to the German edition
Federal Environment Agency (Bundesumweltamt) stops fraudulent environmental projects in China: Climate protection projects in China that were supported by Germany have been exposed as fraudulent. The Federal Environment Agency reports massive fraud in emissions certificates, with some projects either not existing at all or existing plants being passed off as new. The estimated losses for affected companies could amount to up to 4.5 billion euros. The German government has taken measures, including criminal investigations and the reversal of suspicious projects. n-tv.de , fr.de
No agreement on climate financing: The biannual climate conference in Bonn ended without an agreement on financing to avert the climate crisis, with industrialised and developing countries arguing over trillions of euros. The conference served as preparation for the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku in November, where new climate aid is to be discussed from 2026. Development organisations expressed concerns that the progress made so far is insufficient to resolve the contentious issues in time in Baku. taz.de , fr.de, tagesspiegel.de
Growth of almost 25 per cent
Emissions of the climate-damaging nitrous oxide are rising sharply. Especially in China and India, according to a new study. The emissions are mainly caused by agriculture. Nitrous oxide, which is the third most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and methane, has increased by 40 per cent since 1980 and is 265 times more harmful than CO₂. In order to achieve the climate targets, the researchers are calling for more efficient use of fertilisers and a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, as there are no technologies to remove nitrous oxide from the atmosphere. rnd.de
Certificate trading is becoming a threat to the rainforest: The Amazon rainforest and the indigenous population are coming under increasing pressure from the trade in CO₂ certificates, as illegal activities such as fires and deforestation are on the rise. Although the Brazilian government is providing funds and taking measures, protection and monitoring of the rainforest are inadequate. Indigenous peoples are being forced off their land by offers for CO₂ trading, with many certificates not fulfilling the necessary criteria for climate protection. The legal situation of indigenous peoples is uncertain, and illegal infrastructure projects are exacerbating the destruction of the rainforest. diepresse.com
The climate impact of the war in Ukraine: Russia’s war against Ukraine is having a serious impact on the global climate, as billions of litres of fuel are being burned on the front line and additional fires are being caused. According to a study, these war activities cause additional CO2 emissions that are equivalent to the annual emissions of the Netherlands and are a particular burden on people in the Global South. The reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure in Ukraine could cause further climate-damaging emissions, which emphasises the urgency of measures to curb environmental destruction. tagesschau.de
Green Deal in danger? Following the European elections, EU climate policy is facing major challenges. Right-wing populist parties that are traditionally against climate protection have made strong gains. Conservative forces, previously rather opportunistic in climate policy, are now also stronger. This makes new measures more difficult and jeopardises established ones. The discussion about phasing out the combustion engine, initiated by liberals and conservatives, shows a return to less ambitious environmental standards. More technological openness could mean continuing to rely on fossil fuels. There are even voices questioning the Green Deal. taz.de
Summer could get even hotter: Meteorologists are warning of an extremely hot summer in Europe, backed by a new scientific analysis from the UK which predicts that falling air pollution and changes in the jet stream could lead to more intense heatwaves. According to Dominik Schumacher from ETH Zurich, regional climate models have underestimated future warming because they do not take into account decreasing air pollution. Since 1980, summer warming in Europe has been underestimated by more than one degree Celsius on average, which means that future summers could be even hotter. Biologist Mark Benecke even predicts a „hellish summer of the millennium“ for 2024 based on rising temperature records in recent decades. merkur.de
EU environment ministers discuss renaturation law: The EU renaturation law is the focus of a meeting of EU environment ministers in Luxembourg on Monday. A qualified majority in favour of the EU regulation has not yet emerged. There is to be a public debate among the ministers on Monday. It is unclear whether a vote will then be taken. Austria will vote in favour of the renaturation law, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) announced on Sunday, thereby forcing a coalition rift. vol.at
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
Wirtschaften mit Herz und Verstand
On the way to a life-enhancing economy
