to the German edition

Robert Habeck’s astonishing U-turn on the Supply Chain Act: „Fire up the chainsaw and cut the whole thing down“ were the words of Economics Minister Robert Habeck, who is calling for a radical simplification of the Supply Chain Act and other reporting obligations that he sees as a hindrance to the competitiveness of the German economy. Instead of complex reporting, more emphasis should be placed on companies‘ own responsibility. Habeck proposes establishing clear rules but only penalising companies in the event of non-compliance instead of overburdening them with bureaucracy. He criticises the fact that well-intentioned regulations such as sustainability reporting have taken a „completely wrong turn“ and calls for a fundamental reform to reduce the burden on companies. Of course, this does not go unchallenged – there are rumblings about this, particularly within the minister’s own ranks. „The Minister for Economic Affairs does not represent the position of Alliance 90/The Greens or the Green Group in the European Parliament at this point,“ said Green politician Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection in the EU Parliament. Cavazzini had been a key campaigner for the supply chain law. tagesspiegel.de, spiegel.de (Cavazzini )

EU punitive tariffs on electric cars from China: The EU member states have spoken out in favour of tariffs on Chinese electric cars to protect the domestic car industry from price dumping – against Germany’s will. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposed the tariffs, but was outvoted. The tariffs could amount to up to 36 per cent and apply for five years from November. Germany fears negative consequences for its automotive industry and possible retaliatory measures from China. While some EU states support the tariffs, German industry associations and Scholz are calling for negotiations with China to avoid a trade war, a decision that could have a significant impact on consumers in Europe. The introduction of tariffs on Chinese electric cars is likely to lead to a price increase for these vehicles. This could affect the affordability of electric cars for European consumers and possibly slow down the transition to more environmentally friendly vehicles. At the same time, it could strengthen the competitiveness of European car manufacturers and lead to a wider choice of locally produced electric vehicles. However, there is also a risk that China could respond with retaliatory measures, which in turn could have negative consequences for other economic sectors in Europe and ultimately put a strain on consumers. rnd.de , tagesschau.de, n-tv.de

By an impressive 73.4 per cent

the import prices for cocoa rose in January 2024 compared to the same month last year. The climate crisis is a key factor in the drastic rise in cocoa prices. Kerstin Weber from WWF Germany explains that extreme weather events such as droughts, heavy rainfall and flooding lead to lower yields, poorer quality and even complete crop failures, which drives up prices. Scientists have been warning for years of a possible collapse in cocoa production due to climate change, which renders agricultural land unusable and favours new plant diseases. Cocoa cultivation, which originated in South America, now takes place in tropical areas of Africa, Central and South America and Asia. More than five million small farmers worldwide cultivate cocoa, with over 60 per cent of the global harvest coming from West Africa. These developments affect all cocoa-growing regions and have a far-reaching impact on global cocoa production and supply. wwf.de

DIHK and VKU believe that the EU’s climate targets are too ambitious for Europe and Germany: A study by DIHK and VKU shows that the EU is likely to miss its climate targets for 2030, a 55 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions. Germany in particular, as the largest emitter, has difficulties meeting the targets. This also jeopardises the 2040 target. Technological and economic hurdles as well as a lack of investment are hindering progress. The study calls for a focus on achieving the 2030 targets instead of tightening targets that are further away. Technological innovations such as CO₂ storage and green hydrogen are crucial, but require considerable investment. fair-economics.com

Climate sceptics remain in the minority – despite the shift to the right: Despite the rise of right-wing populist parties such as the AfD in Germany and the FPÖ in Austria, the majority of people in Europe remain positive about climate protection. Surveys show that less than 20 per cent of the population deny the man-made climate crisis. However, interest in climate protection issues has declined as issues such as inflation, migration and the high cost of living take centre stage. While climate sceptics are achieving electoral success, general attitudes towards climate change are stable. However, it is dangerous for climate policy if democratic parties give in to populist positions in order to win over voters. spiegel.de

More and more renewables: In the first nine months of 2024, around 56 per cent of electricity consumption in Germany was covered by renewable energies – a significant increase compared to the same period last year, when the share was 52 per cent. Wind power and solar energy in particular contributed to this growth, while electricity from conventional energy sources such as coal and gas fell by 10.5 per cent. According to experts, however, the expansion of electricity grids and storage capacities remains a challenge in order to optimise the use of irregular electricity production from solar and wind power. Despite the progress made, Germany lags behind countries such as Denmark and Norway in Europe, which are already on the way to complete decarbonisation. rnd.de

