Germany’s Fridays For Future is once again calling for a nationwide climate strike this Friday: In an attempt to counter shrinking numbers of participants and gain broader support, the activists are taking to the streets together with the German trade union Verdi. Reason enough for us to analyze how the climate movement in Germany is currently repositioning itself.
We also look to Austria: Lukas Bayer from Vienna explains why the country has no current climate plan and why the draft plan is inadequate – just like the German one.
At the EU level, important climate decisions have also been passed this week: The EU Nature Restoration Law was adopted by a narrow majority on Tuesday. Lukas Scheid explains why the climate impact will be lower than initially planned. The European Supply Chain Law, on the other hand, has failed for the time being. Leonie Düngefeld explains why it would also be a blow to the climate if the law does not actually come into force.
We also explain why climate change is making fish lighter, what’s behind the heat pump boom in Germany and what the world’s dirtiest airports are. Spoiler: For COP28, many already experienced the most climate-damaging first-hand last year.
Your Lisa Kuner
Feature
New ideas and alliances – the climate movement is reorganizing itself
FFF activist Luisa Neubauer at the Verdi warning strike in early February – Fridays for Future currently focuses on broad alliances.
On March 1, Germany’s climate activist group Fridays for Future (FFF) will be joining forces with the trade union Verdi to demonstrate for climate action and better working conditions in public transport. This alliance has already been tried and tested, but it is also an attempt to reach more people and win back sympathy. The Last Generation group is taking a different approach: It has called for “disobedience rallies” in various German cities on March 16. These different dates and approaches show that the German climate movement is divided – and is looking for new strategies.
Last year, the activists suffered several defeats:
The occupied village of Lützerath was cleared despite massive protests, and lignite mining in the region continues for the time being.
The Berlin referendum on climate neutrality failed due to insufficient participation.
Demonstrations and protests became smaller.
Disruptive actions, especially activists gluing themselves on the streets, turned many people against the movement rather than winning them over as supporters of climate action.
The war in the Gaza Strip divided the international climate movement. While Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and large parts of the international climate scene sympathized with the Palestinian cause, Fridays for Future Germany distanced itself from Thunberg’s position.
Even if many of the activists do not openly admit it: Most of them are feeling the change. And within the various movements, there are changes in strategy and personnel.
Last Generation: lack of new supporters and internal dispute
Over the past year, the “Last Generation” movement has attracted more media attention than any other climate group. Now things are crumbling behind the outwardly determined façade: In January, the activists announced they would no longer glue themselves to roads. In early February, the movement’s spokesperson then surprisingly announced that the movement would run for the European Parliament. With Lina Johnsen and Theo Schnarr, the movement fields two relatively unknown faces.
Maria-Christina Nimmerfroh, a psychologist at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences who has closely observed the Last Generation, believes the group is obviously in crisis: “Such movements always disintegrate from within,” she told Table.Media. She said it is not the media pressure or the tough lawsuits that disrupt the activists but internal disagreements and disputes.
It has recently become apparent that the group’s “functional hierarchy” with which it makes decisions is reaching its limits. In addition, Nimmerfroh sees massive recruitment problems for the Last Generation. So far, it has failed to win over many young people for its activism. This is also because the organization makes very high demands – ideally, members should be involved full-time. Simon Teune, protest researcher at the Free University of Berlin, adds that many activists are “frustrated and exhausted.”
FFF wants to reach as many people as possible
The counter-example remains Fridays for Future. Darya Sotoodeh, spokesperson for FFF, emphasizes in an interview with Table.Media: “Our strength is that we are accessible to many people.” This includes protests with broad alliances, such as with the trade unions on March 1. Participation in organizing large demonstrations against right-wing extremism earlier this year is also part of this strategy. Teune says that it has become clear that “an authoritarian, possibly even fascist policy would be the end of an effective climate policy.”
According to Nimmerfroh, the climate movement has not moved to the left – on the contrary. For example, the “Last Generation” wanted to appear “middle-class” and set itself apart from the clearly left-wing spectrum, she said. In principle, most climate justice movements strive to be non-partisan. “The perception of climate issues as left-wing is more likely to come from the political focus on these issues by the Green Party and the combination of a sustainable lifestyle with left-wing associations of non-conformity and the renunciation of consumption,” says Nimmerfroh. However, there is a clear distinction from the right-wing fringe: FFF aims to mainly focus on the “mobilization of young people, especially on the occasion of the elections in Europe and Germany,” according to a recent press release.
FFF also tries to reach people not yet involved in climate action through broad alliances. This is also evident in FFF’s current campaign, “Wir fahren zusammen” (We’re traveling together), in support of collective bargaining for public transport employees at the side of the trade union Verdi.
Protest researcher Dieter Rucht sees this as a promising strategy “in principle.” He sees the movement gaining breadth. “However, this also creates the risk of the movement losing its profile and internal conflicts arising.”
Movement reorients itself
“This is a step in the right direction,” Sotoodeh comments on the movement’s alliance with Verdi. On the one hand, because the transport transition is an important issue. Improved expansion of local transport, affordable bus and rail fares and good working conditions for employees are also issues supported by a broad majority of the German population. The campaign is also important because it shows that social improvements cannot be played off against climate action, says Sotoodeh. Furthermore, it is tangible and thus has the potential to reach many people.
FFF believes that the expansion of public transport should be funded by a 100-billion-euro special fund for a socially just transformation. “It is not the money for socially just climate action that is lacking, but the political will to use it,” adds the activist. Moreover, a labor strike has even more power than a school strike.
However, how successful FFF will be with this strategy remains to be seen: Simon Teune believes that “we need to think about what levers can be set in motion with limited resources.” New extreme weather events or even higher temperatures may serve as an “eye-opener” to get people involved again.
Social movement expert Nimmerfroh also feels that the climate movement is hardly being heard at the moment. Protest researcher Rucht sees the problems but does not believe that the climate movement is in crisis. Instead, he calls it a “phase of reorientation.” However, he says it is clear that “things cannot go on like this.” Neither the broad, friendly approach of the FFF nor the loud actions of the “Last Generation” would bring significant political success.
