to the German edition
What the budget agreement means for the climate: Shortly before the parliamentary summer break, the coalition of the two parties in the coalition government has agreed on the key points of the 2025 federal budget. A total of 34 billion euros has been earmarked for the Climate and Transformation Fund, 15 billion euros less than in the current year, as EEG funding will be transferred to the general budget. Heat transition programmes are not to be significantly reduced. Electricity price compensation will be extended until 2030 and Chancellor Scholz has announced measures to reduce grid costs. A proposal for the extension of grid fees over time was not unanimously agreed and is still under review. A supplementary budget of eleven billion euros is planned, mainly to cover the EEG account, and 17 billion euros are earmarked for 2025, to be financed via the general budget in future. Legislative changes are intended to reduce EEG costs, for example by suspending subsidies in the event of negative electricity prices. A „Power Plant Security Act“ is to promote 13 gigawatts, including power plants that can be converted to hydrogen and long-term storage facilities. An agreement has already been reached with the EU Commission and the first auctions are due to start at the beginning of next year. zfk.de , fr.de , rnd.de, wwf.de (commentary)
Fertiliser Act fails in the Bundesrat: The planned fertiliser law of the coalition of the traffic light coalition was rejected in the Bundesrat, which means that the plans have failed for the time being. The law aimed to monitor fertiliser data from farms and evaluate the effectiveness of fertiliser requirements in order to relieve the burden on sustainable farms and strengthen the polluter-pays principle. Hesse and Brandenburg criticised the high bureaucratic burden and doubted the necessity of the planned recording requirements. The background to the law is the long-standing conflict with the EU Commission over excessive nitrate pollution in groundwater, which has led to stricter fertiliser requirements on several occasions. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) criticised the rejection of his fertiliser law in the Bundesrat. He said on Friday that „the path to greater fairness for the polluter remains blocked“. „You can do that, but then you also have to be honest and tell agriculture that you don’t want the polluter pays principle.“ There is now a threat of fines from Brussels. tagesschau.de , agrarheute.com, bauernverband.de
Twice as many emissions
are caused by richer households compared to poorer ones. Flying has a significant impact on the personal greenhouse gas balance, as a study shows. For example, a flight from Frankfurt to New York causes 3.65 tonnes of CO2 per person, more than the annual CO2 emissions for living. The German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) shows that mobility makes the biggest difference to the carbon footprint, especially for high-income households that fly more. In contrast, income has hardly any influence on the carbon footprint when it comes to housing and food. The average CO2 footprint in Germany is 6.5 tonnes per capita per year, with mobility accounting for around two tonnes and food for 1.6 tonnes. The DIW is calling for a reduction to three tonnes per capita in order to achieve the climate targets. fr.de
German Council for Sustainable Development calls for more money for local authorities: The German government’s Council for Sustainable Development is calling for a financial summit to ensure social cohesion and the transformation to a climate and environmentally friendly economy. Local authorities are crucial to this transformation and need additional funding, as the investment requirement is in the three-digit billion range. The Council emphasises the need for a fundamental system change in the financing of cities and municipalities and calls for a reorganisation of financial relations between the federal government, federal states and municipalities. In addition, bureaucratic obstacles should be removed and the shortage of skilled workers remedied through attractive working conditions and training programmes. Infrastructure such as green spaces and libraries should be strengthened and financial resources must be allocated according to need in order to minimise social inequalities. klimareporter.de
Money for the climate must be doubled: The European Union must double its climate investments by 2030 in order to achieve its climate targets. Although progress is being made in the decarbonisation of power generation, industry and the use of clean technologies, the overall pace of development is too slow. The EU has set itself the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and becoming climate neutral by 2050. A report by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory shows that in 2022 there was an investment deficit of 406 billion euros in the energy, buildings and transport sectors. To achieve the 2030 target, annual investment would have to be doubled to 800 billion euros. At the same time, subsidies for fossil fuels tripled between 2021 and 2022, which must be phased out. The share of renewable energies must increase 1.4 times faster and the phase-out of fossil fuels must be accelerated by a factor of 1.8. Following the re-election of the EU Parliament, it is uncertain whether the Green Deal will be fully implemented, although the election winners of the European People’s Party are committed to the climate targets. derstandard.at
After the agreement is before the dispute: After weeks of negotiations, the coalition government has presented the first key points for the 2025 budget. The Greens are warning against cuts to the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF), which is important for renewable energy and climate protection projects. Following a judgement by the Federal Constitutional Court, 60 billion euros intended to tackle the coronavirus crisis may not be channelled into the KTF, which has caused a large financial gap. The German Sustainable Economy Association (BNW) is proposing an investment clause to exempt expenditure on future technologies from the debt brake and to introduce an investment premium to promote sustainable investments. The Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) is also calling for more federal funding for the KTF, as the reserve has shrunk drastically and many funding programmes are at risk without additional subsidies. The budget negotiations will show how serious the coalition government is about climate protection and whether it will provide the necessary funds to drive forward the energy transition and achieve the climate targets. riffreporter.de
It is now easier for tenants to install a balcony power station: The German parliament has passed an amendment to tenancy and condominium law that makes it easier for tenants to install balcony power stations. These small solar systems, which are connected to the household grid via a socket, can no longer be refused by landlords and owners without good reason. The Federal Network Agency also reported a record increase in the installation of such systems: more than 52,000 new balcony power plants were installed in the second quarter of 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 52 per cent compared to the previous year. A total of around 563,000 of these systems are currently in operation in Germany. Balcony power plants help to reduce electricity consumption and therefore the operator’s electricity bill, while surplus electricity flows into the public grid free of charge. zeit.de
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
Horch mal was da raucht!