In his book „Wirtschaften mit Herz und Verstand“, Johannes Liess takes the current global challenges as his starting point. He convincingly argues that a reorientation of our economic systems is urgently needed in order to sustainably protect and promote human life and our environment. Liess calls for a paradigm shift in which life itself – our most precious commodity – is placed at the centre of economic activity. He argues in favour of an economy that no longer focuses exclusively on capital gains, but instead defines the quality of people’s lives and the conservation of natural resources as its primary goals. He draws on both economic and ethical arguments to underpin his vision of an economy that promotes life. The book, which was published on 6 June 2024 and comprises 186 pages, not only provides a critical analysis of current economic models, but also offers concrete solutions for a sustainable future. Liess‘ work is an inspiring read for anyone who wants to campaign for a fairer and more ecologically compatible economy. oekom.de
In a nutshell:
Luisa Neubauer: „Too often ecologically caved in“, climate activist Neubauer accuses the Greens of lax climate policy. tagesspiegel.de
River pollution: Polish authorities recover tonnes of dead fish from the Oder. stern.de
Climate activists: Ending their hunger strike in Berlin after months. n-tv.de
More powerful than the competition from China: Siemens builds the world’s most powerful wind turbine. focus.de
India: Climate change not only jeopardises the health of hundreds of thousands of people, but also reduces their earnings. dw.com
Iceland: Issues new whaling licences. spiegel.de
Wind turbines: Do not cause droughts. tagesschau.de
Expansion targets for renewable energies: Lagging behind in wind. ndr.de
China: Solar companies demand government intervention. handelsblatt.com
Renewable energies: One hundred thousand solar roofs become a large power plant. faz.net
Oil demand: Will reach its maximum in 20230. handelsblatt.com
Deutsche Bahn: Criticism of Amazon project in Brazil. taz.de
ÖPNV: Environmental association calls for debate on financing public transport. zeit.de
Registration figures: VDIK warns of „dramatic“ imbalance in German e-mobility. ecomento.de
Bus travel on demand: Offers for more mobility in the countryside. ndr.de
Expert: „We need more domestic raw materials for the energy transition and e-mobility“. riffreporter.de
Harald Lesch: Our mobility has its price. zdf.de
Municipalities in a hydrogen quandary: Municipalities should be realistic in their heat planning and not rely on hydrogen for heating, advises a legal opinion. klimareporter.de
Hydrogen hype: Company representatives consider the hope of rapid decarbonisation through hydrogen to be unrealistic. handelsblatt.com
Green hydrogen: Danfoss study calls for efficient production and use. verkehrsrundschau.de
Energy source of the future: Why the hydrogen economy in Germany is lagging behind. spiegel.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:
What climate disinformation looks like
Most people are now feeling the effects of climate change, but some continue to spread disinformation and deny man-made climate change. New narratives tend to shift responsibility or trivialise the consequences rather than deny climate change altogether. Disinformation is often spread for economic or political interests, especially by far-right and right-wing populist parties, in order to polarise. Experts discuss how such misinformation is spread and how it can be counteracted. detektor.fm
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
Disappointed and frightened: The Greens are shrinking from two sides
Felix Hackenbruch from the Tagesspiegel comments on the dramatic fall of the Greens in the 2024 European elections. The party fell from a record result of 20.5 per cent in the 2019 European elections to less than 12 per cent. At its election party in Berlin, the party itself was able to observe the change in mood, illustrated by a man who demonstratively turned his back on the Greens and wore a T-shirt with the words „Fuck Greens“ on it. Terry Reintke, the largely unknown lead candidate for the Greens, attributes the electoral disaster to the changed social conditions, such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and inflation. Nevertheless, Hackenbruch emphasises that the causes lie deeper and stem from the mistakes of the Greens themselves. The party has lost trust and disappointed voters, leading to a contraction on both sides.
Preliminary voter migration data shows that the Greens have lost voters to both the left and the CDU/CSU. Around half a million Green voters from 2019 did not go to the polls at all this time. In addition, 560,000 former Green voters switched to the CDU/CSU, which is particularly painful for the party. Hackenbruch argues that the Greens no longer strike a chord with society and are perceived as a threat by broad sections of society, both culturally and financially. The Greens are now faced with the challenge of deciding whether they want to appeal more strongly to disappointed left-wing voters or frightened middle-class voters. The disagreement within the party leadership about the future course is a bad prerequisite for turning the mood in their favour.