Climate & Environment
Fridays for Future
Protests
Austria: Climate research increases pressure in government dispute over climate plan
Austria’s Climate Action Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens, left) and European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP, right) continue to clash over the draft NECP. This is the reason for EU infringement proceedings against Austria.
Part of the climate science community has increased pressure on the Austrian government to submit its overdue energy and climate policy plans to the EU Commission. To this end, scientists from the climate research network CCCA held a press conference on Wednesday and presented an assessment of more than 1,400 measures. A representative opinion poll was also conducted.
The measures stem from 100 comments from representatives from politics, research, business and civil society. These were collected during the consultation phase for Austria’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). The draft was supposed to have already been submitted to the EU Commission, but the ÖVP and Greens are stuck in an internal coalition dispute. That is why the EU has opened infringement proceedings against the country in December 2023.
During the press conference, representatives from climate research once again stressed that it was crucial for Austria to submit this draft. They also presented a selection of measures from the comments. These included measures that received particularly strong support: Vacancy taxes, heating replacement, public transport expansion, the removal of climate-damaging subsidies and a greener tax system.
Austria is 13 percentage points short of EU climate target
All EU member countries must submit their final NECPs by June 30, 2024. These outline how countries intend to achieve their 2030 climate targets. Austria’s currently implemented measures leave it 13 percentage points short of the EU target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 48 percent. The CCCA already warned last year that this gap could not be closed with the current NECP draft. “Some of the proposed measures must therefore be included if Austria does not want to risk infringement,” explained Keywan Riahi from the IIASA Institute at the press conference.
Infringement proceedings have also been initiated against Poland because, like Austria, it failed to submit the draft NECP to the Commission on time. The Commission recently reviewed Germany’s draft. It is insufficient in some areas. In an opinion piece published by Table.Media, Marion Guénard and Charly Heberer from the NGO Germanwatch proposed a number of improvements.
55 climate researchers evaluated more than 1,400 recommendations
The more than 1,400 measures proposed for Austria’s NECP were independently assessed by 55 climate researchers from renowned institutes such as BOKU Vienna, the University of Graz and IIASA in Laxenburg. The measures were evaluated and prioritized based on their greenhouse gas reduction potential. The Gallup Institute was then commissioned to conduct a representative survey of public approval for 27 particularly effective measures. The population expressed support for 24 out of 27 of these measures.
The following measure received a high approval rating of more than 60 percent:
Expansion of the public transport network (84.9 percent)
Expansion of public transport in rural areas (83.0 percent)
Expansion of renewable energies (76.7 percent)
A greener tax system (68.4 percent)
Elimination of climate-damaging subsidies (68.5 percent)
Expansion of cycling infrastructure (68.3 percent)
Vacancy taxes for unoccupied residential properties (60.9 percent)
Measures that received a low approval rating of less than 40 percent included:
A combustion engine ban (25.5 percent)
Speed limit of 30, 80, 100 km/h (31.0 to 38.2 percent)
Reducing hot water consumption (38.7 percent)
Coalition dispute over NECP continues
Austria’s government is not obliged to include the proposed measures in the draft NECP. However, as the Federal Ministry for Climate Action sponsored the assessment by the CCCA climate research network, it is likely to be taken into account. Environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace and WWF Austria regard the assessment as a basis for Austria’s climate policy. “Science is ready to mediate neutrally in the political process,” says Karl Steiniger from the University of Graz, inviting cooperation. With Keywan Riahi, he was one of the report’s lead authors and welcomes the participatory approach of the Climate Action Ministry. Steininger emphasized that the proposed measures would make Austria’s EU climate targets “clearly achievable.”
Meanwhile, the coalition dispute over the NECP draft continues. In October, European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) withdrew the draft submitted by Climate Action Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). She justified this by stating that it had not been coordinated with the government partner. Gewessler rejected this, stating that the ministries concerned had been involved. A few days ago, in an interview with Austrian public broadcaster ORF ZiB2, she once again urged her ministerial colleague to submit the draft to Brussels. However, Edtstadler maintains her criticism and continues to block it.
Climate targets
EU climate policy
Klimaforschung
Events
March 4-5, Vila do Conde, Brazil Work meetingTask Force for the Global Mobilization against Climate Change The Task Force for the Global Mobilization Against Climate Change will promote a high-level dialogue among governments, financial institutions, and international organisms to enhance global macroeconomic and financial alignment to implement the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.Info
March 4-5, Brussels ConferenceSolar Power Summit The conference will focus on how the expansion of solar energy can be driven forward at the European level in order to achieve the 2040 climate targets.Info
March 7-8, Paris ForumBuildings and Climate Global Forum The Buildings and Climate Global Forum will bring together ministers and high-level representatives of key organizations in an effort to spur the decarbonization and resilience of the buildings sector. The event is the first of its kind and will follow up on progress made at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
Co-organized by France and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), with the support of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC).Info
March 7, 3 p.m. CET, Online WebinarDeforestation Exposed: Using High Resolution Satellite Imagery to Investigate Forest Clearing This webinar, organized by the World Resources Institute, provides an overview of the satellite imagery and resources available on Global Forest Watch (GFW).Info
News
Climate in Numbers: New wind power expansion record
Last year, European countries built a record 16.2 gigawatts of new wind turbines. In its annual report, the industry association WindEurope writes that the expansion raises hopes that the EU will be able to achieve its renewable energy targets by 2030.
In the report, WindEurope describes 2023 as a year of “significant improvements” in key areas of the European wind energy sector. In 2022, the sector had struggled with rising inflation rates, interest rates and volatile energy markets in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the meantime, the EU states have improved the approval procedures for new projects and inflation has eased. The association also praises the European Commission’s wind power package from October, which includes measures to strengthen and support the industry.