Rivers, streams and their secrets
Water is the most important resource on our planet. Without water and its cycle, we would be nothing. But what about our rivers and streams? What comes to light when we take a closer look at them? In „Listen to the sound! Rivers, streams and their secrets“, the author takes us into the fascinating world of flowing waters. In 184 pages, this work reveals the hidden secrets beneath and on the surface of the water that have accompanied us since the beginning of time.
The book impresses with its thorough exploration of the origin and cycle of water. It gives us a comprehensive insight into the diverse flora and fauna that live in and around our rivers and streams. The author not only explains the complex interactions within these ecosystems, but also offers concrete tips and suggestions on how each individual can contribute to the protection of these important habitats. With a clear and captivating narrative style, the author manages to sensitise the reader to the importance and beauty of our watercourses. The detailed descriptions and easy-to-understand explanations are particularly impressive and make this complex topic accessible even to non-experts.
A particular highlight of the book are the practical tips on how we can broaden our „water horizons“. After reading it, you really will look at a glass of water with different eyes. This book is not only an appeal to protect our environment, but also an invitation to rediscover and appreciate the wonders of our natural water sources. For anyone interested in nature, environmental protection and the secrets of our flowing waters, „Listen, what’s rushing!“ is an absolute must-read. It is an asset to any library and a valuable tool for raising awareness of the need to protect our most important resource. oekom.de
In an nutshell:
Bundestag: Committee of enquiry set up on nuclear phase-out. n-tv.de
New traffic light dispute: Habeck’s raw materials fund threatens to fail. handelsblatt.com
Agriculture: Climate change makes bumper harvests unlikely. wdr.de
Climate protection projects in China: Minister assumes environmental crime. zdf.de
Transformation: Germany’s largest solar park in operation near Leipzig. n-tv.de
Climate change: How peatlands can help with flood protection. tagesschau.de
Climate policy: Is brown the new green? spiegel.de
Green Deal with farmer discount: Denmark wants to protect the climate, promote nature conservation and limit the burden on farms with a pact. taz.de
High power requirements of AI: Google misses important climate target. apnews.com
False information: GM must pay 145 million for false emissions data. spiegel.de
Federal government gives go-ahead: A fast-charging network for e-trucks is to be set up on the motorways. But there aren’t even any power connections. golem.de
Stellantis: Affordable e-cars are key to fulfilling fleet regulations. Stellantis wants to make batteries cheaper with government research. heise.de
Tesla: Preliminary green light for expansion. rbb24.de
Bicycle production: Declining sales and demand, bicycle manufacturers have to cope with a shrinking market. The business with normal bikes in particular has collapsed. tagesschau.de
Deutsche Bahn’s eco-strategy: Hydrogen for the railways? tagesschau.de
Germany’s hydrogen future: European pipelines are key. agora-energiewende.de
Siemens and Boson Energy: Producing hydrogen from waste. euwid-energy.de
95 per cent sustainable is enough: Why „light green“ hydrogen is better. ingenieur.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:
Remodelling or ruin by China? – German carmakers will go bankrupt“
Climate protection played a subordinate role in the European elections, and expensive climate protection projects are also being criticised in the business world. However, Sabine Nallinger from the Climate Economy Foundation sees progress in the economy. Many companies realise that they must not let up in international competition, especially in the face of competition from China. Nallinger warns that some German car manufacturers are once again focussing on combustion engines, which she describes as a step backwards. She emphasises that Germany, as an export nation, must continue to focus on climate-friendly technologies in order to remain competitive.
