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Species conservation and the struggle for funding: we humans are also feeling the effects of the disappearance of animal and plant species. Solutions will be discussed at COP16 in Cali, Colombia. The main focus will be on financing the necessary measures to protect and restore biodiversity. In the Montréal Agreement, the industrialised countries committed to providing developing countries with 30 billion dollars in public funds every year until 2030. In December 2022, a groundbreaking agreement on global species conservation was adopted at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal. The participating countries agreed on 23 ambitious targets by 2030 to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity.The centrepiece of the agreement is the so-called 30×30 target: by 2030, at least 30 percent of the world’s land and sea areas as well as inland waters are to be placed under effective protection. However, many countries travelled to Colombia without any concrete plans. Germany is one of them. Here, the plan is still being coordinated between the ministries. fair-economics.de, focus.de, handelsblatt.com

Karlsruhe should save nature: The Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND) and its regional organisations in Bavaria and Saxony have submitted a constitutional complaint to the Federal Constitutional Court. The aim of the complaint is to demand a comprehensive concept for the protection of biodiversity. Without intact ecosystems, human existence is also threatened, argues the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union – which is why it has launched what it describes as the „world’s first constitutional complaint“ for better nature conservation legislation. The plaintiffs‘ legal representative, Felix Ekardt, emphasises that the loss of biodiversity poses considerable risks to human rights and considers it to be more serious in its urgency than climate change. The plaintiffs point to the link between nature conservation and climate protection and consider the existing regulations to be inadequate. Inspired by the 2021 climate lawsuit, which was partially successful, they are calling for precise guidelines for sectors such as agriculture, energy and transport as well as a fair distribution of responsibility in nature conservation. Although the destruction of nature is a global challenge, they emphasise Germany’s responsibility for its own measures. faz.net, lto.de

Around 24 million homes in Germany are in need of refurbishment

Germany has not yet defined a fixed target for the energy-efficient refurbishment of buildings. The logic behind this could be: Where no target is set, there is nothing to miss. But the facts speak for themselves. Less than one per cent of buildings are currently undergoing energy-efficient refurbishment every year – far too little to achieve the climate targets. In 2023, Germany emitted around 674 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents. According to the Federal Environment Agency, the building sector officially accounts for around 15 per cent of these emissions. However, the actual burden is higher: if household electricity and district heating are also taken into account, the building sector’s share rises to around 30 per cent. Although the sector’s emissions have fallen slightly, it has failed to meet the statutory savings targets for four years in a row. A special report even warns of a serious scenario: by 2030, the building sector could cause a surplus of 33 million tonnes of CO₂ that other sectors will not be able to absorb. This forecast highlights the urgent need for action – without specific renovation targets and comprehensive measures, the building sector will remain a brake on German climate policy. klimareporter.de

On the way to 3.1 degrees of global warming: A UN report shows that global greenhouse gas emissions reached a record level of 57.1 gigatonnes in 2023, mainly due to emissions from the USA, China, India, the EU, Russia and Brazil. If behaviour remains unchanged, the earth could warm by 3.1 degrees by 2100, which could make large areas uninhabitable; even if national climate targets are met, the predicted warming is 2.6 to 2.8 degrees. Achieving the 1.5 degree target would require emission reductions of at least 42 per cent, with technologies such as solar and wind energy contributing to the reduction. The UN is calling on countries to tighten their climate targets and adjust financial flows to help developing countries adapt to global warming. taz.de, spiegel.de

ECJ decides on taxonomy: Austria and several environmental organisations have filed a lawsuit against the EU Commission before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The point of contention is the categorisation of nuclear power and gas as climate-friendly in the EU taxonomy. The plaintiffs accuse the Commission of „greenwashing“ and are calling for this categorisation to be declared null and void. They argue that this jeopardises the energy transition and that 100% renewable energy should be used instead. A judgement is expected in a few months. merkur.de

Premiere – measurement of emissions from e-fuels: For the first time, emissions from aircraft flying on 100 per cent synthetic fuel (e-fuels) were measured during test flights by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). The aim of the study is to find out how e-fuels can contribute to the reduction of climate-damaging emissions in aviation. In particular, the scientists hope to reduce the formation of contrails, as e-fuels burn with almost no soot particles. However, experts point out that there is currently still a lack of production capacity for the new fuels and that e-fuels can only be part of the solution for more climate-friendly flying. tagesschau.de

BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:

Dies ist ein Aufstand

How non-violent resistance is shaping the 21st century

In their new book, This is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Resistance is Shaping the 21st Century, Mark and Paul Engler present a compelling and profound guide to peaceful protest. They take the reader on a journey through the history and principles of nonviolent resistance, from Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. to modern movements like #BlackLivesMatter, Fridays for Future, and the Last Generation.