Hurricanes cause more deaths than previously thought: A new study shows that hurricanes claim far more lives than previously assumed. The effects can be felt up to 14 years after the event, with a single storm causing an average of 7,170 to 11,430 additional deaths – significantly more than the 24 direct victims officially recorded. Children are particularly affected, with 25% of deaths in children under the age of one associated with hurricanes. Climate change is exacerbating the problem, as an increase in tropical cyclones has been recorded since 2001. These findings emphasise the need to take greater account of the long-term consequences of cyclones and to develop appropriate measures. tagesschau.de

BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:

Landschaften

What they tell us about species extinction and climate change

With his latest work „Landscapes – What they tell us about species extinction and climate change“, Thomas Kausch presents a book that could not be more topical. In the face of advancing climate change and the dramatic extinction of species, two crises that are inextricably linked, the author takes the reader on a fascinating yet sobering journey through a model region on the Middle Weser. In 204 pages, Kausch sheds light on how landscapes have been shaped by human activity and, in turn, have influenced our civilisation. Kausch succeeds in making the complex link between climate change, species extinction and human influence tangible without getting lost in technical jargon. The numerous photos and maps, which illustrate the changes in the landscape and enable the reader to understand these developments with their own eyes, are particularly successful. This visual presentation makes the sometimes abstract topics accessible and raises awareness of the urgency of a more responsible approach to nature.A central merit of the book is that it not only confronts the reader with facts and figures on species extinction and climate change, but also shows local effects and thus raises questions that affect everyone personally: What consequences will this have on my immediate living environment? And how can I react as an individual? Kausch makes a convincing case that landscapes are not just passive victims of climate change, but a reflection of our own actions and their long-term influence. This perspective raises awareness of the historical, ecological and social contexts that are often neglected in public discourse. One minor criticism could be that the book focuses heavily on the Mittelweser model region, which readers from other regions may find limiting. However, it is precisely this regional focus that enables Kausch to make the global problems tangible and concrete. oekom.de

In a nutshell:

Hamburg sustainability Conference begins on Monday: around 1600 participants from 102 countries will discuss a wide range of future issues in more than 60 sessions. sustainable-conference.org
Renewable energies: The green job boom benefits China in particular. spiegel.de
EU Commission: Wants to postpone deforestation regulation. logistics-today.com
Global biodiversity: financing at the centre of COP16 talks on global biodiversity. euractiv.de
Meteorologist alarmed: Germany at risk of ruin from floods and extreme heat. fr.de 
Climate change in Germany: Impact on the construction industry. haus.de
Swiss Alps: Glaciers continue to melt despite lots of snow. tagesschau.de
Gas consumption: Industry, especially in Asia, needs more and more gas. Uncertainties regarding Russian gas transit and bottlenecks in shipping could make supply even more difficult, warns the IEA energy agency. n-tv.de
Construction companies vs. climate: A few large construction companies benefit particularly from road construction. klimareporter.de

Electric cars: Federal Cartel Office sees anti-competitive charging infrastructure. heise.de
France: Parking in Paris significantly more expensive for heavy cars as of today. deutschlandfunk.de
Car association: Return to the combustion engine is the „wrong question. handelsblatt.com
E-car-turnaround in Europe: New competitors are chasing business away from European car manufacturers and their suppliers. The Europeans‘ global market share could fall from 60 to 45 per cent. That’s around 400 billion dollars in added value. spiegel.de
Berlin: Bolt, Uber & Co. offer journeys from „ghost companies“. rbb.de
Transport policy wake-up call: Germany ticket funding and investment in local public transport: the Association of Cities and Towns issues a warning to the federal government’s transport policy. stadtvonmorgen.de
Pilot projects for lorries not a success: The end of overhead lines for lorries. taz.de

Green hydrogen: Series production of electrolysis technology launched in Hamburg. tagesschau.de
Green hydrogen II: Germany’s beacon of hope from Angola. faz.net
Carrier for hydrogen: Ammonia import terminal inaugurated in Brunsbüttel. ndr.de
Green hydrogen III: Europe’s pioneering role at risk. bcg.com
H2production at sea: Offshore hydrogen production could save Germany billions.mdr.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:

Do we need „human conservation areas“ rather than nature reserves in future?