The whole commentary is available at tagesspiegel.de
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Climate protection in Africa: Climate activist Hilda Nakabuye from Uganda and civil rights activist Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim from Chad are calling for German financial aid for sustainable energy security and adaptation strategies in Africa to go directly to civil society organisations instead of governments. These organisations, according to Ibrahim, have sustainable solutions and need access to solar-based energy, while funds to governments often do not benefit rural communities. Nakabuye criticises the role of countries like Germany in the climate crisis and calls for more investment in renewable energy and penalties for companies that promote fossil fuels. Both emphasise the importance of women’s organisations and gender-equitable decision-making processes for sustainable results. more at bundestag.de
Costs of climate change: The Committee on Climate Protection and Energy has discussed a report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection on the costs of climate change in Germany. The study by IÖW, Prognos and GWS shows that climate-related extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and extreme precipitation cause considerable economic and immaterial damage, including deaths, supply shortages and negative effects on health and ecosystems. The annual consequential costs could rise to between 280 and 900 billion euros by 2050. Only climate impacts that can be monetised and modelled were taken into account, meaning that the actual costs are likely to be higher. bundestag.de
CDU/CSU calls for an end to the Supply Chain Act: The CDU/CSU parliamentary group is calling for the Supply Chain Act, which has been in force for German companies since January 2023, to be repealed. It has therefore formulated a corresponding draft bill (20/11752) for a Supply Chain Duty of Care Repeal Act. The Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) has been in force in Germany since 1 January 2023 for companies with 3,000 or more employees and since 1 January 2024 for companies with 1,000 or more employees and obliges them to comply with certain due diligence obligations with the aim of preventing, minimising or eliminating human rights and environmental risks. The Union parliamentary group criticises the fact that the pressure on international supply chains has increased considerably and economic relations have become more difficult, particularly against the backdrop of various international crises and wars. In this situation, the reporting obligations set out in the LkSG overburden companies. The European Supply Chain Directive (CSDDD) adopted by the European Parliament in April 2024 goes even further than the German provisions, which is why it makes no sense to expect companies to adhere to national regulations and prepare for the provisions of the European Supply Chain Directive at the same time, according to the submission.
TAKEN LITERALLY:
„When the decision in favour of underground cables was made a few years ago, the driving reason was to secure acceptance for the energy transition. Today, however, acceptance of the energy transition is being undermined by significant cost increases. What has also changed is the acceptance of the energy transition in terms of visibility. A few years ago, wind turbines were much less popular than they are today.“
Stefan Kapferer, CEO of electricity grid operator 50Hertz, emphasises the need to reduce grid expansion costs in an interview. He makes it clear that the current grid fees per kilowatt hour are considerable and are a burden on companies, especially in an environment in which industry is aiming for an electricity price of 5 to 6 cents per kilowatt hour. Kapferer makes suggestions for reducing costs, including the use of pylons instead of expensive underground cables, which cause high archaeological costs. He argues that such measures are necessary to ensure the affordability of the energy transition and to stabilise energy costs for consumers and industry. Despite progress in grid expansion, he sees challenges such as high material costs and longer delivery times for components such as transformers and offshore platforms. He warns of increasing grid bottlenecks due to growing renewable power generation and calls for technical solutions to ensure grid stability. Kapferer is in favour of a broad political dialogue on cost distribution and suggests subsidising grid fees in order to alleviate the financial burden for all parties involved. The full interview is available here rnd.de
AFRICA:
Diversified markets as a strength: Jeremy Awori, CEO of the Ecobank Group, draws a positive balance after his first year at the helm of the pan-African banking group. Despite global challenges such as Covid-19 and economic volatility, Ecobank was able to generate a turnover of over 2 billion US dollars for the first time since 2015 and record a profit of 581 million US dollars. Awori emphasises the importance of resilience and strategic focus in a challenging economic environment, particularly in Nigeria, where economic policy changes led to currency turbulence but have since stabilised. Under his leadership, Ecobank focused on Growth, Transformation and Revenue (GTR), improving efficiency and strengthening digital transformation to optimise customer experiences while maintaining a robust branch network in Africa’s cash-intensive markets. Awori sees opportunities in partnerships with fintechs and telecoms companies to further expand financial services and promote financial inclusion. Overall, Ecobank’s diversified market presence and strategic focus positions it well to ensure sustainable growth and resilience despite ongoing economic uncertainties in Africa. african.business
Plane crash: Malawian vice president killed in accident. tagesschau.de
Drugs in Senegal: more cocaine trafficking, less local consumption. dw.com
South African president re-elected: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected for a second term despite his ANC party’s historic loss of power in the parliamentary elections. He received 283 out of 339 votes in parliament. Ramaphosa is seeking to form a government of national unity that includes co-operation with various parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and others. This coalition aims to address the political instability created by the ANC’s loss of power and push for much-needed reforms in a country struggling with economic problems, unemployment and corruption. nzz.ch
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
Wildfires in California cost 50,000 people their lives prematurely: A new study, published in Science Advances, shows that more than 50,000 premature deaths in California over the past decade can be attributed to exposure to toxic particles in wildfire smoke. These wildfires produce smoke that contains particulate matter (PM2.5). These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and reach the bloodstream, which can lead to serious health problems and premature death. The study uses a new epidemiological model and emphasises the urgent need for forest management and climate change action to protect public health in fire-prone regions such as California. freitag.de
Crashing satellites endanger the ozone layer: The increasing number of satellites, especially from mega-constellations such as Starlink, endangers the ozone layer through the depletion of ozone in the stratosphere, caused by aluminium oxide particles that are released when the satellites crash. These particles trigger chemical reactions that accelerate ozone depletion and remain in the atmosphere long-term, jeopardising the protection of the ozone layer. The research shows that the amount of aluminium oxide in the atmosphere has already risen sharply and will continue to increase if current satellite plans are implemented, which could lead to significant and long-lasting damage. heise.de
CALENDAR:
III World Biodiversity Forum
When: 16-21 June 2024
Where: Davos, Switzerland
Further information: Website
Under the theme „From Science to Action“, the third World Biodiversity Forum will bring together researchers, practitioners and civil society to explore how to move from science to action and solutions to conserve biodiversity and put us on the path to a transformation towards sustainability.VII European Congress for Conservation Biology (ECCB 2024)
When: 17-21 June 2024
Where: Bologna, Italy
Further information: Website The 7th ECCB, organised
by the European Section of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), will focus on the key theme „Biodiversity Positive by 2030“ and formulate a call to action for the conservation of our planet’s biodiversity.ICLEI World Congress 2024
When: 18-21 June 2024
Where: São Paulo, Brazil
Further information: Website; Press release; Registration form
In June, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability will organise its triennial World Congress. It will be hosted by the city of São Paulo. The event will showcase how local and regional governments from our network are driving sustainable urban development worldwide.Hearing on „Germany’s contribution to achieving the SDGs worldwide
Time: Wednesday, 26 June 2024, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Place: Berlin, Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, conference room 1.302Briefing by the Federal Government (oral)
by StM Sarah Ryglewski on Germany’s contribution to achieving the SDGs worldwide – the further development of the German sustainability strategy and the HLPF 2024 in conjunction with a discussion with Marie-Luise Abshagen (Head of Sustainability Policy, Forum Environment and Development)
For the public hearing: Participation as a guest is only possible after prior registration. Please register by providing your first name, surname and date of birth at awz@bundestag.de. A valid identity card or passport is required for admission control.
