Starting Monday, EU environment ministers and Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans will be in the mix at the climate conference. They are boasting about ambitious Brussels plans, but they don't have only good news to share. The pressure on Timmermans and his team is great.
By Lukas Knigge
US President Joe Biden spoke yesterday at COP27 about his successes and declared the United States to be the leader in climate protection. But there is not much to back this claim.
By Bernhard Pötter
At the end of the first week, COP27 was all about decarbonization. Speaking with Bernhard Pötter, the two experts, Jan Steckel and Michael Jakob, explain how and when the inevitable coal phase-out will happen – and where it is currently being delayed.
By Bernhard Pötter
US President Joe Biden declared at the Sharm el-Sheikh conference that the USA would strengthen its leadership role in the fight against climate change. But the country with the largest historical carbon emissions fails to live up to its potential as the largest economic power and global superpower when it comes to the climate. The reasons are manifold.
By Bernhard Pötter
The fossil fuel phase-out is being neglected amid the energy crisis, warns the Climate Action Tracker. The demand for natural gas alone will consume 10 percent of the carbon budget by 2050. Moreover, 96 percent of oil and gas companies have plans for new fossil fuel projects.
By Bernhard Pötter
On Tuesday, UN head Guterres presented strict rules against corporate greenwashing for climate protection. The next day, US climate czar Kerry presented conflicting plans. The US government desperately seeks money for climate protection out of fear of the Republicans.
By Bernhard Pötter
The criticism of COP27 host Egypt from civil society is mounting. High prices, surveillance and further repression prevent activists and NGOs from doing their work. While the conference is still underway, a human rights activist who has been imprisoned for many years faces death.
By Lukas Knigge
China's carbon emissions have been falling for the past year. Will it soon reach its peak? Currently, the pandemic and real estate woes are curbing economic growth, provinces lack money for economic stimulus programs, and carbon-intensive industries are announcing new climate plans. Only with a swift emissions peak will the Paris climate targets remain in reach.
By Nico Beckert
In a night session, EU Commission, Parliament and Council negotiators agreed to raise the emission reduction targets of the member states, in some cases significantly. The trilogue agreement on the Effort Sharing Regulation is also likely to be heard in Sharm el-Sheikh.
By Lukas Knigge
Urgent investments in energy transition, climate change adaptation and nature conservation will rise to $2.4 trillion by 2030. Around half of it is supposed to come from industrialized nations. At present, they are not even managing to raise $100 billion every year as promised.
By Bernhard Pötter