However, there is one caveat: To achieve its climate target for 2030, the EU will have to add an average of 33 gigawatts of wind energy every year – twice as much as in the previous record year, according to WindEurope. kul/rtr/nib
Energy transition
EU
Renewable energies
Wind power
Survey: Germans want more climate action, but not pay more for it
Germans have an ambivalent attitude towards climate action: 71 percent encourage politicians to ensure targets are achieved. At the same time, 49 percent think penalizing climate-damaging behavior with higher prices would be a bad idea. This is the result of a recent study conducted by the opinion research institute Pollytix on behalf of the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation.
62 percent of respondents believe political players should do more for the climate. Germans are also quite critical of themselves regarding climate action: 37 percent think they could do more for the environment.
When it comes to possible measures, 81 percent are in favor of supporting eco-friendly behavior, for example, through financial incentives. 55 percent think it would be a good idea to outlaw climate-damaging behavior. In contrast, only 47 percent support the proposal to make climate-damaging behavior more expensive. Only households with a net income of over 3,000 euros favor this.
The Pollytix researchers conclude: “We need a clear plan for more climate action.” Under the current circumstances, however, the majority “do not currently see this.” Furthermore, the researchers believe it is necessary to reduce the complexity of the issue and specify climate-damaging behavior. For this reason, they recommend “clearly and simply describing the effectiveness of measures.”
Climate protection
Klimaschutz
EU Nature Restoration Law: Benefits for carbon sinks unclear
The EU Nature Restoration Law, adopted by a narrow majority in the EU Parliament on Tuesday, also has far-reaching effects on climate policy. 329 MEPs voted in favor, 275 against and 24 abstained on this first-of-its-kind law at the European level. It is intended to fulfill the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: At least 20 percent of the EU’s land and marine areas in need of restoration must be restored by 2030.
This has an impact on climate action. According to the EU climate target, emissions reductions in the LULUCF sector (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry) are to be achieved through intact ecosystems – for example, through reforestation or rewetting peatlands. This goal aligns with IPCC targets of conserving 30 to 50 percent of degraded ecosystems to increase carbon storage capacity.
EU member states must restore at least 30 percent of low-quality habitats to good condition by 2030, 60 percent by 2040 and 90 percent by 2050.
Areas in good condition must not deteriorate significantly.
Member States must submit national recovery plans for achieving the targets.
Member States must make progress on two of the following three indicators: the grassland butterfly index, the proportion of agricultural land with diverse landscape features and the stock of organic carbon in the mineral soils of arable land. Measures must also be taken to increase the index for farmland birds.
Member states must restore at least 30 percent of drained peatlands by 2030, 40 percent by 2040 and 50 percent by 2050.
Less climate effect than hoped for
However, it is questionable whether the current law will even be able to achieve the climate targets, as it falls short of the EU Commission’s original proposal.
The targets for rewetting peatlands for 2040 and 2050 are lower than the Commission proposal.
The deterioration ban has been changed from a result-orientated to an action-based approach. This means that the conservation of ecosystems is not measured based on their status but on the measures taken.
Moreover, it is still unclear how restoration measures are to be financed. The Commission itself states that the benefits of the law (1,860 billion euros) far outweigh the costs (approx. 154 billion euros). However, the law provides no incentive mechanisms but only sets out regulatory targets. Concrete funding commitments have not yet been made.
Forest owners also lack any incentive to invest in restoration over forest management. Yet the sink capacity of forests is vital to achieving the EU’s climate targets. The next EU Commission will have to find ways of incentivizing this. luk
Wald
Heat pumps: Concerned industry despite good German figures
According to figures published by the European Heat Pump Association on Tuesday, heat pump sales declined in many European countries in 2023. At 2.65 million, the number across the EU was five percent lower than in the booming year of 2022, albeit still 31 percent higher than in 2021.
One reason for the decline is that the EU has not yet presented its heat pump action plan, which was announced last year. In addition, many countries have cut back the subsidy conditions in 2023 after they were greatly expanded in 2022 following the Russian attack on Ukraine. This is the case in Italy, for example, where the figures have fallen particularly sharply.
In an EU comparison, Germany is in the strongest position: Around 440,000 heat pumps were sold here, an increase of 60 percent compared to the previous year. However, this is primarily because many orders from 2022 were still being processed in the first half of 2023; in the second half of the year, sales figures also fell in Germany. “The very destructive and misleading debate surrounding the Buildings Energy Act and the long wait for the new funding framework have noticeably paralyzed the market, especially in the last quarter,” said Claus Fest, Chairman of the Board of the German Heat Pump Association (BWP). mkr/av
Study: Climate change is causing fish to shrink
Fish in the North Pacific have lost considerable weight since 2010 because they find less food in warmer waters. This is the conclusion of a recent study by the University of Tokyo. The researchers analyzed data on the individual weight and biomass of 13 fish species.
The fish had also been particularly light in the 1980s. The first period of weight loss back then was due to a higher number of sardines and increased competition for food. At present, however, the low weight is mainly because the higher temperatures mean that less cool, nutrient-rich water reaches the ocean surface.
The warm North Pacific can even be deadly for marine mammals: Another study found that the number of humpback whales in the area declined by 20 percent between 2012 and 2021. The ocean heatwave “The Blob” between 2013 and 2016 was particularly problematic, which resulted in around 7,000 humpback whales starving to death, the study found. Climate change is increasing the frequency of heatwaves in oceans: For example, scientists currently warn of the consequences of unusually high temperatures in the Atlantic. kul
Climate & Environment
Climate change
Heatwave
Klima & Umwelt
The world’s dirtiest airports are in Dubai, London and LA
Aviation continues to be a significant driver of climate change and air pollution. Although carbon emissions from aviation declined in 2020, the year of the pandemic, they are now on the rise again and are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2025. This is the result of a study by the think tanks ODI and Transport & Environment.
