Climate strike! In recent years, it has often been a key political event: Hundreds of thousands of people, especially the youth, took to the streets worldwide to demand more climate action – accompanied and cheered on by large parts of society. Now, Friday is another day of protest for the climate, but the wind has changed: Those who call for more climate action are often harassed, criticized, marginalized and voted out of office – and those who protest more radically are branded as criminals or eco-terrorists. Today, we report on how the climate movement faces a wave of harsh sentences and strict laws across Europe.
There are signs of hope from Brussels, however: The new EU Commission has designated politicians for climate and the Green Deal who are showing great ambition in the green transition – we analyze in detail what might be in the cards. We also report that Germany is the world leader in sustainability innovations. Germany is also making greater progress than expected in expanding wind energy. There you go!
Or is it? There is a rather bizarre story surrounding the Christian Democrats’ rejection of a new “joint task” for the federal and state governments in light of the flood damage. This leads us to suspect that the motto “devil-may-care” is still the prevailing theme in the political debate.
Your Bernhard Pötter
Feature
Von der Leyen’s climate team: Green Deal and industrial policy become one
Hoekstra, Ribera and Jørgensen know each other well – they already worked side by side at COP28 in Dubai.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has put together a promising team of Commissioners to continue the climate policy agenda over the next five years. Spain’s Teresa Ribera will be the new Commissioner for Competition. What does not initially sound like a climate portfolio actually involves the task of aligning the European Union’s state aid law with the EU’s climate targets – specifically, the expansion of renewables and industrial decarbonization.
According to a senior Commission official, Ribera’s competitive portfolio is the key to achieving the 2030 climate targets. The five-year mandate of this Commission ends shortly before the greenhouse gas reduction target of 55 percent compared to 1990 must be achieved. Consequently, the new Commission is “fully focussed” on the EU’s 2030 climate target, the official added.
Ribera, Séjourné and Hoekstra lead the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’
The plan is to be brought to life with a Green Deal 2.0 named “Clean Industrial Deal.” The ambitious and experienced climate politician Ribera and the French liberal industrial commissioner Stéphane Séjourné will oversee it. This shows that there is no room for regression, but rather the intention to step up the ambition for more climate action in industrial and economic policy, says Chiara Martinelli, Director of Climate Action Network Europe (CAN). Europe must undoubtedly continue to be a climate champion and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but also remain competitive along the way – that is the signal that von der Leyen sent out on Tuesday.
Reporting to Ribera will be Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen and Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall. Hoekstra and Jørgensen are also experienced climate politicians – one as current Climate Commissioner, the other as former Energy and Environment Minister in Denmark.
Von der Leyen’s mandate to combine climate action with industrial and economic policy is also reflected here in the allocation of tasks. The legislative work for the “Clean Industrial Deal” comes from the Directorates-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and Internal Market and Industry (DG GROW). This means that Hoekstra and Séjourné are taskedwith jointly driving forward industrial decarbonization, the ramp-up of clean technologies and investment incentives.
Hoekstra could get serious about the kerosene tax
Hoekstra’s nomination also ensures continuity. As he did last year in Dubai, he will also lead the international climate negotiations at COP29 in Baku this November. If Hoekstra’s portfolio had changed, the EU would have appeared headless, given Hungary’s unambitious climate policy presidency in Baku. Von der Leyen has found an elegant and satisfactory solution for both Hoekstra and the Dutch government.
He and his subordinate DG CLIMA are also responsible for drafting the legislative package for the EU’s 2040 climate target, whose reduction target of 90 percent Hoekstra himself presented back in February. Moreover, he has been assigned the tax portfolio – the economic task the Netherlands had hoped for. Among other things, he will work on aligning value-added taxes with environmental criteria. Hoekstra could also drive the introduction of climate taxes and end environmentally harmful subsidies and tax privileges. For example, he could now tackle the issue of the kerosene tax, which was announced a year ago.
Jørgensen to promote CCS and nuclear power
Danish national Jørgensen also has a relevant climate profile, but will now be Energy Commissioner. The economic aspects of his portfolio are obvious: Low energy prices are essential for economic recovery. However, von der Leyen insists that energy sources must become cleaner. According to the Commission President, small modular nuclear power plants and CO2 capture technologies, which Jørgensen is supposed to help ramp up, will also help.
