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There is movement in the dispute over punitive tariffs for state-subsidized e-cars from China: Beijing and Brussels want to negotiate. China and the EU have agreed to start negotiations on the dispute over punitive tariffs on e-cars. Following a video call between Chinese Trade Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced consultations on the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles. An EU spokesperson described the talks as „open and constructive“ and emphasized the need for effective measures against harmful subsidies. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck described this as a first step that must be followed by many more. zdf.de , stern.de , manager-magazin.de , n-tv.de
US wants EU law against deforestation scrapped: The US has called on the EU to stop a planned law against deforestation as it could create potential hurdles for US companies. The law, which is due to come into force at the end of the year, bans the sale of products such as coffee and palm oil from areas cleared after 2020 and requires companies to verify cultivation areas using satellite imagery. In a letter to the EU Commission, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack and Trade Representative Katherine Tai called for key challenges for US companies to be removed. There is also criticism of the implementation of the law in Germany and within the EU. n-tv.de
More than three quarters of people worldwide
want more political action against climate change. In a survey conducted by the United Nations, 80 percent of participants spoke out in favor of more political action against climate change. In poorer countries, which are particularly affected by the consequences of climate change, the figure was almost 90 percent. deutschlandfunk.de
Climate targets must remain a top priority in Europe: The European Advisory Council on Climate Change is calling for the EU to continue to treat climate targets as a top priority when it reshapes itself after the European elections. Chairman Ottmar Edenhofer emphasizes that the coming years are crucial for achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The Council calls for more action to be taken, particularly in the areas of transport, buildings, agriculture and forestry, and recommends 13 key measures to improve the EU’s climate policy framework. A complete focus of EU policy on phasing out fossil fuels is necessary in order to reduce CO2 emissions by 55 percent by 2030. proplanta.de
Shaky climate financing in Germany: A study by the Berlin-based climate research institute MCC shows that the „Climate and Transformation Fund“ (KTF), the central financing instrument of German climate policy, is overburdened. Due to a decision by the Federal Constitutional Court in 2023, the misappropriation of 60 billion euros in coronavirus loan authorizations for the KTF was stopped, which led to a reduction in KTF spending. The study warns that without additional federal funds, many funding and investment programs are at risk and stable funding cannot be guaranteed for the future. sonnenseite.com
Drinking water shortage – millions of people at risk: Due to unusually low snow masses in the Himalayas, 240 million people in the region are at risk of running out of drinking water. Scientists from the Icimod Center in Nepal reported that the snow cover is 18.5 percent shorter this year, which threatens the water supply in the mountain regions and neighboring valleys. The researchers warned of altered water flows and called on the authorities of the affected countries to take measures against the threat of drought. faz.net
Greenwashing is becoming more difficult: EU environment ministers have agreed on a law that obliges companies to scientifically substantiate sustainability claims. The so-called Green Claims Directive is part of a package of measures designed to prevent greenwashing and promote genuine sustainability. Germany abstained from the vote and the law will be discussed further in the next legislative period of the European Parliament. energiezukunft.eu
BOOKTIP OF THE WEEK:
Particles
Everywhere. Invisible. Deadly.
Wolf Harlander, known for „42 Grad“, delivers a gripping eco-thriller about the threat posed by microplastics with „Partikel“. The story begins with the disappearance of a cargo ship in the Mediterranean and moves on to a dramatic battle at Hamburg University Hospital, where little Zoe dies from the effects of microplastics. Her aunt Melissa, a journalist, is conducting intensive research into the company Cyaclean, which promises a solution to the plastic problem. When Zoe disappears, Melissa must risk everything to save her, while political machinations and global crises are uncovered.