The authors also analyzed the dirtiest airports based on 2019 data – measured in terms of CO2 and other emissions. The study found that Dubai is the world’s dirtiest airport, with over 20 million tons of CO2 – and 7,531 tonnes of nitrogen emissions (NOx). It is followed by London-Heathrow (19.1 MtCO2) and Los Angeles (18.7 MtCO₂). Frankfurt Airport is in 8th place in the global ranking with 13.9 MtCO2, directly behind Paris Charles de Gaulle (14.2 MtCO₂).
“The 100 most-polluting airports created 610 MtCO₂,” the authors write. This is equivalent to 152 coal-fired power plants and accounts for 65 percent of total carbon emissions in passenger and freight transport. In addition, there were 213,000 tons of NOx and 2,400 tons of particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. The figures clearly show that the aviation sector is not on the right track to limit its emissions in line with the globally agreed targets. They also show that emissions are unevenly distributed in a regional comparison and that the greatest pollution occurs in Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe. luk
Air traffic
Climate & Environment
Klima & Umwelt
LNG boom divides EU countries
The growing dependence on liquefied natural gas imports is dividing the EU. At their meeting in Brussels next Monday, the energy ministers will discuss a complaint from several Central European countries without LNG ports about increased transit fees in Germany.
Criticism centers around Germany’s gas storage levy, which has been in place since October 2022 to refinance the costs of the state-ordered winter storage by the market area manager THE. This levy applies not only to German gas consumers but also to exports. The levy makes it “more difficult for member states in this area to access gas imports from Western Europe,” reads a letter from the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, first reported by the Financial Times. “This could force some member states to rely more heavily on gas imports from Russia.”
Italy also wants to charge other countries
The gas storage levy was 59 cents per megawatt hour in 2022 and was increased to 1.86 euros at the beginning of the year. “In total, transit through Germany costs around three euros per megawatt hour. That’s not low at a time when gas is trading at 25 to 28 euros again,” says gas expert Jens Völler from Team Consult.
The German government recently extended the levy until March 2027. Italy is now also preparing a similar levy at border crossing points. Central European countries criticize that such unilateral measures would significantly impair the European gas market.
The EU Commission is now also looking into the German and Italian levies. “We have emphasized in all our contacts that levies must comply with the EU legal framework,” said a spokeswoman for Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson ahead of the debate on 4 March. According to Table.Media information, a “pilot procedure” involving the German government is already underway to resolve the dispute. ber
Gas prices
Gaspreise
Natural gas
Russland
Supply Chain Law postponed, climate action regulations on hold
Following the postponement of the decision on the European Supply Chain Law (CSDDD), the climate action rules for international trade in the EU are also on hold for the time being. At a meeting of deputy EU ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday, there was no majority in favor of the law; the final vote was postponed once again.
The Council, EU Parliament and EU Commission had already agreed on a final legislative text in December. Under pressure from the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the German government declared its abstention in January, and other member states also have reservations.
The directive lays down corporate due diligence obligations for impacts on human rights, the environment and the climate. According to the EU Commission, the aim is also to supplement EU climate legislation, including the climate targets for 2030 and 2050. Article 15 sets out measures to combat climate change:
Companies must draw up and implement a climate transition plan, including targets and measures. The aim is to ensure that their business models and strategies are in line with the transition to a sustainable economy and the Paris 1.5 degree target.
If climate change is identified as a key risk or impact of a company’s operations, its transition plan must include emission reduction targets.
Company management with more than 1,000 employees are to receive financial support for implementing the transition plan.
Banks, insurance companies and other businesses in the financial sector are also required to draw up these climate transition plans. This sector is otherwise exempt from the directive.
The due diligence obligations cover both the upstream value chain (such as the extraction of raw materials) and, in some cases, the downstream chain (use, recycling, disposal). Companies are obliged to control, monitor and report on the effectiveness of these measures.
The Council has a clear deadline to reach an agreement: The Parliament must formally approve the directive in its last plenary session before the European elections in April. leo
Climate policy
EU
Supply Chain Act
Heads
Michael Mann wins against climate change deniers
Climate scientist Michael Mann.
Michael Mann has spent most of his career as an unlikely public figure, famous both for his research as a climate scientist and for his willingness to confront science deniers.
More than one million US dollars in damages
Mann, 58, won a lawsuit in February against two right-wing writers who claimed in a pair of blog posts in 2012 that he had manipulated his data, and compared him to child molester Jerry Sandusky. A jury recently ruled in the civil case that the writers defamed the scientist and awarded him more than 1 million US dollars for the reputational injury.
But Mann‘s first taste of harassment dates back to when he was a little-known scientist decades earlier. He and his colleagues reconstructed the planet‘s temperatures over the past millennia, plotting the data points in an iconic chart that resembled a hockey stick. It showed relatively stable global temperature until a clear spike in the 20th century. When the top UN climate science body featured the hockey stick chart in its major climate assessment in 2001, climate-change deniers sought to discredit Mann’s work.
The experience taught Mann that he couldn‘t afford to shy away from the spotlight. “Initially, I was out there defending myself and defending my science from bad-faith attacks,” Mann said. “And over time I came to appreciate the fact that there‘s a larger role to play.”
Success should ‘create space for other scientists’
The larger role Mann now plays is fending off climate misinformation and bolstering science communication. He viewed his defamation lawsuit as one part of that mission, saying he hoped it “creates some space for other scientists worried about venturing out of the lab.”
In 2022, Mann left his long-time position at Penn State University to join the University of Pennsylvania’sKleinman Center for Energy Policy, a program working at the intersection of climate science, policy, and communication. He’s authored half a dozen books, including a children‘s book, considers Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio a friend, and served as an adviser for the 2021 climate satire “Don’t Look Up.”
Mann makes sure he carves out time to decompress with music and family, and one of his favorite activities is reproducing songs by ear on the piano. His daughter, 18, takes after him with an interest in computer science and math.
One thing he dislikes is apocalyptic climate works that leave people with no hope for the future. “To me it’s really important that we always couple agency with urgency,” he said. “We need to channel the emotional energy people feel about the climate crisis into something positive.” Rebecca Leber, WashingtonD.C.
