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Forests are emitting more carbon – The state of the German forest is this bad: The latest national forest inventory paints a worrying picture of the German forest. Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir presented the results, which show that the forest has lost its role as a carbon sink and has instead become a source of carbon. Since 2017, the forest has lost 41.5 million tonnes of carbon, mainly due to climate damage such as storms, droughts and pest infestations, with spruce stands particularly affected, which have declined sharply since 2018. Despite a slight increase in forest area of 15,000 hectares since 2012, the loss of biomass exceeds the increase. This has serious implications for Germany’s climate targets, as forests are no longer contributing to CO2 reduction as expected, while the progressive conversion to more resilient mixed forests and the increase in deadwood, which promotes biodiversity, is a positive development. Nevertheless, experts such as Martin Häusling emphasise the need to focus more on forest protection and conservation, and the results underline the urgent need for measures to protect and regenerate forests in order to restore their important role in climate protection. zdf.de, fair-economics.de , mdr.de, natur.de

Water in a heated world – report presented: The new report „Water in a heated world“ by the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) sheds light on the complex causes of the global water crisis. In addition to climate change, industrial agriculture, urbanisation, inequitable distribution and pollution are identified as the main factors. The report shows that 2.2 billion people do not have safe access to clean drinking water and half of the world’s population suffers from severe water shortages at times. The high water consumption of agriculture, which uses around three quarters of the world’s fresh water and often leads to the overuse of groundwater resources, is seen as particularly critical. As a solution, the WBGU proposes socially balanced and climate-resilient water management that also pays more attention to the previously neglected „green water“ underground. One innovative proposal is to retrain farmers to become „green water managers“ in order to conserve water in the landscape and renaturalise drained sites. The report emphasises the need for a holistic approach to overcoming future water crises. klimareporter.de, wbgu.de (Expertise)

733 million people worldwide are affected by famine

According to a recent study by Welthungerhilfe, the global fight against hunger is making little progress. At the presentation of the latest Global Hunger Index (GHI) in Berlin, the organisation revealed that 733 million people worldwide are still affected by hunger. The situation is particularly critical in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where hunger rates are highest. Marlehn Thieme, President of Welthungerhilfe, expressed her concern: „It is unacceptable that the international community is not sufficiently fulfilling its promise to end hunger.“ She emphasised the immediate and serious impact of global crises on the food situation of families and warned of the increasing exhaustion of their ability to cope with ever new challenges. n-tv.de

How climate change is forcing its way into the US election campaign: Two devastating hurricanes have unexpectedly put climate policy at the centre of the US election campaign. Originally, both the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates had planned to keep the issue of climate out of their campaigns. However, the recent extreme weather events that have caused billions in damage and claimed lives make this impossible. Climate change has been proven to intensify the effects of these storms, as illustrated by the example of Hurricane Helene, which brought up to 50 per cent more rain due to the heated atmosphere. The election campaign teams were not prepared for this development and initially reacted inadequately. It was only after protests from climate activists that the issue was put on the agenda at a debate between the vice candidates. Attempts to conduct politics without taking the climate crisis into account are increasingly seen as unrealistic and the issue could become a central aspect of US politics, even if the candidates originally wanted to avoid this. taz.de

German Arctic guidelines published: Changes in the Arctic have global consequences that have a direct impact on Germany. The rapid warming of this region is influencing our weather and contributing to rising sea levels. At the same time, the geo-economic environment is changing, as the thawing of the sea ice makes new shipping routes navigable and raw materials more accessible. However, the biggest change in the Arctic has resulted from the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The new Arctic Guidelines therefore emphasise that the security significance of the region has increased significantly and that the consequences of the war are making cooperation against the climate crisis more difficult. Against this backdrop, the Arctic Guidelines published in 2019 were updated. Environmental and climate protection and sustainable development remained key issues, but security policy in particular became a central topic. fair-economics.de