Harlander skillfully combines scientific facts, medical emergencies and political intrigue to create a gripping story. „Particles“ is not only exciting, but also a stirring wake-up call about environmental issues that makes you think. A must-read for thriller fans and environmentally conscious readers.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Cattle burps remain tax-free: New Zealand was long regarded as a pioneer in environmental protection. The new government is now putting an end to this by abolishing the methane tax. taz.de
Green Deal: EU states adopt renaturation law. tagesschau.de
More social aspects in climate policy: A new think tank wants to consider the social aspects of climate policy and has published a position paper to achieve this. zukunft-klimasozial.de
Radicalization: „Ende Gelände“ classified as a suspected extremist case. tagesspiegel.de
Renaturation on the Oder Delta: How nature conservation can succeed without fences. t3n.de
Raw materials: New hope for Europe’s most valuable lithium mine in Serbia. handelsblatt.com
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt: Preserving historic gardens in the climate crisis is a Herculean task. zeit.de
Electricity grid deal: The buyback from the Dutch grid operator has failed. handelsblatt.com
England: Greenpeace accuses UK Environment Agency of being dysfunctional. fair-economics.de
Bloomberg survey shows: 62% of Chinese companies have problems with the quality and coverage of their ESG data. esgnews.com
Austria: ÖVP denounces environment minister for approving EU renaturation law. zeit.de
Climate crisis in nursing homes: When heat becomes dangerous. swr.de
Negative electricity prices in France: Concerns about nuclear reactor shutdown. trendtopics.eu
Austerity plans and dilapidated bridges: Construction industry and ADAC fear traffic collapse. n-tv.de
Germany a brake pad: According to ACEA, European interest in buying e-cars is clearly divided by country. German demand declining. wiwo.de
ZDK: Punitive tariffs make mobility more expensive and slow down electrification. vision-mobility.de
Polemics: Ryanair irritates Irish with anti-bicycle campaign. spiegel.de
New traffic law: More freedom for local authorities. More „30 km/h“ and more cycle paths! Millions of car drivers will soon be facing this. focus.de
Plenty of green hydrogen: the country’s largest electrolyzer has now been inaugurated in Spain. ingenieur.de
Development of the hydrogen core network: EU Commission approves €3 billion German aid scheme. ec.europa.eu
Blue hydrogen is becoming a threat to climate neutrality: The imminent agreement on the power plant strategy between the German government and the EU Commission will give new impetus to the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany. However, it is highly problematic that this paves the way for blue hydrogen and no consideration is being given to how to exit the transitional solution. tagesspiegel.de
NRL study: Green hydrogen still cannot be produced economically despite subsidies. windkraft-journal.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:
Consumption as freedom: why we forgive climate sinners and mock non-flyers
In the „Gradmesser“ podcast, sociologist Jens Beckert explains why consumption holds our society together and how it defines our social status. Despite the knowledge of the negative effects on the climate, our behavior changes little because consumption is understood as freedom and social communication. Beckert emphasizes that change is possible, even though it may come at an individual cost, and calls on the CDU in particular to pursue a stronger climate policy. tagesspiegel.de
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
Tailwind for climate protection
80 percent of the world’s population want more climate protection. Opponents of effective climate policy get too much attention. This will only change if change is shaped in a socially just way.
In a commentary by Joachim Wille, he points out that a survey by the UN Development Program shows that 80 percent of the world’s population is calling for more climate protection, including in countries such as the USA, Germany and Russia. Despite this broad support, opponents of climate protection often receive a disproportionate amount of attention. UNDP Climate Director Cassie Flynn emphasizes that politicians can rely on this broad support for bold climate protection measures. Wille emphasizes that change must be shaped in a socially just way, in particular by relieving the burden on poorer population groups. Otherwise, populist forces such as the AfD or Trump could regain influence. The full commentary is available here at klimareporter.de
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Expert report presented: The Federal Government has presented the expert report „Research, Innovation and Technological Performance of Germany 2024“ to the Bundestag. In it, the expert commission emphasizes the need for technological and social innovations for a climate-neutral, sustainable, digital and resilient future for Germany. Despite global crises such as the war in Ukraine and economic challenges, the transformation process should not be neglected. The Commission proposes eliminating the separation between military and civilian research in order to achieve efficiency gains and emphasizes the expansion of expertise in artificial intelligence, the strengthening of basic research and the improvement of the data infrastructure. It warns against dependence on China and the USA and calls for the recruitment of international experts as well as better availability and harmonization of data.
Report on food policy presented: The third report on food policy „Healthy, sustainable and safe food“ is available as a briefing (20/11850) from the Federal Government. The 80-page report documents the specific measures that were developed and launched in the period from June 2020 to May 2024. According to the report, the aim of the German government is to „remove existing barriers to good nutrition where people eat or buy food in their everyday lives“. Among other things, an improvement in communal catering services, which cater to around 16 million people in Germany every day, is essential for this. The German government’s nutrition strategy also provides an outlook, bundling short, medium and long-term measures across all departments with a target horizon up to 2050.