Germany’s Fridays For Future is once again calling for a nationwide climate strike this Friday: In an attempt to counter shrinking numbers of participants and gain broader support, the activists are taking to the streets together with the German trade union Verdi. Reason enough for us to analyze how the climate movement in Germany is currently repositioning itself.
We also look to Austria: Lukas Bayer from Vienna explains why the country has no current climate plan and why the draft plan is inadequate – just like the German one.
At the EU level, important climate decisions have also been passed this week: The EU Nature Restoration Law was adopted by a narrow majority on Tuesday. Lukas Scheid explains why the climate impact will be lower than initially planned. The European Supply Chain Law, on the other hand, has failed for the time being. Leonie Düngefeld explains why it would also be a blow to the climate if the law does not actually come into force.
We also explain why climate change is making fish lighter, what’s behind the heat pump boom in Germany and what the world’s dirtiest airports are. Spoiler: For COP28, many already experienced the most climate-damaging first-hand last year.
Your Lisa Kuner
Feature
New ideas and alliances – the climate movement is reorganizing itself
FFF activist Luisa Neubauer at the Verdi warning strike in early February – Fridays for Future currently focuses on broad alliances.
On March 1, Germany’s climate activist group Fridays for Future (FFF) will be joining forces with the trade union Verdi to demonstrate for climate action and better working conditions in public transport. This alliance has already been tried and tested, but it is also an attempt to reach more people and win back sympathy. The Last Generation group is taking a different approach: It has called for “disobedience rallies” in various German cities on March 16. These different dates and approaches show that the German climate movement is divided – and is looking for new strategies.
Last year, the activists suffered several defeats:
The occupied village of Lützerath was cleared despite massive protests, and lignite mining in the region continues for the time being.
The Berlin referendum on climate neutrality failed due to insufficient participation.
Demonstrations and protests became smaller.
Disruptive actions, especially activists gluing themselves on the streets, turned many people against the movement rather than winning them over as supporters of climate action.
The war in the Gaza Strip divided the international climate movement. While Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and large parts of the international climate scene sympathized with the Palestinian cause, Fridays for Future Germany distanced itself from Thunberg’s position.
Even if many of the activists do not openly admit it: Most of them are feeling the change. And within the various movements, there are changes in strategy and personnel.
Last Generation: lack of new supporters and internal dispute
Over the past year, the “Last Generation” movement has attracted more media attention than any other climate group. Now things are crumbling behind the outwardly determined façade: In January, the activists announced they would no longer glue themselves to roads. In early February, the movement’s spokesperson then surprisingly announced that the movement would run for the European Parliament. With Lina Johnsen and Theo Schnarr, the movement fields two relatively unknown faces.
Maria-Christina Nimmerfroh, a psychologist at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences who has closely observed the Last Generation, believes the group is obviously in crisis: “Such movements always disintegrate from within,” she told Table.Media. She said it is not the media pressure or the tough lawsuits that disrupt the activists but internal disagreements and disputes.
It has recently become apparent that the group’s “functional hierarchy” with which it makes decisions is reaching its limits. In addition, Nimmerfroh sees massive recruitment problems for the Last Generation. So far, it has failed to win over many young people for its activism. This is also because the organization makes very high demands – ideally, members should be involved full-time. Simon Teune, protest researcher at the Free University of Berlin, adds that many activists are “frustrated and exhausted.”
FFF wants to reach as many people as possible
The counter-example remains Fridays for Future. Darya Sotoodeh, spokesperson for FFF, emphasizes in an interview with Table.Media: “Our strength is that we are accessible to many people.” This includes protests with broad alliances, such as with the trade unions on March 1. Participation in organizing large demonstrations against right-wing extremism earlier this year is also part of this strategy. Teune says that it has become clear that “an authoritarian, possibly even fascist policy would be the end of an effective climate policy.”
According to Nimmerfroh, the climate movement has not moved to the left – on the contrary. For example, the “Last Generation” wanted to appear “middle-class” and set itself apart from the clearly left-wing spectrum, she said. In principle, most climate justice movements strive to be non-partisan. “The perception of climate issues as left-wing is more likely to come from the political focus on these issues by the Green Party and the combination of a sustainable lifestyle with left-wing associations of non-conformity and the renunciation of consumption,” says Nimmerfroh. However, there is a clear distinction from the right-wing fringe: FFF aims to mainly focus on the “mobilization of young people, especially on the occasion of the elections in Europe and Germany,” according to a recent press release.
FFF also tries to reach people not yet involved in climate action through broad alliances. This is also evident in FFF’s current campaign, “Wir fahren zusammen” (We’re traveling together), in support of collective bargaining for public transport employees at the side of the trade union Verdi.
Protest researcher Dieter Rucht sees this as a promising strategy “in principle.” He sees the movement gaining breadth. “However, this also creates the risk of the movement losing its profile and internal conflicts arising.”
Movement reorients itself
“This is a step in the right direction,” Sotoodeh comments on the movement’s alliance with Verdi. On the one hand, because the transport transition is an important issue. Improved expansion of local transport, affordable bus and rail fares and good working conditions for employees are also issues supported by a broad majority of the German population. The campaign is also important because it shows that social improvements cannot be played off against climate action, says Sotoodeh. Furthermore, it is tangible and thus has the potential to reach many people.
FFF believes that the expansion of public transport should be funded by a 100-billion-euro special fund for a socially just transformation. “It is not the money for socially just climate action that is lacking, but the political will to use it,” adds the activist. Moreover, a labor strike has even more power than a school strike.
However, how successful FFF will be with this strategy remains to be seen: Simon Teune believes that “we need to think about what levers can be set in motion with limited resources.” New extreme weather events or even higher temperatures may serve as an “eye-opener” to get people involved again.
Social movement expert Nimmerfroh also feels that the climate movement is hardly being heard at the moment. Protest researcher Rucht sees the problems but does not believe that the climate movement is in crisis. Instead, he calls it a “phase of reorientation.” However, he says it is clear that “things cannot go on like this.” Neither the broad, friendly approach of the FFF nor the loud actions of the “Last Generation” would bring significant political success.
