Major challenges await the new Environment and Climate Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD): He has to reorganize his department, defend the climate targets against other departments and take the lead internationally. And all this with little support from the government and the public.
By Bernhard Pötter
The climate law planned in Turkey would have effectively allowed a further increase in emissions. Following fierce criticism, the draft has now been withdrawn – but it is unclear whether a better one will come along.
By Marcel Grzanna
They are considered power guzzlers, the backbone of digitalization and an aid in managing the transformation: waste heat from servers or data centers can be used locally to reduce the use of fossil fuels for heating.
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It is yet unclear who will become Germany's environment minister. But one thing is clear: In the future, the Ministry of the Environment will be solely responsible for climate action, including international negotiations. This strengthens this Ministry – but takes the pressure off other ministries to achieve the climate targets.
By Bernhard Pötter
Mark Carney's election victory in Canada prevents a drastic rollback of climate policy. However, numerous hurdles prevent greater ambitions. Canada's new climate target is not overly ambitious, and the oil and gas sector has strong supporters in the provinces. Moreover, Carney only heads a minority government and must constantly seek new majorities in parliament.
By Nico Beckert
Following the withdrawal of Western institutions, the controversial EACOP oil pipeline from Uganda to Tanzania has now secured its first round of financing from African and Arab banks. The countries are hoping for development and export revenues. Environmentalists criticize that the project violates the NDCs.
By Viktor Funk
The future Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Katherina Reiche, is being praised not only by her own party, but also by the German Renewable Energy Federation. By contrast, other ministries that are important for climate action are being occupied by people who have hardly attracted any attention on the subject to date.
By Malte Kreutzfeldt
Under pressure from the Trump administration, World Bank CEO Banga has begun a balancing act at the spring meeting: Rhetorically, the climate issue is falling by the wayside; structurally, Banga is sticking to his reforms. The likely price for this strategy: more World Bank funding for gas and nuclear power.
By Bernhard Pötter
With the death of Pope Francis, climate activists around the world have lost a leading voice in the fight against poverty, exploitation and the climate crisis. Under him, the Vatican became a factor in climate diplomacy. However, it also slowed progress on some issues. Whether this commitment will continue depends on his successor.
By Bernhard Pötter
Stone, carbon fibers and biochar are the components of a new type of wall that stores CO₂ and could therefore help to decarbonize the construction sector. But approving it as a building material takes time and money. It is therefore likely to be some time before the material can be used on a large scale.
By Alexandra Endres