WWF report on wild animals: The WWF report „Living Planet Report 2024“ shows an alarming decline in wild animal populations worldwide. According to the study, the populations of over 5,500 vertebrate species examined have shrunk by an average of 73 per cent over the last 50 years. Freshwater ecosystems are particularly affected, with a decline of 85 per cent, followed by terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Geographically, Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing the greatest decline at 95 per cent. The WWF blames humans for this species extinction and warns that ecological tipping points are being crossed. Kathrin Samson from WWF emphasises that the destruction of habitats, environmental pollution and the climate crisis are threatening many species. Examples of severely affected species include the Atlantic cod and Amazon river dolphins. There have been positive developments in the bison and mountain gorillas. The report emphasises the urgency of measures to protect biodiversity and combat climate change over the next five years in order to prevent irreversible damage. faz.net

Energy consumption for heating in German apartment buildings fell significantly in 2023: final energy consumption fell by around 9% compared to 2021, adjusted for weather effects. This represents the lowest heating energy consumption since surveys began in 2011. Despite the lower consumption, however, greenhouse gas emissions remained high. This is due to changes in the transport of fossil fuels, in particular the increase in liquefied natural gas imports instead of pipeline gas. An average of 3 tonnes of CO2 were emitted per home in 2023, with 1.92 tonnes coming from heating and hot water and 1.1 tonnes from household electricity.fossil fuels continue to dominate heat generation, with around 90% of multi-family homes using fossil fuels. Gas remains the most common energy source, while the share of heating oil has fallen from 16% in 2013 to just nine per cent in 2023. The study is based on data from 1.2 million homes in around 110,000 apartment blocks and shows that the significant decline in heating energy consumption is closely linked to the massive price increases since the start of the war in Ukraine. wiwo.de

BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:

Müll

Eine schmutzige Geschichte der Menschheit.

Roman Köster’s book offers a fascinating and unconventional look at human history through the lens of waste. In this unique global history of waste, the author succeeds in focusing on an often overlooked but ubiquitous topic, providing profound insights into the development of human civilisations. Köster skilfully guides the reader from the beginnings of the Neanderthal era to the present day, showing how our relationship with waste has changed over the millennia.

Particularly impressive is the way in which he links the problem of waste to wider historical developments, from the settling of people to industrialisation to the global environmental crisis of the present day.The strength of the book lies in its ability to place a seemingly banal topic in a broader cultural and social context. Köster convincingly demonstrates how the handling of waste has not only practical but also profound social, hygienic and ecological implications.Although the subject may seem unattractive at first glance, the author succeeds in making his „dirty history“ captivating and informative. The development from a local nuisance to a global environmental problem is presented in a vivid and comprehensible way.Overall, „A Dirty History of Mankind“ offers a refreshing new perspective on the development of our civilisation.

It is a thought-provoking book that invites the reader to look at the world around them with different eyes. For anyone interested in history, the environment and the often overlooked aspects of human culture, this book is an absolute recommendation. chbeck.de

In a Nutshell:

Federal Cabinet: Adopts new rules on the disposal of electrical appliances. zdf.de
Another cancellation: This is why King Charles III. will not be at the climate conference. t-online.de
United Nations: Saudi Arabia fails to make it onto the UN Human Rights Council. sueddeutsche.de
Scrap ship dumped in India: Rendsburg shipowner in court. ndr.de
Protest in Grünheide: Squatters block construction site for Tesla railway. n-tv.de
Ecuador: When hydroelectric power dries up. rnd.de
EU – development aid: The EU runs the risk of misusing its development aid for its commercial and geopolitical interests. euractiv.de
An area larger than Italy: Australia quadruples marine protected area in the Subantarctic. rnd.de
Water balance goes crazy: Too dry and too wet? The Earth’s contradictory climate problem. focus.de
LNG has always been considered the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel: a new study shows that its carbon footprint is larger than that of coal. daswetter.com
Land developmentby burning; „Here in Brazil there is something like climate terrorism“. n-tv.de
Impact on native nature: Oriental hornet detected in Germany for the first time. merkur.de