The authors examine how protest actions can not only contribute to change, but are often the only means of initiating important social debates. They ask the question: Does taking to the streets achieve anything? And they answer it with impressive examples of courageous personalities and movements who put up non-violent resistance with limited means and still managed to bring about major changes.

Using clear language and well-researched analyses, the Englers succeed in inspiring not only experienced activists but also interested readers. The German edition, translated by Katharina Siebert, is an important contribution for all those seeking an understanding of the dynamics of civil disobedience. This is an Uprising offers not only guidance but also hope – essential reading for anyone wondering how societies can be changed for the better in the 21st century. oekom.de

In a nutshell:

Climate change as factor X: Reinsurers and primary insurers increase premiums. wiwo.de
Munich: Must implement driving ban for old diesels. heise.de
Cooperation: New alliance strengthens the green future of the German aluminium industry. marktundmittelstand.de
Sustainable corporate financing: lenders want more than just figures. tagesschau.de
Environmental pollution: Environmental organisation warns of methane leaks at energy plants. zeit.de
Court of Auditors: Climate fund could soon be exhausted. sueddeutsche.de
Fact check: Foodwatch accuses dairy industry of greenwashing. rbb.de
Washington: World Bank and IMF meet for annual meeting. wiwo.de
Wastewater treatment plant defective after flooding: Wastewater continues to flow untreated into the Oder for months. n-tv.de
Great Britain: Trial into one of Brazil’s worst environmental disasters begins in London. unternehmen-heute.de
EU and China: want to continue negotiating tariffs on e-cars. fair-economics.de
Climate protection: Housing association fears higher rents after climate decision. zeit.de
New EU Commissioner: Ribera wants to go „faster and further“ with climate-friendly state aid. euractiv.de
Investigation:The power of the gas lobby in politics. lobbycontrol.de

BMDV presents traffic forecast for 2040: „Traffic in Germany will increase significantly“ ecomento.de
Study: Bicycle sales are only recovering slowly. heise.de
Electromobility: Chancellor Scholz opens Mercedes-Benz battery recycling factory. handelsblatt.com
Expensive scrappage scheme: Scrapping cars harms the climate. faz.net
Transport policy: No feasibility study for maglev railway in Berlin. stern.de

Infrastructure development: Dena study calls for stable refinancing options for hydrogen storage. hydrogeit.de
Electrolysers: Cancelled orders, increased costs: manufacturers of electrolysers have not had an easy time recently. What is missing for the hoped-for boom? wiwo.de
Hydrogen core network: The energy supply in Germany is to become more sustainable. The federal government and grid agency are now giving the go-ahead – but are cutting the core grid by more than 600 kilometres.handelsblatt.com
Core grid II: Industry on Lake Constance feels left behind when it comes to green hydrogen. swr.de
Energiewende: Germany wants to import hydrogen from India. tagesschau.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:

COMMENT OF THE WEEK:

Overheated cities: people are dying and we’re just watching

by Ferdinand Heimbach

In his commentary, the author sheds light on the pressing problem of heat stress in large cities, which is exacerbated by sealing with asphalt, concrete and granite. This accumulation of heat leads to health problems that affect older people in particular. According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, around 18,000 people in Germany died as a result of the summer heat between 2018 and 2020, with up to 4,000 annual deaths in recent years.

Heibach is calling for a fundamental change in urban design to make cities more heat-friendly. Solutions such as green roofs and façades could create a „natural air conditioning system“. In order to realise the necessary green spaces despite the lack of space, asphalted areas would have to be redesigned and sustainable water resources used to care for the plants. These measures are necessary to adapt cities to the climate and protect the health of the population. Politicians and urban planners are called upon to take active action against the increasing heat. read the full commentary here

LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:

Consequences of nature conservation projects for indigenous groups: The German government is aware of the potential restrictions for indigenous peoples that can arise from the establishment and management of protected areas. In its answer 20/13354 to a question from the Left Party, the government emphasises that the participation of local and indigenous communities is a key objective when promoting nature conservation projects. In order to ensure sustainable and fair management of protected areas, the rights and socio-economic needs of the affected groups should be taken into account. It is also emphasised that German development projects follow the „do-no-harm“ approach, which ensures that potential negative impacts on the human rights of indigenous peoples and local communities are avoided. To this end, internationally recognised protection mechanisms are used and there will be continuous monitoring and independent complaints mechanisms. The German government’s aim is to combine biodiversity conservation with poverty reduction and human rights protection, while ensuring the active participation of indigenous peoples and local groups. The projects should therefore not only preserve nature, but also promote social and economic benefits for the affected communities.

