to the German edition
LNG Summit in Berlin – protests announced: Environmental organisations such as Greenpeace, Fridays for Future and Letzte Generation are planning protests against the World LNG Summit at the Hotel Adlon in Berlin, which starts on Monday. They criticise the fact that liquefied natural gas (LNG) is being promoted as a supposed „bridging technology“, even though it is more harmful to the climate than coal when the entire extraction and transport process is taken into account. The expansion of the LNG infrastructure, supported by massive investments by German banks and global financial players, jeopardises the climate targets and could lead to enormous greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The protests are intended to draw attention to the climate-damaging effects of LNG with demonstrations and blockades. Despite overcapacity and low utilisation of existing LNG infrastructure, the expansion is being driven forward, which critics say is unnecessary and exacerbates the climate crisis. Parallel to the summit, which takes place from Monday to Thursday, days of action are planned to call for a move away from fossil fuels. energiezukunft.de, sueddeutsche.de
Standards for international trade in CO2 certificates to be introduced for the first time: International trade in CO₂ certificates is to be subject to binding standards for the first time in order to make the often criticised carbon markets more effective and transparent. These new rules, which were adopted at COP29, are intended to prevent double counting and set standards for projects such as forest conservation and carbon capture and storage (CCS). A supervisory body will be active from 2025 to regulate further details such as the permanence of CO₂ bindings. There is criticism of old, low-quality certificates, which depress the market price, as well as the high cost burden for high-quality projects, which could increase further due to stricter standards and climate insurance. A globally higher CO₂ price is necessary to make projects such as CO₂ capture economically attractive, as the European CO₂ price of 60-70 euros per tonne is currently well below the cost of such technologies. The new standards are an important step, but are not enough to solve all quality problems. Additional control mechanisms remain necessary to create confidence in the market. fr.de
650 billion euros or more
more are estimated for the expansion of the German electricity grids. The main cost items are 328 billion euros for transmission grids and 323 billion euros for regional distribution grids. The reasons for the high expenditure are the switch to renewable energies, complete decarbonisation by 2035 and a sharp rise in electricity demand, which could almost double by 2045.
The costs will be passed on directly to consumers via electricity prices, with grid fees likely to rise further. There is potential for savings through overhead lines instead of underground cabling, more efficient grid control and more electricity storage, which could reduce the need for lines. State subsidies are also being discussed in order to reduce the burden on citizens. However, rapid expansion of the grids remains crucial for the energy transition and securing industrial jobs.
rnd.de
Climate policy after the new elections: Germany is on the way to achieving climate neutrality by 2045 and is in the midst of a comprehensive energy transition. The Federal Climate Protection Act, which enshrines this goal in law, will remain of central importance even after the new elections in 2025. However, adjustments and legal reviews are still on the cards, as the measures implemented to date are often not sufficient to achieve the ambitious climate targets. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 88 per cent by 2040 is particularly important, and a potential CDU-led government under Friedrich Merz could focus climate policy more on incentives rather than bans. The CO₂ price would serve as a central control instrument, making fossil fuels more expensive and climate-friendly alternatives more attractive. However, subsidies for climate-friendly heating systems could be cancelled, which could increase costs for consumers. At the same time, the CDU is in favour of technological openness, but rejects nuclear power as a short-term solution and views fusion energy merely as a vision for the future. The key challenges remain the expansion of renewable energies, the integration of storage systems and hydrogen-capable gas-fired power plants in order to make the energy system more flexible and future-proof. The Deutschlandticket is also to be continued, but its long-term financing is unclear. Despite party political differences, there is agreement on the urgency of climate neutrality. However, the concrete implementation and speed of the transformation will largely depend on the decisions made by the next government. mdr.de
Supply chain law: The European Union is preparing to publish a simplified law on sustainability reporting, which is to be presented in February 2025. The aim is to streamline the existing regulations and reduce the burden on companies. This is what is being heard from EU circles involved in this issue. As reported by the news agency Reuters, among others, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced after an informal meeting of EU leaders in November 2024 that the three key sustainability regulations – the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) – would be brought together in an omnibus simplification package. fair-economics.com
Energy group EnBW rules out restarting nuclear power plants: The discussion about a possible return to nuclear power in Germany is being reopened. The CDU/CSU are planning to examine whether decommissioned nuclear power plants could be put back into operation if they come to power. A position paper criticises the shutdown of the last reactors as an ideologically motivated mistake. However, the energy company EnBW disagrees: the dismantling of the decommissioned plants is irreversible and the construction of new nuclear power plants is not a realistic solution to the current energy problems. Even under optimal conditions, the construction of new plants would take over ten years. EnBW’s head of nuclear power Michels believes that this puts an end to the discussion. After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, Germany accelerated the phase-out of nuclear power and the last reactors were shut down in 2023. tagesspiegel.de
Gas and oil instead of climate protection – Who is bringing Trump’s plans to Germany: Research shows how radical market networks from the US, supported by Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán, are increasingly influencing German politics. CDU-affiliated organisations such as the think tank The Republic are cooperating with US think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and the Atlas Network, which promote fossil fuels and reject government climate protection measures, and these groups are backing radical market policies that block key climate goals such as the coal phase-out or a ban on combustion engines. CDU leader Friedrich Merz is also associated with these networks. The spread of such ideas jeopardises Germany’s climate targets and strengthens populist narratives against climate protection movements. correctiv.org
BOOK TIP OF THE WEEK:
Natur als Wertstandard
Three measures to create a monetary system that protects our livelihoods
In his latest work „Nature as a Standard of Value“, Harris C. M. Tiddens presents a provocative yet visionary approach to reforming our financial system. In 102 pages, he explains how the current monetary system contributes significantly to the destruction of the natural foundations of life and proposes three concrete measures to transform this system so that it promotes the protection and construction of our environment.