Despite the parallel expansion of coal-fired power plants, China is focussing massively on renewable energies and dominates markets such as solar energy and electric vehicles. German companies must rise to this challenge and develop a clear vision. The transformation to a climate-neutral economy requires high levels of investment, and energy prices in Germany are a competitive disadvantage compared to the USA and China. Nallinger therefore calls for support for energy-intensive industries and emphasises the importance of regional proximity for innovations in the value chain. The discussion about measures such as CO2 border adjustment at EU level shows that solutions are being sought to ensure competitiveness. n-tv.de
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
What speaks against a speed limit? Nothing at all
by Frank Thomas Wenzel
In his commentary, he describes the issue of speed limits on motorways as very emotional. The optimum speed for the flow of traffic is 80 km/h, as at this speed the distances between cars are small and the harmony between different types of vehicles is best. Greater speed differences lead to chaotic traffic and increase the risk of accidents. There are no reliable studies on whether speed limits of 100 or 120 km/h reduce serious accidents, but neighbouring countries with speed limits, such as Switzerland, show a lower number of fatalities per kilometre of motorway driven.
The ADAC also recognises the climate effect of a speed limit and sees it as a contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions in traffic. A survey of ADAC members revealed that 55 per cent were in favour of a general speed limit. Environmental organisations and the police union also called for significant speed limits. It is remarkable that the ADAC, which once propagated „free travel for free citizens“, now recognises that fast driving has largely become a fiction due to overcrowded motorways and that the danger is growing exponentially with traffic density. It is stated that there is no longer any argument against a speed limit. the whole commentary is available at rnd.de
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
Draft law on the storage of CO2 abroad: The CDU/CSU parliamentary group wants to enable the export of carbon dioxide and has presented the „Draft CO2 Export Enabling Act“ (20/12084). The proposal calls on the German government to ratify the London Protocol, which allows the export of carbon dioxide and its storage under the seabed outside Germany. The ratification of the protocol should go hand in hand with the German government’s planned reform of the Carbon Dioxide Storage Act (KSpG) to enable the use of technologies for the capture, transport and permanent storage of carbon dioxide in deep geological layers (Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage, CCS) as well as Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU).
Sustainability in tourism is becoming increasingly important: Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in tourism, as the tourism director of Bad Hindelang, Maximilian Hillmeier, and Thomas Ellerbeck from the TUI Group emphasised to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Sustainable Development. Hillmeier presented Bad Hindelang’s habitat concept, which emphasises the values of the locals and integrates tourism. Important measures include visitor guidance by rangers and a sustainable mobility concept called EMMI-Mobil. The TUI Group takes a holistic approach to sustainability, with the aim of achieving significant emissions savings in its aircraft, cruise ships and hotels by 2030. Partnerships with local stakeholders, as the example of Rhodes shows, are crucial to this. Ellerbeck emphasised that sustainable tourism does not have to be more expensive and that future customers will increasingly prefer sustainable accommodation.more at bundestag.de
The car is still the number one way to travel on holiday: the car remains the dominant mode of transport for holiday trips, as Kerstin Hurek from ACE Auto Club Europa emphasised at a hearing of the Tourism Committee. Despite a growing awareness of sustainable travelling, sustainable mobility practices are not yet widespread. Last year, the car accounted for 58 per cent of trips with overnight stays, air travel made up 16 per cent and rail travel 19 per cent. The Deutschland-Ticket could make a significant contribution to the mobility transition and climate protection. Fast train connections are necessary for travelling to holiday regions, explained Jan Schilling from Deutsche Bahn, and a well-developed, easy-to-use public transport system is required locally. Michael Oppermann from the German Taxi and Rental Car Association emphasised the role of taxis as a flexible supplement to buses and trains and referred to the increasing use of electric vehicles. Roland Werner from Uber criticised the disadvantages of chauffeur-driven hire cars compared to taxis, such as higher VAT and the obligation to return. Stefan Lösel reported on the successful on-demand bus system in Ludwigslust-Parchim, which has increased passenger numbers by 45 per cent. Maximilian Hillmeier presented the „EMMI-MOBIL“ concept in Bad Hindelang, which offers electric minibuses for flexible and emission-free mobility. Georg Ehrmann from the Cruise Lines International Association explained the progress made in the decarbonisation of cruise ships through the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and called for the promotion of sustainable fuels. more at bundestag.de
What is the state of the Oder? Almost two years after the fish kill in the Oder, the condition of the river remains critical, according to a report by the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The golden algae that caused the fish kill in 2022 has continued to spread due to high solar radiation, increased water temperatures and low water discharge. Rainfall has recently eased the situation, but tributaries and lakes remain at risk. Conductivity and nitrate inputs in the Oder are still too high. There is concern about the Polish government’s planned expansion of the Oder, which harbours new dangers for the ecosystem. Poland is examining measures to reduce salt discharges, such as storage basins, but is not planning any desalination plants. Co-operation with Poland has improved and German authorities are now informed more quickly. Optimised warning and alarm plans and improved online monitoring contribute to a faster response. Measures to combat the golden algae, such as experiments with hydrogen peroxide, have so far shown little promise. more at bundestag.de