Government on the heating market and subsidy programs: According to the industry associations BDH and BWP, 2023 was a record year for sales of heat pumps (356,000 units, +51%) and heat generators overall (1.3 million units, +34%). In its response to a question from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, the German government explained that possible reasons for the decline in sales in the first quarter of 2024 could be pull-forward effects, a downturn in the construction industry and higher interest rates. The amendment to the Building Energy Act (GEG) and the Heat Planning Act (WPG) have created a legal framework that offers a clear decarbonization strategy and investment security. The federal government is supporting citizens in implementing heating system replacements through information campaigns and new funding programs, in particular heating subsidies under the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings (BEG).
Government presents carbon management strategy: Germany is aiming to be climate-neutral by 2045 and also wants to focus on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilization (CCU). These technologies are necessary to reduce emissions in hard-to-avoid industrial sectors such as the cement and lime industries and basic chemicals. The German government has presented key points for a carbon management strategy, which were developed following a broad stakeholder dialogue and are to be further specified in the near future. This strategy includes areas of application and promotion of CCS/CCU, ensuring climate neutrality by 2045 and the transportation and storage infrastructure for CO2.
TAKEN LITERALLY:
„Even under the new law, immediate measures must be taken if the overall target is not met for two years in a row. The Council of Experts identified the first failure to meet the target a few days ago. The second target shortfall will most likely be identified in March 2025, meaning that the federal government will have to adopt an immediate action program shortly before the general election, even under the new law. In relation to the CO2 reduction target for 2030, this means that, in addition to the speed limit and the end of subsidies for combustion engines, driving bans really are imminent. This is because the other sectors will no longer have a buffer to bail out the transport sector.“
Jürgen Resch, Managing Director of Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), explains that the new climate law is unconstitutional and hopes for a climate protection offensive. The law has been under review by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for four weeks, as the DUH has submitted a 19-page legal opinion. Resch criticizes the fact that the new law has abolished the obligation for ministries to submit immediate programmes if targets are missed, which he describes as „organized irresponsibility“. He calls for concrete measures such as a speed limit and a clean-up offensive. Resch emphasizes that the government could face fines or even imprisonment if it fails to act, although this has never been necessary in Germany. The DUH expects the government to abide by the law and considers Robert Habeck’s current course to be unfriendly to the climate. taz.de
AFRICA:
Not even Angelina Jolie could save Africa: despite over a trillion euros in development aid over the last 30 years, poverty in Africa remains. One example of this is the village of Sauri in Kenya, which was part of the Millennium Villages Project. This project, supported by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and the economist Jeffrey Sachs, was intended to show that modern development cooperation can eradicate poverty. Although extensive investments were made in infrastructure, education and agriculture, most of the progress made disappeared after the project ended in 2015. The farmers were unable to make sustainable use of the technologies and methods introduced, and the hoped-for independence did not materialize. Former principal Anne Omolo and farmer Hannington Kidha talk about the setbacks and unfulfilled expectations. While Sachs defends the project as a success, development expert Kah Walla emphasizes that sustainable development is not possible without the support and continuation of local governments. However, some residents, such as seamstress Benta Anyango and craftsman Bernard Otieno, have found their own ways to help themselves. spiegel.de
Africa most affected by the Russia-Ukraine war: Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo condemned Moscow’s „bullying“ and „aggression“ in his closing speech at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland. He emphasized that the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine extend far beyond Europe and that Africa has been hit the hardest. Akufo-Addo called on Russia and China to take part in peace talks and criticized the hegemony of big powers. The war has affected the food security of many small countries, as Africa, as a net importer of food, is suffering from increased global prices. The summit, which was attended by over 100 countries and organizations, ended with a joint communiqué calling for the safeguarding of Ukrainian nuclear facilities and the free flow of agricultural exports. Russia was not invited, and some countries such as India and South Africa did not sign the communiqué. Ukraine has launched a charm offensive in Africa to gain more support, while an African peace initiative has so far been unsuccessful. China did not attend the summit, arguing that NATO’s eastward expansion had led to the Ukraine crisis. african.business
Ethiopia: Help for survivors of the Tigray war. dw.com
Anti-tax demonstrations in Kenya: In Kenya, activists from the #OccupyParliament movement are protesting against the new finance bill, which proposes new taxes and changes to the existing tax structure. Activist Boniface Mwangi describes the protests as a grassroots movement against excessive taxation and calls on Kenyans to raise their voices. Security around parliament was tightened after Nairobi police chief Adamson Bungei said the planned demonstrations did not have the required permits. Police used tear gas against the protesters. allafrica.com
Lesotho: Lucrative water trade harms the rural population. Lesotho’s abundance of water has led to successful trade partnerships with South Africa and Botswana. But villagers have to sue for the necessary compensation for their resettlement in court. dw.com