Consultation on cormorant management – protecting biodiversity and fisheries stocks
Time: Wednesday, 26 June 2024, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Place: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, conference room E 700Motion by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group
„Cormorant management – protection of biodiversity and fisheries stocks, (BT-Drs. 20/10619)“
Hearing on the topic of resilient tourism: crisis prevention and crisis management
Time: Wednesday, 26 June 2024, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, conference room 4.600Main topics of the hearing:
- Lessons learnt from the coronavirus pandemic
- Involvement of tourism in prevention and management
- Climate adaptation measures
- Crisis communication
- Digitalisation/cyber security
- Cyber attacks
- Mobility and visitor guidance
- Climate impact adaptation, especially in rural and structurally weaker tourist regions
- Labour market in the crisis (including skills and labour shortages / resilience in companies)
- Climate change and adaptation: Need for action by providers, destinations and political decision-makers with regard to the future of winter sports and dealing with extreme weather conditions
IUFRO World Congress
When: 23-29 June 2024
Where: Stockholm, Sweden
Further information: Website
The IUFRO World Congress is one of the largest global forestry events, held every five years since 1893, bringing together leading scientists and top leaders to jointly shape a sustainable future for forestry, climate and society. Under the motto „Forests and Society Towards 2050“, the 2024 event will address the challenges that population growth, climate change, globalisation and a growing world economy pose for forests and their management.
The GLF and CIFOR-ICRAF will participate in this event. Stay tuned for more details.International Peat Congress
When: 4-9 August 2024
Where: Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
Further information: Website
The 17th International Peatland
Congress, organised by the International Peatland Society, provides a platform for scientists, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to share knowledge, best practices and new ideas on peatland conservation and advocates for the responsible use of peat and peatland resources. The proposed theme for this year is „Peatlands in a changing world“.GLF Africa 2024
When: 17 September 2024
Where: Nairobi, Kenya, and online
Further information: Website coming soon!
Can Africa usher in a global green renaissance? The continent has vast natural resources that support its food systems, livelihoods and growing young population – but the climate crisis could undo these benefits. This mixed conference will explore how Africa can overcome these challenges by harnessing the potential of its diverse landscapes and peoplesSummit of the future
When: 22-24 September 2024
Where: UN Headquarters, New York, NY, United States
More information: Website
The Future Summit is a high-level event that brings together world leaders to build a new international consensus on how we can create a better present and secure the future.
The Summit has two main objectives: to accelerate efforts to fulfil our existing international commitments and to take concrete steps to address new challenges and opportunities. This will be achieved through an action-orientated outcome document, the Compact for the Future, which will be negotiated and endorsed by countries in the run-up to and during the Summit.Climate Week NYC 2024
When: 22-28 September 2024
Where: New York, NY, United States, and online
More information: Website
During the same week as the Future Summit, the annual Climate Week NYC will host
over 500 in-person, hybrid and online events and activities across New York City.2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference
When: 21 October-1 November 2024
Where: Cali, Colombia
Further information: Press release
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) and the meetings of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol.
At COP16, governments will be tasked with reviewing the status of implementation of the Kunming and Montreal Global Biodiversity Frameworks, which were adopted at COP15 in Montreal, Canada, in December 2022.2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29)
When: 11-22 November 2024
Where: Baku, Azerbaijan
Further information: Press release from COP28
At last year’s COP28 conference in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), countries agreed for the first time to move away from fossil fuels and to finance the Loss and Damage Fund. In
November, heads of state and government and delegates from all over the world will meet again in Azerbaijan for the biggest climate event of the year to set
a new global target for climate financing.Session of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP16)
When: 2-13 December
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Further information: Website
Not to be confused with the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP16 will bring together world leaders to take action on drylands under
the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Since the last UNCCD Conference of the Parties in May 2022 in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), this will be the world’s largest summit on land issues.
THE LAST:
Hugging trees for a better world:
Patricia Ariokot from Uganda has made it into the Guinness Book of Records with an extraordinary feat: in January 2024, she hugged a tree for 16 hours. What seems like a playful prank is a matter close to Patricia’s heart. The climate activist wants to use her actions to raise young people’s awareness of the immeasurable importance of trees. In Uganda, a country with the highest deforestation rate in the world, this message is particularly urgent. But Patricia is not just about words – she takes action. With wooden sticks containing tree seeds, she visits communities and schools in eastern Uganda to plant a greener future through small, loving gestures.
dw.com
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