Neuhäuser
TAKEN LITERALLY:
„On the coast, people have always been worried about storm surges. As early as the Middle Ages, small parts of the coast were therefore diked to protect agriculture and prevent settlements near the coast from being destroyed. Today, practically the entire lowlands between Holland and Denmark are protected by dykes. The problem is that storms are increasing due to climate change. In addition, although the structures protect against storm surges, the lower edges of the dykes cannot withstand permanent waterlogging everywhere in the event of a high sea level rise.“
Professor Michael Kleyer, Professor Emeritus of Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning at the University of Oldenburg , emphasises that from a historical perspective, it made sense to leave space for the water. In times without dykes, reed beds and floodplains would have mitigated storm surges. Today, however, these areas have largely disappeared or are used for agriculture – in some cases below sea level. Removing dykes, for example in Lower Saxony with its 700 kilometres of dykes, would hardly help to relieve the burden as the effect on the entire system would be too small.
Nevertheless, there are positive examples of targeted dyke removal, for example in the Wadden Sea National Park at Langwarder Groden. A summer dyke was opened there in 2014, exposing 140 hectares to the tides again and transforming them into species-rich salt marshes. Access for visitors has also been made possible by a hiking trail.
In the long term, river embankments should also be considered, as many smaller rivers are completely embanked and their maintenance is increasingly costly. Initial projects such as the Aper Tief near Oldenburg show that new strategies are also necessary and can be implemented here.
The whole interview is available at web.de
AFRICA:
EU-AU foreign ministers meeting: Raw materials and mobility as „main priorities“. sn.at
Reactions in South Africa: Praise for Ramaphosa’s calm in the Oval Office – but also criticism. tagesschau.de
Congo hopes for raw materials deal with the USA: Up to now, Congo has mainly received help from China in the extraction of critical raw materials. A new agreement with the USA should change this – and also bring peace to the region. handelsblatt.com
WMO: Climate crisis in Africa worsens. epo.de
Kenya: Priest murdered in Kenya. fides.org
Kenya 2: Former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua has been deported from Tanzania. bbc.com
Libya: Why the fighting in Tripoli is sparking new fears for Libya’s stability. Violence erupted in Libya after the murder of a militia leader. The situation has calmed down for the time being – the question remains for how long. derstandard.at
Uganda: Law passed to reintroduce military trials against civilians. reuters.com
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
Ocean as climate saviour? UK launches CO₂ pilot project: The British Seacure project aims to specifically remove CO₂ from seawater – as a supplement to the natural absorption of the ocean, which already binds around a quarter of global CO₂ emissions. The technology could theoretically bind billions of tonnes of CO₂ per year, but it is energy-intensive and technically complex. German experts see the potential more in combination with desalination plants and only at certain locations. One thing is clear: without CO₂ removal, the climate targets remain unattainable. focus.de
World Bee Day 2025 – focus on wild bees: On 20 May, World Bee Day was dedicated to wild bees. While honey bees are well looked after, over 50 per cent of native wild bee species are endangered – due to monocultures, pesticides and the loss of flower-rich habitats. Researchers such as Alexandra-Maria Klein and Ilka Emmerich emphasised: Wild bees not only ensure biodiversity, but also our food supply. Their protection requires flowering areas, nesting opportunities and committed participatory initiatives such as „Deutschland summt“. A clear appeal: nature conservation starts on a small scale – and right on our own doorstep. nature.de, fair-economics.de
Nature heals – more than we think: Can a walk in the woods accelerate healing? The experience of Australian journalist Sarah Allely speaks in favour of this: After suffering a brain injury, she found little relief from traditional therapies – until she started spending time in nature on a regular basis. What initially seemed intuitive is now confirmed by research: studies show that spending time in nature has been proven to reduce stress, alleviate pain and even support neurological recovery processes. The reason: natural stimuli activate gentle attention patterns in the brain and promote emotional stability – two decisive factors for physical well-being and mental regeneration. dw.com
CALENDAR:
26 – 28 May: Re:publica in Berlin
The Re:publica digital conference discusses the influence of digitalisation on the economy and society. In 2025, the festival will be held under the motto „Generation XYZ“. It is also about finding sustainable solutions for the economy of tomorrow.
To the website2 – 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 point 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 person and digitally.
To the website
3. – 4 November: Dena Energy Transition Congress in BerlinAt 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
THE LAST:
Climate protection from the backside? Penguins are cooling the Antarctic – a little
Antarctica is getting warmer, the ice is melting and penguin colonies are shrinking. But now researchers are showing: Penguin droppings, of all things, could counteract climate change locally. The so-called guano releases ammonia – a substance that stimulates cloud formation. And clouds are known to cool.
According to the study, the ammonia concentration near a colony of 60,000 Adelie penguins increased a thousand-fold. The result: more aerosols, more clouds, a little more coolness. Penguins as part-time climate saviours? Sounds good – but: the little tailcoats won’t completely eradicate global warming. Their numbers are decreasing with the ice, and the effect remains localised.
Nevertheless, it’s nice to know that in times of global overheating, at least someone somewhere is still producing cold air – albeit from rather unusual sources.
spiegel.de
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All images, unless otherwise stated: pixabay.com
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