Ulrich Burchardt, Lord Mayor of Constance, argues that nature conservation should actually be about protecting people, as we are part of nature. In his book Menschenschutzgebiet, he emphasises the role of cities as the key to a liveable and climate-neutral future. He calls for cities not to be seen as opponents of nature, but as an integral part of it. In the podcast, Burchardt explains which measures have already been implemented in Constance and how important the commitment of citizens is for climate and environmental protection. derstandard.at

COMMENT OF THE WEEK:

The preservation of nature must be prioritised in politics

from Georg Ehring

LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:

Expansion of geothermal energy to be accelerated: The German government is planning to speed up the approval process for geothermal plants, heat pumps and heat storage systems in order to better utilise the potential of these technologies for climate protection. The draft law aims to halve the duration of procedures through digitalisation, shortened official deadlines and reduced approval requirements. Geothermal energy plays a key role here, as it is a climate-neutral source of energy that is available all year round. However, less than two per cent of heat in Germany is currently generated from geothermal energy and expansion is progressing too slowly. At least 100 new geothermal projects are to be initiated by 2030 in order to significantly increase the share of renewable energies in the heat supply and achieve the climate targets. (20/13092)

KfW Development Bank was involved in 67 impact funds last year At the end of 2023, KfW Development Bank was involved in a total of 67 impact funds on behalf of the German government. This is according to an answer (20/12903) from the Federal Government to a minor interpellation by the Left Party group (20/12527). Of these, KfW was involved in 58 with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in three funds with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and in six exclusively with its own funds. With the help of KfW’s budgetary investments in impact funds, it has been possible to leverage around seven billion euros in capital to date, writes the German government. The impact funds have been able to provide financing to more than 1,200 companies and financial institutions in 109 different countries worldwide. According to the response, KfW Entwicklungsbank does not generate any profits from fiduciary budget investments. KfW receives coverage of its costs; income from fiduciary investments is „transferred directly to the federal treasury“. Funds that invest in fossil fuel projects are not financed by KfW Entwicklungsbank. According to the German government, the BMZ „currently excludes projects in the fossil energy sector as a matter of principle“. These include, in particular, projects for the exploration, extraction and processing of fossil fuels. As far as it is aware, no human rights violations have been documented in any of the funds supported by KfW Entwicklungsbank. In its question, the Die Linke group had focussed on profits made by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) through investments in so-called impact funds in countries of the Global South, which are aimed at „social commitment with a return“.

Union asks about the obligations of the Energy Efficiency Act: The CDU/CSU parliamentary group has submitted a catalogue of 62 questions to the Federal Government as a minor interpellation (20/12945) on the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Act. Among other things, it asks what annual increase in energy efficiency the Federal Government expects as a result of the Act, which was passed in 2023, what part it will play on the path to German climate neutrality and how the Act will be evaluated. The question also asks about support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The questioner also wants to know whether an energy audit must be certified for companies with a total energy consumption of 2.77 gigawatt hours (GWh) within the last three years.

TAKEN LITERALLY:

„I think this story about the complexity of climate protection is wrong-headed. To understand the social problem, all you really have to do is accept that, firstly, climate change exists, secondly, that it is man-made and, thirdly, that climate change comes from burning fossil fuels. That’s all you need to understand to take action.“

Sarah Kessler, sociologist at the Institute for Social Change and Sustainability at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, believes that it is still a major problem that climate change is treated too abstractly in many areas. Access to this topic requires abstract knowledge, which is, however, distributed differently in society. In the last 80 years, in the course of the economic miracle and the expansion of education in Germany, certain forms of knowledge have been valorised and others devalued. Tangible knowledge, i.e. local craftsmanship and haptics, has been strongly devalued, while scientific knowledge and academia have been valorised. The person sees this as a connection as to why certain groups have difficulties dealing with the climate issue, while other groups take things for granted that others do not. People sometimes speak in different languages or use different standards. The person sees this as a chicken-and-egg problem and asks whether the devaluation of other forms of knowledge has led to people resigning and turning to so-called alternative truths. He also questions whether the delegation of the sustainability issue to science has contributed to the alienation of science and the population. The problem of understanding climate change has many layers. In principle, the person agrees with the consensus that there is not a lack of detailed scientific knowledge, but rather a lack of its translation into concrete action. It is a misconception to think that scientific knowledge automatically triggers the kind of activity that is hoped for in dealing with climate change. This activity can only come at the end of a political and social negotiation process, which the person believes is urgently needed.

fr.de

AFRICA:

Election campaign in Botswana: Former President Ian Khama is shaking up Botswana’s election campaign, stability is at stake. President Masisi actually wants to be re-elected. taz.de
Africa and Europe focus on the Trans-Sahara Pipeline: negotiations accelerate. africa-live.de
The youth perspective – Feminist and youth movements in Africa: Vivian Ouya reports from the scene of youth and feminist movements. She describes their origins, the hurdles they have to overcome and their potential for the continent’s further development. bpb.de
How a Ugandan activist is fighting the climate crisis: Nakamya Judith no longer wanted to just watch her world disintegrate due to climate change. The 20-year-old is fighting for more climate protection in her home country of Uganda, derstandard.at
DR Congo: Gold mining town is considered the epicentre of the Mpox epidemic in Africa. aerzteblatt.de
Ethiopia and Egypt: Rivalry in the Horn of Africa. freitag.de
Kenya: Members of the Kenyan parliament have initiated proceedings to impeach the deputy president. Campaigners accuse Rigathi Gachagua of a role in anti-government demonstrations in June that turned deadly, as well as involvement in corruption, undermining the government and promoting ethnically divisive politics. The deputy president has denied the allegations. This is the culmination of a major dispute between Gachagua and President William Ruto. bbc.com

MORE KNOWLEDGE:

How a professor buries wood to save the climate: atmospheric researcher Ning Zeng from the University of Maryland has discovered a well-preserved cedar trunk in Quebec that is almost 4,000 years old. This discovery inspired him to develop a new method in the fight against climate change: burying trees to permanently bind the CO₂ stored in them from the atmosphere. Zeng suggests storing non-commercially utilised wood that has become unusable due to fires or disease, for example, in clay soils. This prevents the wood from decomposing due to its low permeability. Zeng is now working on recreating these conditions in order to reduce the greenhouse effect. welt.de

Why the forest will fail as a climate protector: The current Federal Forest Inventory shows that the German forest has lost its role as a carbon sink due to climate change and intensive forestry and has even been emitting greenhouse gases since 2017. The forest, which was once planned as a climate protector, can no longer achieve the expected climate targets. In particular, the death of coniferous forests such as spruce and pine has meant that forests are no longer able to bind CO₂ to a sufficient extent. Experts such as Pierre Ibisch and WWF expert Susanne Winter emphasise that forest conversion to climate-stable deciduous forests urgently needs to be accelerated. Nevertheless, ecological conversion is stagnating and economic interests continue to dominate forestry. The results increase the pressure on the federal government to present a strong federal forest law to create binding guidelines for more climate protection in the forest, but the coalition peace makes stricter regulations difficult.
spektrum.de

CALENDAR:

Hearing on the amendment of the Energy Services Act

Time: Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, meeting room E.800
The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast on www.bundestag.de.

„Amendment of the Energy Services and Other Efficiency Measures Act, amendment of the Energy Efficiency Act and amendment of the Energy Consumption Labelling Act“ is the title of a public hearing to be held by the Committee on Climate Protection and Energy on Wednesday, 9 October 2024. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. and last around two hours. A draft bill has been submitted by the Federal Government (20/11852).

The meeting will be broadcast live on parliamentary television and online at www.bundestag.de.

The 33-member committee is responsible for all aspects of the energy transition and the associated climate protection issues, as well as the topic of energy saving. Energy consultations focus on new regulations under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), grid expansion and energy efficiency. (24.09.2024)

Hearing on the potential of nature-based tourism

Time: Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 3 to 4.15 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul Löbe Building, meeting room 4.600
The meeting is open to the public.

TThe main topics of the hearing:

• How can conflicts of interest between tourism and nature conservation be minimised?
• What opportunities does digitalisation offer for visitor guidance?
• The role of integrative trail management, digital visitor guidance, route planning and knowledge transfer in a responsible and contemporary experience of nature
• The potential of cycling and hiking sports and their expansion options
• Framework conditions for the expansion of sustainable, nature-friendly and digital infrastructures, especially for cycle tourism
• How can the international marketing of nature-based offers be improved?

Interested visitors can register with the secretariat of the Tourism Committee (e-mail: tourismusausschuss@bundestag.de) by 4 October 2024, stating their first name, surname and date of birth.

Consultation on the introduction of sustainability reporting

Time: Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, meeting room 2.600
The meeting is open to the public.

draft law 

2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference

When: 21 October- 1. November 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: 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 Fund for Loss and Damage.
In November, heads of state and government and delegates from around 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 December
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
More 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:

Why the coronavirus pandemic has led to cooler temperatures on the moon:

Scientists from India have discovered that the global corona lockdown in 2020 led to cooler night-time temperatures on the near-Earth side of the moon. The reduced pollution and heat emission from the Earth was reflected on the moon. Researchers now see the moon as a kind of cosmic thermometer that provides valuable data on the Earth’s radiation budget. This possibility was already being discussed in 2017, but the pandemic has now confirmed the connection.
t3n.de

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All images, unless otherwise stated: pixabay.com

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