Access to clean water is essential: Access to clean water is central to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), experts emphasised at a meeting of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development. Sareen Malik from the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) explained that without water, health, education, energy, food and poverty reduction would not be possible. Alexia Knappmann from the WASH Network, an association of 29 German NGOs, warned that the development goals will fail if the water problem is not solved. She emphasised the need for political prioritisation of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), as these are the first line of defence against infections. Knappmann criticised the fact that funding for WASH has been cut for three years, even though Germany is the second largest bilateral donor in this sector. Women and girls should be given special consideration in the discussion on water access. Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, reaffirmed the priority of the issue for the German government and emphasised the particular importance of the water issue for the situation of women and girls. more at bundestag.de
TAKEN LITERALLY:
Doctors are trained to provide support and, at best, to heal. Of course, there is already prevention today – nutritional counselling, for example, or the family doctor who says: put the cigarettes aside. But that’s not the kind of prevention we actually need. We need a living environment for people that is health-promoting overall, i.e. where they live, where they work, where they play, where they learn. We need to look there and ask: Is the air good? Is the food on the plates healthy? How is the quality of the drinking water?
Maike Voss, Director of the Centre for Planetary Health Policy, global temperature records are steadily rising and greenhouse gas emissions are at record levels. This has significant health implications, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and the homeless. Europe is heating up the fastest and heat is the biggest climate change-related health risk in Germany. Countries such as France and Italy have effective heat action plans, while Germany is still inadequately prepared. The National Heat Action Day and similar initiatives are important to raise awareness of the links between climate change, the environment and health. Urban planning and environmentally friendly living environments play a central role in promoting health. A ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favour of the Swiss climate seniors emphasised the state’s duty to avert health risks. It shows that the right to a healthy environment is enforceable. A comprehensive and systematic approach is required to combat climate, environmental and health crises. Preventive measures and the improvement of living environments could reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of life. Health promotion and prevention must go beyond doctors‘ surgeries and be anchored in schools, communities and companies. A sustainable diet based mainly on plant-based products could improve both people’s health and environmental protection. The whole interview at greenpeace-magazin.de
AFRICA:
Africa’s women are fed up with patriarchy and want to save the climate: Cécile Ndjebet has always been eloquent. As a child of simple farmers in a small village in Cameroon, she grew up with the firm intention of defending her mother’s rights. She said to her mother: „You work too much and fight too much, that’s not good. When I grow up, I will defend your rights.“ Her mother did not take Cécile’s promise to learn agricultural techniques and return with modern equipment to make the hard work in the forest easier seriously at the time. „Oh, I won’t be alive by then,“ she replied. But Cécile kept her promise. As the only one of 14 children, she managed to achieve her goals with the support of her older sister and her husband, a Catholic teacher. Today she campaigns for women’s rights and the protection of intact forests. derstandard.at
Digital dirty work „Until I couldn’t take it anymore“: Violence, hatred, abuse: tech companies employ hundreds of people in Africa to filter out criminal content. The work is extremely stressful. Here, two of them explain how the job threw them off course. spiegel.de
Number of protests in Africa on the rise: The number of protests and unrest in Africa has risen significantly in recent years. Last week, there were violent protests in Kenya against a tax reform in which at least 30 people died and several hundred were injured. However, this increase in protests is not limited to Kenya, but can be seen across the continent. According to data from the NGO Acled, the number of protests has increased significantly since 2019, and even the coronavirus pandemic has not been able to slow this trend down. There have been particularly large numbers of protests in South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria, while countries such as Uganda, Mauritania and Malawi are also considered protest hotspots in terms of population size. The main cause of the protests is dissatisfaction with the economic situation, which has deteriorated in many parts of Africa. Rising food prices due to the war in Ukraine and limited opportunities for social advancement are fuelling the frustration of the population, especially the younger generation. Two developments have also facilitated the protests: the widespread use of mobile phones is making mobilisation easier, and increasing urbanisation is reducing the distance to the centres of power and places of protest. These trends are likely to continue to lead to more and more people expressing their discontent publicly. orf.de