No misuse of funds in GIZ project in Paraguay: The „Fortaleceres II“ project financed by the German government to support the rural population in eastern Paraguay has already implemented numerous measures despite the lack of a final invoice, as the German government announced in an answer 20/13391 to a minor interpellation. Results to date include the expansion of state advisory and training programmes, the development of a digital learning and exchange platform and the improvement of employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people. Alternative income opportunities have been created through courses. Cooperation between the vulnerable population groups and the local authorities has also been strengthened so that local development plans are better tailored to the needs of the population.

Animal welfare projects 2024 and 2025: The announced amendment to the Animal Husbandry Labelling Act is intended to extend mandatory labelling to out-of-home catering. The extension to beef is also being prepared. This is what the Federal Government writes in its answer (20/13373) to a minor interpellation (20/13113) from the Left Party group. In addition, an extension of the Animal Welfare Livestock Farming Ordinance is being sought „for mid-2025“ in order to improve husbandry standards and protective measures, in particular for fire protection for fattening turkeys, pullets, brother cocks and parent animals of fattening and laying hens. Husbandry requirements for dairy cows and beef cattle are to be added in a separate ordinance procedure. An initial technical draft is currently being prepared, according to the response.

TAKEN LITERALLY:

I am convinced that there is no way around the transformation. Our company alone is responsible for one per cent of CO₂ emissions in Germany, while the steel industry as a whole is responsible for 7 per cent – so we can make a significant contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions. In addition, conventional steel production via the blast furnace route will no longer be economically viable in the medium to long term.

Gunnar Groebler, CEO of Salzgitter AG, says that at least there is now – late enough – a plan for the nationwide hydrogen start-up network. However, Salzgitter is not due to be connected until 2029. Until then, we will only be able to use the hydrogen that we produce ourselves – around five per cent of our requirements. So we will initially have to operate the plant with natural gas and our own hydrogen. We put the hydrogen requirements for Salco’s stage one out to tender and received a large number of responses in a very short space of time, which are now being viewed and evaluated in a structured process. …. Using only natural gas and our own hydrogen would already reduce CO₂ emissions by over 60 per cent, but we are of course wasting potential because more hydrogen is not available.

rnd.de

AFRICA:

Global Gateway: How the EU is failing with its anti-China strategy in Africa. handelsblatt.com, freiheit.org
Policy change: Spain and Portugal call for a reorientation of EU-Africa relations. euractiv.de
Mozambique: Chapo declared the winner of the election, the opposition speaks of electoral fraud and calls for protests. tagesschau.de
KithureKindiki: The man stood for election as Kenya’s next vice president. bbc.com
Brics summit in Kazan – Attitude towards Russia divides South Africa’s unity government: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa praises host Russia as a friend at the Brics summit. This is causing trouble for the coalition partner at home. taz.de
Ghana: Is the country serving as a retreat for jihadists in Burkina Faso? Anonymous sources told the agency that the country would turn a blind eye to attacks by insurgents seeking supplies on its territory. rfi.fr

MORE KNOWLEDGE:

New bioplastic could reduce plastic waste in the oceans: Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have presented a promising development in the fight against plastic waste in the oceans. A modified version of the biodegradable plastic cellulose diacetate (CDA) decomposes faster in seawater than paper. The scientists investigated foamed CDA, which has an accelerated degradation rate due to the cavities it contains. In laboratory tests with seawater, the CDA foam lost around two thirds of its mass after 36 weeks – 15 times faster than solid CDA. This innovation could be used in particular for products that frequently end up in the sea, such as straws and food packaging. The first products made from foamed CDA are already on the market. WHOI’s research aims to develop environmentally friendly alternatives to non-degradable plastics such as polystyrene. The use of foamed CDA could significantly reduce the impact of long-lasting plastic waste on the oceans. golem.de