Climate & Environment
Fridays for Future
Protests
Austria: Climate research increases pressure in government dispute over climate plan
Austria’s Climate Action Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens, left) and European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP, right) continue to clash over the draft NECP. This is the reason for EU infringement proceedings against Austria.
Part of the climate science community has increased pressure on the Austrian government to submit its overdue energy and climate policy plans to the EU Commission. To this end, scientists from the climate research network CCCA held a press conference on Wednesday and presented an assessment of more than 1,400 measures. A representative opinion poll was also conducted.
The measures stem from 100 comments from representatives from politics, research, business and civil society. These were collected during the consultation phase for Austria’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). The draft was supposed to have already been submitted to the EU Commission, but the ÖVP and Greens are stuck in an internal coalition dispute. That is why the EU has opened infringement proceedings against the country in December 2023.
During the press conference, representatives from climate research once again stressed that it was crucial for Austria to submit this draft. They also presented a selection of measures from the comments. These included measures that received particularly strong support: Vacancy taxes, heating replacement, public transport expansion, the removal of climate-damaging subsidies and a greener tax system.
Austria is 13 percentage points short of EU climate target
All EU member countries must submit their final NECPs by June 30, 2024. These outline how countries intend to achieve their 2030 climate targets. Austria’s currently implemented measures leave it 13 percentage points short of the EU target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 48 percent. The CCCA already warned last year that this gap could not be closed with the current NECP draft. “Some of the proposed measures must therefore be included if Austria does not want to risk infringement,” explained Keywan Riahi from the IIASA Institute at the press conference.
Infringement proceedings have also been initiated against Poland because, like Austria, it failed to submit the draft NECP to the Commission on time. The Commission recently reviewed Germany’s draft. It is insufficient in some areas. In an opinion piece published by Table.Media, Marion Guénard and Charly Heberer from the NGO Germanwatch proposed a number of improvements.
55 climate researchers evaluated more than 1,400 recommendations
The more than 1,400 measures proposed for Austria’s NECP were independently assessed by 55 climate researchers from renowned institutes such as BOKU Vienna, the University of Graz and IIASA in Laxenburg. The measures were evaluated and prioritized based on their greenhouse gas reduction potential. The Gallup Institute was then commissioned to conduct a representative survey of public approval for 27 particularly effective measures. The population expressed support for 24 out of 27 of these measures.
The following measure received a high approval rating of more than 60 percent:
Expansion of the public transport network (84.9 percent)
Expansion of public transport in rural areas (83.0 percent)
Expansion of renewable energies (76.7 percent)
A greener tax system (68.4 percent)
Elimination of climate-damaging subsidies (68.5 percent)
Expansion of cycling infrastructure (68.3 percent)
Vacancy taxes for unoccupied residential properties (60.9 percent)
Measures that received a low approval rating of less than 40 percent included:
A combustion engine ban (25.5 percent)
Speed limit of 30, 80, 100 km/h (31.0 to 38.2 percent)
Reducing hot water consumption (38.7 percent)
Coalition dispute over NECP continues
Austria’s government is not obliged to include the proposed measures in the draft NECP. However, as the Federal Ministry for Climate Action sponsored the assessment by the CCCA climate research network, it is likely to be taken into account. Environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace and WWF Austria regard the assessment as a basis for Austria’s climate policy. “Science is ready to mediate neutrally in the political process,” says Karl Steiniger from the University of Graz, inviting cooperation. With Keywan Riahi, he was one of the report’s lead authors and welcomes the participatory approach of the Climate Action Ministry. Steininger emphasized that the proposed measures would make Austria’s EU climate targets “clearly achievable.”
Meanwhile, the coalition dispute over the NECP draft continues. In October, European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) withdrew the draft submitted by Climate Action Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). She justified this by stating that it had not been coordinated with the government partner. Gewessler rejected this, stating that the ministries concerned had been involved. A few days ago, in an interview with Austrian public broadcaster ORF ZiB2, she once again urged her ministerial colleague to submit the draft to Brussels. However, Edtstadler maintains her criticism and continues to block it.
Climate targets
EU climate policy
Klimaforschung
Events
March 4-5, Vila do Conde, Brazil Work meetingTask Force for the Global Mobilization against Climate Change The Task Force for the Global Mobilization Against Climate Change will promote a high-level dialogue among governments, financial institutions, and international organisms to enhance global macroeconomic and financial alignment to implement the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.Info
March 4-5, Brussels ConferenceSolar Power Summit The conference will focus on how the expansion of solar energy can be driven forward at the European level in order to achieve the 2040 climate targets.Info
March 7-8, Paris ForumBuildings and Climate Global Forum The Buildings and Climate Global Forum will bring together ministers and high-level representatives of key organizations in an effort to spur the decarbonization and resilience of the buildings sector. The event is the first of its kind and will follow up on progress made at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
Co-organized by France and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), with the support of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC).Info
March 7, 3 p.m. CET, Online WebinarDeforestation Exposed: Using High Resolution Satellite Imagery to Investigate Forest Clearing This webinar, organized by the World Resources Institute, provides an overview of the satellite imagery and resources available on Global Forest Watch (GFW).Info
News
Climate in Numbers: New wind power expansion record
Last year, European countries built a record 16.2 gigawatts of new wind turbines. In its annual report, the industry association WindEurope writes that the expansion raises hopes that the EU will be able to achieve its renewable energy targets by 2030.
In the report, WindEurope describes 2023 as a year of “significant improvements” in key areas of the European wind energy sector. In 2022, the sector had struggled with rising inflation rates, interest rates and volatile energy markets in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the meantime, the EU states have improved the approval procedures for new projects and inflation has eased. The association also praises the European Commission’s wind power package from October, which includes measures to strengthen and support the industry.