Tiddens, a sinologist with an impressive career in finance and as a financial correspondent for the Dutch press in Bonn, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. His experience as a quality management executive at a German DAX company and his research since 2006 in real-world laboratories from Beijing to Hamburg on the sustainability of cities add weight to his arguments. The book argues that it is absurd to finance measures to protect the earth’s habitability from taxes based on a destructive monetary system. Instead, Tiddens argues in favour of adapting the financial system so that it protects and promotes our livelihoods. „Nature as a Standard of Value“ is an urgent call for a fundamental reorganisation of our financial system. Tiddens‘ proposals offer an innovative framework for reconciling economics and ecology. For readers interested in sustainable financial systems and the protection of our environment, this book offers valuable insights and food for thought. oekom.de
In a Nutshell:
UN plastics agreement: The fifth round of negotiations on an agreement has failed. fair-economics.de
Combustion engine ban: The EPP group in the European Parliament wants to reverse the ban on combustion engines for new cars from 2035. electrive.net
Northvolt crisis: millions in taxpayers‘ money could be lost. The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor defend their policy. tagesspiegel.de
How the climate crisis is making food more expensive:Global warming is causing droughts and causing harvests to fail. This leads to higher food prices and poses challenges for agriculture. deutschlandfunk.de
Great Britain: Issues ban on advertising unhealthy foods. tagesschau.de
Despite criticism from animal rights activists: Iceland grants new licences for whaling – for five years. spiegel.de
Withdrawal from renewable energies: Shell no longer wants offshore wind farms. faz.net
Housing policy: Greens want to introduce a law for fair rents. cash-online.de
Lobbying in Austria: A secret WKO paper addresses the ÖVP team in the ongoing coalition negotiations. One of the no-gos is sticking to ambitious climate targets. energynewsmagazine.at
Transformation: Sustainability and digitalisation give SMEs a competitive edge. markenartikel-magazin.de
Hybrid instead of all-electric: Chinese car manufacturers rely on hybrids to avoid tariffs. fair-economics.de
agora-Verkehrswende: Transport transition as a core industrial and socio-political task for the coming legislative period. agora-verkehrswende.de
Squabbling over billions for Deutsche Bahn: The railway will have to wait a little longer for 2.7 billion euros. The Bundestag’s transport and budget committees have postponed the release of the funds for political reasons. dvz.de
Autonomous driving: German government adopts strategy paper. verkehrsrundschau.de
Electric cars subsidised depending on income: dispute in NRW state parliament. heise.de
Hydrogen import dependency: Germany’s industry is very dependent. pv-magazine.de
Green tech start-up for the hydrogen economy: hydrogen from waste makes a price of €5/kg possible. ingenieur.de
The National Hydrogen Council (NWR) with three new statements: on the European Clean Industrial Deal, certification criteria for low-CO₂ hydrogen and the requirements for energy sources in transport when transposing the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) into national law. now-gmbh.de
Expert: The hydrogen economy in Germany and Bavaria has a lot of catching up to do, according to economics expert Grimm br.de
PODCAST OF THE WEEK:
Can the CDU protect the climate?
The CDU under Friedrich Merz faces the challenge of combining its climate protection strategy with conservative views. Merz himself has expressed scepticism about the energy transition, describing wind turbines as „ugly“ and backing fusion energy and the combustion engine. At the same time, the CDU is sticking to its goal of climate neutrality by 2045.
Experts such as Veronika Grimm emphasise that the expansion of the energy grids for electricity and hydrogen urgently needs to be continued. She argues in favour of a revised funding policy that focuses less on individual companies and more on larger structures. It is argued that a conservative government might be better able to win over climate sceptics in favour of necessary changes.