Combined ticket: FlixTrain expands regional connections . tagesschau.de
Planned increase in track access charges: Federal states fear weakening of regional transport. golem.de
Control of Deutsche Bahn: Federal Audit Office criticises Wissing’s rail policy. faz.net
Dilapidated roads and railways, dilapidated bridges: Ministers want billions to restart infrastructure. wiwo.de
Transport policy: Why local authorities are removing car parks. deutschlandfunk.de
ZEW Study: Citizens favour speed limit and reject ban on combustion engines. springerprofessional.de

Wind power and hydrogen: the Elbe-Weser triangle becomes a pioneer. nordsee-zeitung.de
Setback for hydrogen pipeline from Denmark: The start of the planned hydrogen pipeline from Denmark to Germany will probably be delayed by at least three years. spiegel.de
German gas network is ready for hydrogen: The distribution network operators in the gas industry are preparing for hydrogen. Feed-in is set to begin in 2030. vdi-nachrichten.de
Gas heating phase-out without conversion: experts warn of critical error in thinking. futurzone.de
Industry has to deal with an uncomfortable issue: the possible cancellation of Thyssen-Krupp’s major hydrogen project raises a question that Germany can no longer ignore: Which industry is still fit for the future? handelsblatt.com

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:

„The earth is actually sick“

The first „Planetary Healthcheck“ delivers worrying results: Our Earth is sick. Climate physicist Levke Caesar, one of the main authors of the report, explains the dramatic situation in an interview: „We are massively disrupting the Earth’s immune system,“ warns Caesar. The health check, based on the concept of „planetary boundaries“, shows that six out of nine of these boundaries have already been exceeded. Climate change is just one of several serious problems, and the state of biodiversity is particularly alarming. Caesar emphasises the far-reaching consequences for our habitat and warns of possible tipping points in the earth system, but the report is not only intended to highlight problems, but also to offer solutions. Concrete options for action are presented for decision-makers and companies. With the annual „Planetary Healthcheck“, the scientists hope to have established an effective instrument for monitoring and improving planetary health. tagesspiegel.de

COMMENT OF THE WEEK:

Ex-heroine puts herself on the sidelines

From climate icon to enemy of Israel: Greta Thunberg’s dramatic rise and fall from grace

Alexander Jungkunz’s commentary takes a critical look at the career of climate activist Greta Thunberg. It describes her remarkable rise from a lone protester outside the Swedish parliament to a global icon of the climate movement. Thunberg polarised from the start and was both hyped and hated. Her spectacular appearances, such as her speech to the United Nations, made her a political force to be reckoned with and almost a pop star. However, the author sees it as a positive thing that she did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, as this would have increased the pressure on the young activist even further. Jungkunz considers the decisive turning point in Thunberg’s activism to be after the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Since then, she has hardly spoken about climate issues, concentrating instead on criticising Israel. Her participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin and her statements afterwards are sharply criticised by the author. He sees this as a „fall“ on Thunberg’s part and accuses her of „surfing“ on a popular but problematic topic among young people: a one-sided, often anti-Semitic hostility towards Israel. The commentary ends with an allusion to Thunberg’s famous speech, with the author calling out to her: „How dare you“.

You can read the whole commentary here: nn.de

LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:

CDU/CSU wants clarification of climate certificate fraud: The CDU/CSU parliamentary group is calling for a „complete“ clarification of the alleged fraud with climate protection projects and the cancellation of wrongly issued climate certificates in a motion (20/13223), which will be on the Bundestag’s agenda for the first time on Thursday evening. Specifically, the MPs demand, among other things, that every eligible upstream emission reduction (UER) project that has not yet been cancelled by the Federal Environment Agency should be checked by an external inspection body before being counted towards the GHG quota. In addition, the responsible environmental committee of the Bundestag is to be „regularly and comprehensively informed about the status of the investigations“. In a report to be submitted by November 2024, the Federal Government must also explain why and in which cases the requirements of the „Ordinance on the Offsetting of Upstream Emission Reductions against the Greenhouse Gas Quota“ (UERV) were not applied by the Federal Environment Ministry and the responsible authorities, the motion states. The report should also list the exact reasons for the reversal of the eight UER projects that have been scrutinised to date. In a second report, the Federal Ministry of Finance should also explain the extent to which the biofuel quota office of the main customs office has fulfilled its control obligations. The MPs also want the Federal Government to explain whether it will set up a compensation mechanism for the CO2 savings that have not materialised as a result of the fraud. Further demands relate to the review of compensation obligations and the cancellation of incorrect offsetting in the area of biofuels.