Things could get uncomfortable in Europe: Climate researchers are increasingly warning of the dramatic consequences of exceeding so-called climate tipping points in Europe. These critical thresholds in the climate system, such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet or the weakening of the Gulf Stream, could trigger irreversible changes. According to meteorologist Dominik Jung, the tipping of the Gulf Stream could lead to extreme cold waves in Europe, while heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall could become the new normal. In Germany in particular, harvests, forests and water resources would be threatened. „The next few years are crucial,“ emphasises Jung, and warns of a potentially „uninhabitable“ Europe, especially in the southern and eastern regions, if tipping points are passed. fr.de

How to become an environmental researcher yourself: Citizen science apps make it easy for interested people to actively participate in scientific projects in the field of environmental and climate protection on their smartphones. These apps make it easier to collect and analyse data on biodiversity, energy consumption and sustainable consumption, which benefits both research and personal climate-friendly action. By participating, users can not only learn more about the scientific background to sustainable practices, but also provide valuable insights for research institutions. In this way, they make an important contribution to climate research and can make their everyday lives more climate-friendly. An overview of the most important apps can be found at verbraucherzentrale.de

CALENDAR:

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 adoptedat COP15 in Montreal, Canada, in December 2022.

Consultation on the climate-neutral expansion of the heat supply

Time: Monday, 4 November 2024, 2 p.m.

Place: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, meeting room E.400
The meeting is open to the public.

The Federal Government’s draft bill to speed up the approval process for geothermal plants, heat pumps and heat storage systems and to amend other legal framework conditions for the climate-neutral expansion of the heat supply(20/13092) will be the subject of a two-hour public hearing on Monday, 4 November 2024.

Public agenda item: „World Climate Conference COP 29 in Baku“

Time: Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Berlin, Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, meeting room 1.302
The meeting is open to the public.

Briefing by the Federal Government (oral) ahead of the COP 29 Climate Change Conference in Baku in conjunction with a discussion with Harjeet Singh Director of Global Engagement (Campaign for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty) and Dr Kira Vinke, Head of the Centre for Climate and Foreign Policy (DGAP)

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 must be brought to the admission control. There is no right to speak or ask questions.

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

Hearing on the Carbon Dioxide Storage Act

Time: Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 11 a.m.
Location: Berlin, Paul-Löbe-Haus, conference room E.600
The meeting is open to the public.

Draft bill of the Federal Government

Draft bill to amend the Carbon Dioxide Storage Act, BT printed matter 20/11900

Interested viewers can follow the public hearing on site in meeting room E.600 (entrance via Konrad-Adenauer-Straße 1, West Entrance of the Paul Löbe Building) or live on the Bundestag website. Internal and external visitors are requested to register with the secretariat of the Committee on Climate Action and Energy by email to klima-energie@bundestag.de by 4 November 2024 at the latest. External visitors are requested to provide their date of birth. The data will be compared with the police information system (INPOL) and used exclusively for admission control. It will be deleted after the end of the visit.

Consultation: „Plant protection products not authorised in the EU“

Time: Wednesday, 13 November 2024, 11 a.m. to 12.45 p.m.
Location: Berlin, Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, meeting room 1.302
The meeting is open to the public.

Topic: „Export, use, benefits and side effects of plant protection products not authorised in the European Union“

2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29)

When: 11-22 November 2024
Where: Baku, Azerbaijan
Further information: Press release from COP28
At last year’s COP28 conference in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), countries agreed for the first time to move away from fossil fuels and to finance the Loss and Damage Fund.
In November, heads of state and government and delegates from around the world will meet again in Azerbaijan for the biggest climate event of the year to set a new global target for climate finance.

Session of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP16)

When: 2-13 December
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Further information: Website
Not to be confused with the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP16 will bring together the world’s heads of state and government 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:

„Wind wasn’t blowing so strong“- Trump rants about German wind turbines

Donald Trump, the man with the alternative hair energy, has once again been blowing wind – this time against wind turbines! In Florida, he told his fans that Germany was broke because the wind wasn’t blowing strong enough. Apparently Angela Merkel has also quit her job as chancellor because of this – who would have thought it? but don’t worry, Trump has the solution: fracking! After all, who needs clean air when you can have flammable water instead? And solar fields? Pah! They look like hell and catch poor rabbits. Trump’s suggestion: solar panels on the roof. Perhaps he is planning to use his own hair as a solar panel? Finally, a fun fact: Germany is supposedly building a new coal-fired power plant every week. Who knows, maybe Trump is confusing this with his weekly visits to McDonald’s?

n-tv.de

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