However, there is one caveat: To achieve its climate target for 2030, the EU will have to add an average of 33 gigawatts of wind energy every year – twice as much as in the previous record year, according to WindEurope. kul/rtr/nib
Energy transition
EU
Renewable energies
Wind power
Survey: Germans want more climate action, but not pay more for it
Germans have an ambivalent attitude towards climate action: 71 percent encourage politicians to ensure targets are achieved. At the same time, 49 percent think penalizing climate-damaging behavior with higher prices would be a bad idea. This is the result of a recent study conducted by the opinion research institute Pollytix on behalf of the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation.
62 percent of respondents believe political players should do more for the climate. Germans are also quite critical of themselves regarding climate action: 37 percent think they could do more for the environment.
When it comes to possible measures, 81 percent are in favor of supporting eco-friendly behavior, for example, through financial incentives. 55 percent think it would be a good idea to outlaw climate-damaging behavior. In contrast, only 47 percent support the proposal to make climate-damaging behavior more expensive. Only households with a net income of over 3,000 euros favor this.
The Pollytix researchers conclude: “We need a clear plan for more climate action.” Under the current circumstances, however, the majority “do not currently see this.” Furthermore, the researchers believe it is necessary to reduce the complexity of the issue and specify climate-damaging behavior. For this reason, they recommend “clearly and simply describing the effectiveness of measures.”
Climate protection
Klimaschutz
EU Nature Restoration Law: Benefits for carbon sinks unclear
The EU Nature Restoration Law, adopted by a narrow majority in the EU Parliament on Tuesday, also has far-reaching effects on climate policy. 329 MEPs voted in favor, 275 against and 24 abstained on this first-of-its-kind law at the European level. It is intended to fulfill the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: At least 20 percent of the EU’s land and marine areas in need of restoration must be restored by 2030.
This has an impact on climate action. According to the EU climate target, emissions reductions in the LULUCF sector (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry) are to be achieved through intact ecosystems – for example, through reforestation or rewetting peatlands. This goal aligns with IPCC targets of conserving 30 to 50 percent of degraded ecosystems to increase carbon storage capacity.
EU member states must restore at least 30 percent of low-quality habitats to good condition by 2030, 60 percent by 2040 and 90 percent by 2050.
Areas in good condition must not deteriorate significantly.
Member States must submit national recovery plans for achieving the targets.
Member States must make progress on two of the following three indicators: the grassland butterfly index, the proportion of agricultural land with diverse landscape features and the stock of organic carbon in the mineral soils of arable land. Measures must also be taken to increase the index for farmland birds.
Member states must restore at least 30 percent of drained peatlands by 2030, 40 percent by 2040 and 50 percent by 2050.
Less climate effect than hoped for
However, it is questionable whether the current law will even be able to achieve the climate targets, as it falls short of the EU Commission’s original proposal.
The targets for rewetting peatlands for 2040 and 2050 are lower than the Commission proposal.
The deterioration ban has been changed from a result-orientated to an action-based approach. This means that the conservation of ecosystems is not measured based on their status but on the measures taken.
Moreover, it is still unclear how restoration measures are to be financed. The Commission itself states that the benefits of the law (1,860 billion euros) far outweigh the costs (approx. 154 billion euros). However, the law provides no incentive mechanisms but only sets out regulatory targets. Concrete funding commitments have not yet been made.
Forest owners also lack any incentive to invest in restoration over forest management. Yet the sink capacity of forests is vital to achieving the EU’s climate targets. The next EU Commission will have to find ways of incentivizing this. luk
Wald
Heat pumps: Concerned industry despite good German figures
According to figures published by the European Heat Pump Association on Tuesday, heat pump sales declined in many European countries in 2023. At 2.65 million, the number across the EU was five percent lower than in the booming year of 2022, albeit still 31 percent higher than in 2021.
One reason for the decline is that the EU has not yet presented its heat pump action plan, which was announced last year. In addition, many countries have cut back the subsidy conditions in 2023 after they were greatly expanded in 2022 following the Russian attack on Ukraine. This is the case in Italy, for example, where the figures have fallen particularly sharply.
In an EU comparison, Germany is in the strongest position: Around 440,000 heat pumps were sold here, an increase of 60 percent compared to the previous year. However, this is primarily because many orders from 2022 were still being processed in the first half of 2023; in the second half of the year, sales figures also fell in Germany. “The very destructive and misleading debate surrounding the Buildings Energy Act and the long wait for the new funding framework have noticeably paralyzed the market, especially in the last quarter,” said Claus Fest, Chairman of the Board of the German Heat Pump Association (BWP). mkr/av
Study: Climate change is causing fish to shrink
Fish in the North Pacific have lost considerable weight since 2010 because they find less food in warmer waters. This is the conclusion of a recent study by the University of Tokyo. The researchers analyzed data on the individual weight and biomass of 13 fish species.
The fish had also been particularly light in the 1980s. The first period of weight loss back then was due to a higher number of sardines and increased competition for food. At present, however, the low weight is mainly because the higher temperatures mean that less cool, nutrient-rich water reaches the ocean surface.
The warm North Pacific can even be deadly for marine mammals: Another study found that the number of humpback whales in the area declined by 20 percent between 2012 and 2021. The ocean heatwave “The Blob” between 2013 and 2016 was particularly problematic, which resulted in around 7,000 humpback whales starving to death, the study found. Climate change is increasing the frequency of heatwaves in oceans: For example, scientists currently warn of the consequences of unusually high temperatures in the Atlantic. kul
Climate & Environment
Climate change
Heatwave
Klima & Umwelt
The world’s dirtiest airports are in Dubai, London and LA
Aviation continues to be a significant driver of climate change and air pollution. Although carbon emissions from aviation declined in 2020, the year of the pandemic, they are now on the rise again and are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2025. This is the result of a study by the think tanks ODI and Transport & Environment.