No transitional periods for animal husbandry labels: There are no plans to extend the transitional periods for labelling fresh pork provided for in the Animal Husbandry Labelling Act (TierHaltKennzG). This is stated in the Federal Government’s answer (20/12946) to a minor interpellation (20/12666) from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. The transitional provisions provided for in the TierHaltKennzG, which can be implemented by 1 August 2025, were made with the aim of practicable implementation and after weighing up the interests of the stakeholders concerned, the answer states. With the announced amendment to the TierHaltKennzG, mandatory labelling is also to be extended to out-of-home catering and certain processed foods. The draft is currently being examined by the government, „which is why no information can yet be provided on the detailed issues raised here“, the response states.

Fertiliser Act to be referred to the Conciliation Committee: The Federal Government has announced in a briefing (20/13150) that it has decided to request that the Conciliation Committee of the Bundestag and Bundesrat June 2024 in the Bundestag (20/8658, 20/11664) to request that the Conciliation Committee of the Bundestag and Bundesrat be convened. The Bundesrat did not approve the draft at its meeting on 5 July. This means that the new fertiliser law is still on ice. Although the Bundestag had approved the amendments, in addition to considerable resistance from the federal states, criticism also came from agricultural and nature conservation associations. In particular, the changes to the material flow balance are causing displeasure. The material flow balance or nutrient balance is a list of the input and output of nutrients on agricultural land. According to the new rules, more farms are to keep records of how many nutrients are removed from the soil through cultivation and how many are added to it through fertilisation, in order to implement the polluter pays principle for nitrate pollution.

TAKEN LITERALLY:

We are currently experiencing three severe hurricanes in the northern hemisphere, while at the same time interest in climate policy is waning. Yet the fact is that we would all be better off in a climate-friendly world. Who wants overheated city centres without trees? Who wants floods? Who wants dead forests, moors and floodplains? Nobody. However, unlike the Federal Chancellor, I do not believe that every policy must be free of impositions. Mr Scholz is insulting the intelligence of people, who of course know that this is a lie in a world of crises.

Felix Banaszak, who is running for the chairmanship of the Green Party, said he didn’t want to be misunderstood: he didn’t want to live in a world where we could no longer fly. But he does want flying to become more climate-friendly, so we need to invest in technologies that make this possible – and perhaps take the train more often on the way there. Pretending that we can simply carry on as before is rubbish. rnd.de

 

AFRICA:

IMF Director: „Africa harbours enormous potential“: In an interview with DW, IMF Director Kristina Georgiewa calls for more representation and influence for Africa in the International Monetary Fund. Europe and Asia will be dependent on Africa in the future. dw.com
Change after 56 years: Great Britain and its last colony in Africa. rnd.de
Somalia: Greenhouse tomatoes to combat hunger.tagesschau.de
Kenya: Parliament initiates impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Gachagua. deutschlandfunk.de

Russian cannon fodder from Africa: the Kremlin is apparently systematically recruiting soldiers and labourers in Africa – often using extortionate methods. In Ghana, relatives are now calling on their government to intervene. derstandard.at
Ethiopia – New president wants to promote dialogue: Ethiopia’s new president Taye Atske Selassie has taken office. The experienced diplomat replaces Sahle-Work Zewde, the first woman to hold this office. Selassie promises to work for peace in Ethiopia and the region. His appointment follows tensions between his predecessor and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Observers are now hoping for a reorientation of Ethiopian politics towards more stability and reconciliation. dw.com
Election in Tunisia: Authoritarian president wins. Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has been re-elected with 89 per cent. He is taking massive action against civil society. That should be a warning to Europe. taz.de

MORE KNOWLEDGE:

Ice-free lakes are a cause for concern: Climate change is leading to more and more ice-free lakes worldwide in winter, which has far-reaching consequences, according to a new study in „Science“. Ecosystems, water quality and human utilisation are all affected. Projections show that over 200,000 lakes could be temporarily ice-free by 2080, potentially affecting more than a billion people. Researchers emphasise the need for further research to develop early warning systems, understand the adaptive capacity of species and clarify the impact on the global carbon cycle. The study emphasises the urgency of researching lakes in winter as well in order to better understand the complex consequences of ice loss and develop countermeasures. spiegel.de

Stocktaking: Earth’s freshwater supplies are dwindling: The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reports a global decline in freshwater supplies in 2023. Rivers worldwide carried less water than at any time in the last 30 years, with regional differences. Glaciers suffered the greatest loss of mass in the last 50 years, with a loss of 600 gigatonnes of ice. The snow cover in the northern hemisphere has also decreased. These developments threaten the water supply of millions of people and are mainly attributed to climate change. The WMO emphasises the need for better monitoring and international cooperation to tackle the global water crisis. derstandard.at

Research team warns of uncertainty if the 1.5-degree limit is exceeded: Even if global warming is brought back down again after temporarily exceeding the 1.5-degree limit: Some climate damage triggered at the maximum temperature, such as sea level rise, is irreversible. This is shown by a study by 30 scientists, co-authored by the Berlin-based climate research institute MCC (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change). It is the scientific culmination of a three-and-a-half-year project funded by the European Innovation Fund HORIZON2020 and deals with „overshoot“ scenarios. fair-economics.com

CALENDAR:

28. Sitzung Biodiversity Conference und Climate Change Conference

Time: Monday, 14 October 2024, 4 to 5 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, meeting room 4900
The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast on www.bundestag.de.

It is possible to follow the meeting of the Subcommittee on Global Health on 14 October 2024 from 16:00 via livestream. This can be found at www.bundestag.de, as well as on the website of the Subcommittee on Global Health.

Hearing on the amendment to the Animal Welfare Act

Time: Monday, 14 October 2024, 5.30 to 7.30 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, meeting room 3.101
The meeting is open to the public.

In its two-hour public hearing on Monday, 14 October 2024, the Committee on Food and Agriculture will discuss the Federal Government’s draft bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Products Trade Prohibition Act(20/12719).

The session will be broadcastlive on www.bundestag.de

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 bill

Consultation on onshore wind energy, solar energy and energy storage systems

Time: Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 11 a.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, meeting room E.200
The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast on www.bundestag.de.

On Wednesday, 16 October 2024, the Committee on Climate Action and Energy will hold a two-hour public hearing on the Federal Government’s draft bill „on the implementation of Directive (EU) 2023/2413 in the areas of onshore wind energy and solar energy and for energy storage facilities at the same location “ (20/12785, 20/13253).

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:

„Dutch traffic lights rebel: Government plans mass exchange“

The Netherlands is facing an unexpected major project: tens of thousands of traffic lights have to be replaced. The reason for this is a security gap in the radio system of the control boxes, which attackers can use to remotely control the traffic signs. A security researcher recently presented the vulnerability at a conference, and now the authorities are taking action. In a shocking turn of events, the Netherlands has now decided to execute tens of thousands of its traffic lights. The reason? These treacherous traffic lights have been infected with an insidious radio virus and are now threatening to plunge the country into chaos. A brave security researcher revealed the grim truth at a conference: every traffic light could potentially become a tool of sinister forces. With nothing more than a pocket radio and evil intentions, villains could turn entire cities into traffic hells, and the Dutch government, panicked, is now planning a nationwide traffic light clean-up. Experts estimate that the great traffic light replacement orgy will last until 2030 – enough time for clever criminals to stage Hollywood-worthy traffic chaos scenarios.Meanwhile, millions of Dutch people sit shivering in their cars, never sure whether the next green light will lead them to freedom or doom. The moral of the story? Don’t trust traffic lights – especially not in the Netherlands!
heise.de

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