The question remains as to how realistic the CDU’s plans are and whether it can implement the necessary measures to achieve the climate targets without blocking important transformations.
tagesspiegel.de
COMMENT OF THE WEEK:
The desert, plastic and the climate
by Wolfgang Blatz
According to many observers, the conference on desertification in Saudi Arabia illustrates the contradictory role of the country and other oil and gas-rich states in international climate negotiations. Despite being affected by droughts and desertification themselves, these countries are blocking progress on climate protection.
According to reports, petro-states such as Saudi Arabia dragged out negotiations behind the scenes at the World Climate Conference in Azerbaijan and the Plastics Summit in South Korea due to the fossil fuel lobby. Critics such as former US Vice President Al Gore and former UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon are said to have stated that these states are deliberately obstructing the international climate protection process, which is favoured by the UN’s unanimity principle.
Read the full commentary here: rheinpfalz.de
LAST WEEK IN THE BUNDESTAG:
The German government is planning to liberalise the cultivation of industrial hemp: a draft bill (20/14043) provides for the removal of the abuse clause and the approval of indoor cultivation. The aim is to promote the cultivation of industrial hemp as it provides sustainable raw materials, mitigates climate change and supports biodiversity. The misuse clause, which previously made cultivation more difficult, is to be removed, as there is no evidence of misuse of industrial hemp for intoxication purposes. Industrial hemp offers a wide range of potential uses, for example in food, building materials, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Indoor cultivation should open up new economic prospects, particularly for the production of CBD products. The government sees the draft as a step towards a sensible hemp policy that guarantees protection against THC in food, especially for children and young people.
Expert dispute over false climate certificates: A motion (20/13223) by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group calling for a complete investigation into possible cases of fraud involving UER certificates was discussed at a hearing of the Environment Committee. These certificates, which document emission reductions in oil and gas production, are suspected of being falsified, particularly in projects in China. Accusations include falsely declared biofuels. Experts have called for stricter controls and political measures to remove fake certificates from the market more quickly. The fall in the price of the GHG quota has hindered investment in renewable energies and caused difficulties for biogas producers. Legal experts emphasised that legal action against the certificates is possible, but could take a long time. The biogas industry is calling for urgent action, as the fraud continues to distort the market. more at bundestag.de
Prospects for carbon capture and utilisation: The Committee on Climate Protection and Energy discussed the prospects for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies as part of the second round of tenders for climate protection contracts (KSV). According to a report by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, these contracts are intended to enable companies to invest in climate-friendly production facilities by hedging price risks, such as for hydrogen or CO₂ certificates, and offsetting additional costs. The aim is to promote new technologies and infrastructures in Germany. The first round of calls for proposals in October 2024 resulted in 15 funded projects worth up to eight billion euros. Around 130 project outlines were submitted for the second round. The instrument is intended to facilitate investment and strengthen Germany as a business location. However, committee members expressed concerns about what would happen if the law is not passed in the current legislative period and what impact this could have on investments, jobs and companies. bundestag.de
German government wants to allow CO2 exports: The German government wants to make it possible to store carbon dioxide in the seabed on the high seas – and to allow exports of the climate-damaging greenhouse gas to other countries such as Norway. The aim is to reduce CO emissions that are difficult to avoid in this way. The German government has submitted a draft bill (20/13992) for a corresponding treaty law to the Bundestag. It creates the basis for ratifying an amendment to the London Protocol that was already adopted in 2009. This relates to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter. The amendment allows the transport of CO2 in future. However, the international rule change is not expected to enter into force in the short term, as the amendment has only been ratified by eight of the 50 or so signatory states and a two-thirds majority is required for the change to take effect. For this reason, the amendment is to be applied provisionally. The protocol grants all participating countries this option. A corresponding regulation was adopted with a resolution in 2019. „The treaty law creates the domestic conditions for the ratification of the amendment to Article 6 of the London Protocol on the basis of Resolution LP.3(4) and for the submission of a declaration on the provisional application of the amended Article 6 for the Federal Republic of Germany,“ the draft states. For domestic implementation, the German government has also announced an amendment to the High Seas Contribution Act. A draft amendment to the Carbon Dioxide Storage Act is already available and is being discussed in the Bundestag. The draft bill in the document and information system for parliamentary materials: https: //dip.bundestag.de/vorgang/gesetz-zur-%C3%A4nderung-des-kohlendioxid-speicherungsgesetzes/312438
TAKEN LITERALLY:
„All ten strategic areas of the National Water Strategy are important, but in my view, special attention needs to be paid to measures for adapting to water extremes. Germany is increasingly confronted with heavy rainfall, floods and droughts, which not only endanger life and limb, but also put the security of our water supply to the test and at the same time can cause substantial damage to ecosystems. In a recent study, we analysed the extent to which climate change can exacerbate groundwater stress throughout Europe. Our calculations indicate that, in the worst-case scenario, more than half of Europe’s land area can expect a decrease in groundwater discharge of over 25 per cent by the end of the century. This decrease can have a negative impact on water supplies and ecosystems – and this is where our research comes in. The aim is to make us more climate-resilient as a society and to meet such challenges.“
Dr Robert Lütkemeier, Head of the Research Field Water and Land Use at ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research, emphasises that water management issues can only be considered in the context of land use. Solutions are needed for the challenges posed by extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and drought in order to compensate for the increasing fluctuations in the water balance. In his view, a deceleration of the water balance, both in urban and rural areas, is key. He understands deceleration to mean strengthening water retention in order to reduce the pressure in the water cycle. Cities and municipalities are already focussing on blue and green infrastructure, such as green roofs and sponge city concepts, which store rainwater locally and thus reduce the risk of flooding. Such measures are increasingly being implemented in urban areas. However, Lütkemeier emphasises that rural areas should be given greater focus. Existing measures such as drainage in agriculture should be reconsidered, as they drain water away quickly instead of retaining it. Instead, wetlands are needed that promote water retention in meadows, forests and river courses. This requires a rethink in spatial planning and a stronger interlinking of measures in agriculture, forestry and water management in order to strategically mitigate the consequences of climate change.
idw-online.de
AFRICA:
Health emergency in Congo: „Disease X“ High alert after deaths. t-online.de
Namibia Election victory: Stumbling favourite -Namibia’s former liberation movement remains in power. But the electoral chaos leaves deep scars and becomes a burden for the new government. Election winner Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will have her hands full. ipg-journal.de
Summit in Nairobi: Africa as a beacon of hope for the German economy? deutschlandfunk.de
Habeck in Kenya: Just no election campaigning in Africa. A few months before the early federal elections, Habeck travels to Kenya. He is there to promote green projects. But this is not an election campaign, emphasises the Minister of Economic Affairs. tagesschau.de
Warning from the South African president: Ramaphosa says the G20 should be wary of Trump’s ‚America First‘ policy. africanews.com
US President in Angola: Race for Africa’s resources. taz.de
Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye: How a Ugandan opposition leader disappeared in Kenya and ended up in a military court. bbc.com
MORE KNOWLEDGE:
Stricter exhaust regulations for marine diesel exacerbate global warming: Stricter exhaust regulations for marine diesel, which are actually intended to benefit the environment, have indirectly contributed to greater global warming, according to a study by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI). Fewer pollutants from ship exhausts also mean fewer aerosols, which serve as condensation nuclei for low clouds. These clouds have a cooling effect, and their decline in 2023 contributed to an additional 0.2 degrees Celsius of warming. In addition, the planetary albedo – the reflectivity of the Earth – was at its lowest since at least 1940. Less reflected sunlight means more absorbed heat, making 2023 0.23 degrees warmer on average. The decrease in low clouds in northern latitudes and the tropics as well as the exceptional heat records in the Atlantic intensified this effect. According to the researchers, this mechanism could become even stronger as fewer low clouds further accelerate global warming. spiegel.de
Climate policy also for those who can’t afford a heat pump: Brigitte Knopf, head of the think tank for climate social policy, is calling for socially just climate protection measures. She emphasises that wealthier households produce more CO₂, while poorer ones suffer more from climate impacts. To reduce social inequalities, she proposes the expansion of local public transport, district heating networks and a climate allowance. Funding programmes should be socially graduated in order to also reach low-income households, as is already the case with heating subsidies. Knopf criticises the fact that existing programmes often benefit wealthy households and calls for a reform of the debt brake or a wealth levy to finance them. She also advocates a positive narrative for climate protection that emphasises its benefits instead of moralising individual behaviour. Germany should reduce its emissions by 65% by 2030 – a target that she believes urgently needs to be linked to social cushioning. wiwo.de
CALENDAR:
16th session of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP16)
When: 2-13 December DecemberWhere: Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaMore information: WebsiteNot 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.
2025 Preview:
UN Climate Change Conference COP 30
Date: Expected November 2025
Location: Belém, Brazil
Description: The 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 30) will take place in Belém, in the Brazilian state of Pará. This marks the first time that a COP will be held in the Amazon region, which emphasises the importance of the rainforest for global climate protection.
Fifth Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference
Date: 5-6 September 2025
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Description: This conference aims to strengthen the synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It serves as preparation for the UN Climate Change Conference 2025 and is intended to contribute to the effective implementation of both agreements.
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