The authors also analyzed the dirtiest airports based on 2019 data – measured in terms of CO2 and other emissions. The study found that Dubai is the world’s dirtiest airport, with over 20 million tons of CO2 – and 7,531 tonnes of nitrogen emissions (NOx). It is followed by London-Heathrow (19.1 MtCO2) and Los Angeles (18.7 MtCO₂). Frankfurt Airport is in 8th place in the global ranking with 13.9 MtCO2, directly behind Paris Charles de Gaulle (14.2 MtCO₂).
“The 100 most-polluting airports created 610 MtCO₂,” the authors write. This is equivalent to 152 coal-fired power plants and accounts for 65 percent of total carbon emissions in passenger and freight transport. In addition, there were 213,000 tons of NOx and 2,400 tons of particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. The figures clearly show that the aviation sector is not on the right track to limit its emissions in line with the globally agreed targets. They also show that emissions are unevenly distributed in a regional comparison and that the greatest pollution occurs in Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe. luk
Air traffic
Climate & Environment
Klima & Umwelt
LNG boom divides EU countries
The growing dependence on liquefied natural gas imports is dividing the EU. At their meeting in Brussels next Monday, the energy ministers will discuss a complaint from several Central European countries without LNG ports about increased transit fees in Germany.
Criticism centers around Germany’s gas storage levy, which has been in place since October 2022 to refinance the costs of the state-ordered winter storage by the market area manager THE. This levy applies not only to German gas consumers but also to exports. The levy makes it “more difficult for member states in this area to access gas imports from Western Europe,” reads a letter from the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, first reported by the Financial Times. “This could force some member states to rely more heavily on gas imports from Russia.”
Italy also wants to charge other countries
The gas storage levy was 59 cents per megawatt hour in 2022 and was increased to 1.86 euros at the beginning of the year. “In total, transit through Germany costs around three euros per megawatt hour. That’s not low at a time when gas is trading at 25 to 28 euros again,” says gas expert Jens Völler from Team Consult.
The German government recently extended the levy until March 2027. Italy is now also preparing a similar levy at border crossing points. Central European countries criticize that such unilateral measures would significantly impair the European gas market.
The EU Commission is now also looking into the German and Italian levies. “We have emphasized in all our contacts that levies must comply with the EU legal framework,” said a spokeswoman for Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson ahead of the debate on 4 March. According to Table.Media information, a “pilot procedure” involving the German government is already underway to resolve the dispute. ber
Gas prices
Gaspreise
Natural gas
Russland
Supply Chain Law postponed, climate action regulations on hold
Following the postponement of the decision on the European Supply Chain Law (CSDDD), the climate action rules for international trade in the EU are also on hold for the time being. At a meeting of deputy EU ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday, there was no majority in favor of the law; the final vote was postponed once again.
The Council, EU Parliament and EU Commission had already agreed on a final legislative text in December. Under pressure from the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the German government declared its abstention in January, and other member states also have reservations.
The directive lays down corporate due diligence obligations for impacts on human rights, the environment and the climate. According to the EU Commission, the aim is also to supplement EU climate legislation, including the climate targets for 2030 and 2050. Article 15 sets out measures to combat climate change:
Companies must draw up and implement a climate transition plan, including targets and measures. The aim is to ensure that their business models and strategies are in line with the transition to a sustainable economy and the Paris 1.5 degree target.
If climate change is identified as a key risk or impact of a company’s operations, its transition plan must include emission reduction targets.
Company management with more than 1,000 employees are to receive financial support for implementing the transition plan.
Banks, insurance companies and other businesses in the financial sector are also required to draw up these climate transition plans. This sector is otherwise exempt from the directive.
The due diligence obligations cover both the upstream value chain (such as the extraction of raw materials) and, in some cases, the downstream chain (use, recycling, disposal). Companies are obliged to control, monitor and report on the effectiveness of these measures.
The Council has a clear deadline to reach an agreement: The Parliament must formally approve the directive in its last plenary session before the European elections in April. leo
Climate policy
EU
Supply Chain Act
Heads
Michael Mann wins against climate change deniers
Climate scientist Michael Mann.
Michael Mann has spent most of his career as an unlikely public figure, famous both for his research as a climate scientist and for his willingness to confront science deniers.
More than one million US dollars in damages
Mann, 58, won a lawsuit in February against two right-wing writers who claimed in a pair of blog posts in 2012 that he had manipulated his data, and compared him to child molester Jerry Sandusky. A jury recently ruled in the civil case that the writers defamed the scientist and awarded him more than 1 million US dollars for the reputational injury.
But Mann‘s first taste of harassment dates back to when he was a little-known scientist decades earlier. He and his colleagues reconstructed the planet‘s temperatures over the past millennia, plotting the data points in an iconic chart that resembled a hockey stick. It showed relatively stable global temperature until a clear spike in the 20th century. When the top UN climate science body featured the hockey stick chart in its major climate assessment in 2001, climate-change deniers sought to discredit Mann’s work.
The experience taught Mann that he couldn‘t afford to shy away from the spotlight. “Initially, I was out there defending myself and defending my science from bad-faith attacks,” Mann said. “And over time I came to appreciate the fact that there‘s a larger role to play.”
Success should ‘create space for other scientists’
The larger role Mann now plays is fending off climate misinformation and bolstering science communication. He viewed his defamation lawsuit as one part of that mission, saying he hoped it “creates some space for other scientists worried about venturing out of the lab.”
In 2022, Mann left his long-time position at Penn State University to join the University of Pennsylvania’sKleinman Center for Energy Policy, a program working at the intersection of climate science, policy, and communication. He’s authored half a dozen books, including a children‘s book, considers Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio a friend, and served as an adviser for the 2021 climate satire “Don’t Look Up.”
Mann makes sure he carves out time to decompress with music and family, and one of his favorite activities is reproducing songs by ear on the piano. His daughter, 18, takes after him with an interest in computer science and math.
One thing he dislikes is apocalyptic climate works that leave people with no hope for the future. “To me it’s really important that we always couple agency with urgency,” he said. “We need to channel the emotional energy people feel about the climate crisis into something positive.” Rebecca Leber, WashingtonD.C.