Protests in Kenya – further into the debt trap: Protests against the government and President Ruto in particular continue in Kenya. The demonstrators are angry about high taxes, corruption and the influence of international donors such as the IMF. Ruto’s policies are exacerbating the country’s debt crisis, although he claims to have improved the economy. The cost of living has risen due to inflation caused by the war in Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic. Many citizens, especially the poorer ones, feel cheated by the tax reforms, which provide for higher levies on income, social benefits and basic foodstuffs. Particularly galling is a planned tax on menstrual products, which is perceived as a broken election promise. Kenya’s debt burden is enormous, with much of the tax revenue being used to pay off debt. This leads to discontent as citizens see no visible return for the high taxes. The protests are also directed against the corruption that plagues the country, with many calling for a reduction in government spending rather than further tax increases. Given the widespread dissatisfaction and demands for more sovereignty, the protests are expected to continue. tagesschau.de
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
All-rounder tree: What exactly are trees? In biological terms, they are long-lived plants with a woody trunk and branches that can grow particularly tall. But trees are much more than that – they are essential for our survival. They provide numerous ecosystem services, which are defined as „direct or indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being“. As fruit trees, they provide us with food: apples, avocados, dates, nuts, olives, citrus fruits and many other varieties. Without wood, mankind would probably not have achieved the progress we know today. Trees are also crucial allies in the fight against the climate crisis. dw.com
The air is getting better: where climate-damaging CO2 emissions are reduced, air quality also improves – and with it our health. Scientists at the University of Hamburg have analysed the impact of the European Emissions Trading System and come to the conclusion that it has significant health benefits. „European climate protection reduces CO2 and thus avoids climate damage,“ explained Moritz Drupp, an economist specialising in sustainability economics who worked on the study. „At the same time, emissions trading offers us significant health benefits here and now.“ He hopes that this will increase acceptance of climate policy. taz.de
Displaced by the climate: It is difficult to clearly attribute migration to climate change, as several factors influence mobility. The exact number of people who will leave their homes due to climate change is difficult to predict, but is expected to rise. According to the UNHCR, more than 116 million people worldwide were on the run in 2023 – from violence, war, but increasingly also as a result of climate extremes, rising sea levels and distribution struggles caused by water shortages, for example. International refugee law currently does not recognise any right to protection for climate refugees, and it is unclear whether the principle of non-refoulement also applies to climate migrants. Legal claims for victims of climate change against the main perpetrators may be derivable, but are difficult to enforce. Binding obligations to support adaptation to climate change, especially in the metropolises of the Global South, are necessary, as these will foreseeably be the main destinations of climate migration. International law and migration research show how migration as a consequence of climate change could be dealt with. mpg.de
CALENDAR:
GLF Africa 2024
When: 17 September 2024
Where: Nairobi, Kenya, and onlineFurther 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
International Peat Congress
When: 4-9 August 2024
Where: Taizhou, Zhejiang, ChinaFurther 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“.Summit of the future
When: 22-24 September 2024
Where: UN Headquarters, New York, NY, United StatesMore 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 onlineMore 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, ColombiaFurther 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, AzerbaijanFurther 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.Session of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP16)
When: 2-13 December
Where: Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaFurther 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:
Landline telephones increasingly unimportant
Landline telephones are becoming less and less important – and this doesn’t seem to surprise anyone. A survey by the comparison portal Verivox has shown that only 16.1 per cent of landline users pick up the phone every day, a fall of 2.6 percentage points compared to the previous year. A full 30 per cent of respondents aged between 18 and 79 no longer use their landline telephone at all. It is particularly interesting to note that one in five respondents with a landline does not even know their telephone number by heart. The Federal Network Agency confirmed this trend: last year, 20 per cent fewer call minutes were made from landline phones in Germany than in 2022. The reason? Apparently, people are increasingly using their mobile phones – even at home. Marc Albers from Vodafone Germany explains that voice telephony is increasingly included in mobile phone tariffs at no extra cost and that mobile phone signals are reaching more and more homes thanks to advanced expansion. In addition, data services such as WhatsApp and the like are becoming increasingly popular for phone calls. Fittingly, on Friday the Federal Council discussed letter post, another means of communication on the decline. A reform of the outdated Postal Act of 1997 was passed, including the abolition of next-day delivery from 2025. Ah, the good old days of landline telephones and letters – who still needs them in our modern world? heise.de
The FAIReconomics newsletter is taking a summer break – we’ll be back on 2 September 2024
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