Despite environmentalists' objections, Norway becomes the first country to engage in commercial deep-sea mining. The aim is to extract minerals such as lithium, scandium and cobalt.
By Lukas Knigge
Switzerland is the first country in the world to buy carbon offsets from another country and complete the offset trade. The contractual partner is Thailand. Critics complain that the trade has no additional benefit for the climate.
By Nico Beckert
A survey in the run-up to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos warns of the dangers of extreme weather and climate change. Climate researcher Friederike Otto also warns that the world is ill-prepared for the consequences of extreme weather conditions.
By Alexandra Endres
US greenhouse gas emissions are declining – but not fast enough to achieve the national climate targets.
By Nico Beckert
EU data shows that 2023 was a year of record temperatures: The average global temperature climbed to almost 15 degrees. The 1.5-degree limit was almost reached. The reason: El Niño instead of La Niña and record emissions.
By Bernhard Pötter
In the UK, electricity generation from fossil fuels and nuclear power fell sharply last year. Coal, oil and gas fell to a 66-year low.
By Nico Beckert
If the Amazon rainforest crossed its tipping point, rainfall as far as Argentina and Uruguay would be affected. Researchers still debate when the tipping point will be reached – and whether the entire rainforest will change or just parts of it.
By Alexandra Endres
Drought is currently the least of Germany's problems. However, a look at deeper soil layers tells a different story.
By Bernhard Pötter
The most important document of COP28 pledges to transition away from coal, oil and gas – but with words that do not oblige anyone. Instead, the text "acknowledges" and "takes note of" a lot. It rarely calls for action.
By Alexandra Endres
After lengthy negotiations, the coalition leaders in Berlin have reached an agreement on the 2024 budget. Robert Habeck's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection has been hit particularly hard by cuts.
By Malte Kreutzfeldt