South Africa after the election: South Africa is in a deep crisis caused by mismanagement and corruption. The energy supplier Eskom is a prime example of the country’s decline, with frequent power outages that have a significant impact on economic growth. Despite an upcoming coalition government after the elections in May 2024, there is little hope of rapid improvements. Historical problems such as poor education and high unemployment (33%) are an additional burden on the country. Structural change in the economy and administration remains a major challenge. The new political alliances are primarily intended to prevent the country from sliding further into chaos. derstandard.at
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
What humor has to do with the climate crisis: Researchers from communication science, computer vision and computational linguistics are investigating the role of humorous content in the climate discourse in the KLIMA-MEMES project. Initial findings, presented at this year’s re:publica, show that despite their popularity on social media, internet memes only play a minor role in the climate discourse. An analysis of 1,000 posts by political actors, NGOs and activists revealed that less than one percent of the posts could be classified as memes. While humorous content is common on platforms such as TikTok, it is often characterized by aggressive humour that can contribute to polarization. The research team is planning further studies to verify the results and find explanations for the low use of memes. bidt.digital
Climate crisis and tourism: nature is showing its claws: The heatwaves of recent weeks highlight the danger posed by unprotected exposure to the sun during hikes or pilgrimages. Scientists warn that increasing UV radiation and the increased use of sun cream lead to stubborn stains on textiles. Stiftung Warentest found carcinogenic substances in many sun creams, and tourist regions are responding with new rules of conduct. Mass tourism and the climate crisis are exacerbating the situation, leading to heat-related deaths and local protests. In the future, beach vacations could take place in winter, while summer will become more of a time for indoor activities. taz.de
Study warns of dangers for the Gulf Stream: A new study once again warns of the possible weakening of the Gulf Stream, which would have significant climatic consequences for Europe. Researchers at the University of California in Riverside examined fossil shells of tiny marine animals from the Eocene and found evidence that a warming of the oceans can significantly slow down ocean circulation. These results are based on chemical analyses of the shells, which allow conclusions to be drawn about past temperatures and current patterns, and emphasize the urgency of CO₂ reductions to prevent similar effects in the future. welt.de
CALENDAR:
Hearing on „Germany’s contribution to achieving the SDGs worldwide
Time: Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Place: Berlin, Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, conference room 1.302
Briefing by the Federal Government (oral) by Minister of State Sarah Ryglewski on Germany’s contribution to achieving the SDGs worldwide – the further development of the German Sustainable Development 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, June 26, 2024, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Place: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, meeting room E 700
Motion 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, June 26, 2024, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, conference room 4.600
Main topics of the hearing:
-
- Lessons from the corona pandemic
- Involvement of tourism in prevention and management
- Climate adaptation measures
- Crisis communication
- Digitization/cybersecurity
- Cyber attacks
- Mobility and visitor guidance
- Climate impact adaptation, especially in rural and structurally weaker tourist regions
- Labor market in the crisis (including skills and labor 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
GLF Africa 2024
When: September 17, 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 peoples
IUFRO World Congress
When: June 23-29, 2024
Where: Stockholm, Sweden
More 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 practitioners to jointly shape a sustainable future for forestry, climate and society. Under the theme „Forests and Society Towards 2050“, the 2024 event will address the challenges that population growth, climate change, globalization 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: August 4-9, 2024
Where: Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
Further information: Website
The 17th International Peatland
Congress, organized 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“.
Summit of the future
When: September 22-24, 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 meet our existing international commitments and to take concrete steps to address new challenges and opportunities. This will be achieved through an action-oriented 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: September 22-28, 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 organize over 500 in-person, hybrid and online events and activities across New York City.
2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference
When: October 21-November 1, 2024
Where: Cali, Colombia
Further information: Press release
Meeting of the 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: November 11-22, 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 fund for loss and damage. 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.
Meeting of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP16)
When: December 2-13
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:
New economic sector due to climate change – olive growing in Germany:
Climate change is now making it possible to grow olives north of the Alps, which has led to the first olive oil producers in Germany. In regions such as Freiburg am Kaiserstuhl and Pulheim near Cologne, hobby farmers have started to plant olive groves and harvest their first crops. Experts emphasize that many years of lead time and a large number of trees are required for professional and economically viable production, but the climatic conditions now make olive cultivation in Germany a realistic prospect. fr.de
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