Jørgensen is a solid choice as Energy Commissioner, says Linda Kalcher, Director of the Brussels-based think tank Strategic Perspectives. “I expect him to be immune to greenwashing, that blue hydrogen or various carbon capture technologies will solve all our problems of tomorrow, and that he will be pragmatic about nuclear energy.”
Remaining doubts about Roswall
Although Environment Commissioner-designate Jessika Roswall has no experience in her new area of responsibility, she is a clever political compromise. The EPP party family had recently focussed its criticism primarily on nature conservation and is now getting a responsible Commissioner from its own ranks.
Von der Leyen will certainly not give her free rein. Her department will have to make a significant contribution to the planned European climate adaptation plan and revise the controversial EU chemicals regulation REACH, which some in the EPP will not be happy about and is likely to greatly impact the chemical industry.
She will have an easier time selling environmental protection in her party family than her Green predecessor, Virginijus Sinkevičius. But the Environment Committee could make life difficult for her. Sweden voted against the Nature Restoration Law and did not support the anti-deforestation regulation, liberal environmental politician Pascal Canfin posted on X. Commissioners usually jointly represent Commission proposals. Now, Canfin suggests, there is a risk that Roswall will go against the Commission’s line. “We will have to make sure she acts as true EU commissioner.”
Séjourné is to create lead markets for clean tech
In addition, Séjourné has been tasked with proposing an “Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act” to promote “European lead markets for the development, production and diffusion in industry of clean tech” and accelerating planning, tendering and approval procedures, especially for energy-intensive industries. The European Commission has thus taken up an idea that German Economy Minister Robert Habeck had previously put forward with his concept for green lead markets.
At a panel discussion on Wednesday, Director-General Kerstin Jorna (DG GROW) and Director-General Kurt Vandenberghe (DG CLIMA) gave an initial insight into the new Commission’s industrial strategy: “The real question will be how to make the business case of the transition a good business case,” said Jorna. This business case does not yet exist in Europe, especially in energy-intensive industries such as steel, glass, cement and chemicals. While the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) of the last mandate has improved the approval processes for sustainable energy technologies, this has not yet been done for the customers of these technologies, she said.
Public procurement should prioritize European suppliers
In parallel with the Accelerator Act, Séjourné has also taken on the task of adapting public procurement rules in favor of European companies. The explicitly formulated goal of favoring European producers is new. Such “buy European” clauses have been included in draft versions of the NZIA in the past – but they were then omitted from the Commission’s final proposal.
The Commissioners-designate will now have to attend hearings before the relevant committees in the EU Parliament. They will be questioned about their qualifications for the job as well as potential political conflicts. The committee coordinators of the political groups then vote on the appointment. Finally, the plenary of the EU Parliament will vote on the entire college of the new EU Commission.
Climate & Environment
COP29
EU climate policy
EU climate target 2040
EVP
Fit for 55
Green Deal
Industrial policy
Net Zero Industry Act
Climate strike: How activism is increasingly sanctioned
A “Last Generation” activist is taken away in handcuffs by the police.
Longer prison sentences, harsher punishments and a public opinion that is turning against them – the climate movement in Germany is facing more and more direct and indirect repression. The protest for a faster and more effective climate policy faces a dilemma: On the one hand, public attention for large demonstrations such as tomorrow’s climate strike on September 20 is dwindling, while the effects of the climate crisis are becoming increasingly visible, such as the flood disaster in Eastern Europe. While activists resort to more extreme forms of protest, such as blocking roads and airports, the reactions from politicians, authorities and courts to the protests are becoming increasingly harsh.
This development also worries the UN. Earlier this year, Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, said: “The repression that environmental activists who use peaceful civil disobedience are currently facing in Europe is a major threat to democracy and human rights. The environmental emergency that we are collectively facing (…) cannot be addressed if those raising the alarm and demanding action are criminalized for it.
Prison sentences, preventive detention and tapped phone calls
“Fridays for Future” and other groups have called for their traditional fall protests on September 20. While 1.4 million people participated in the demonstrations five years ago, the organizers expect significantly less support this year.
Society’s stance on the climate debate has deteriorated. Germany has recently seen a whole series of restrictive reactions to climate activism. Among them:
In late August, the Tiergarten district court in Berlin sentenced a “Last Generation” activist to one year and ten months in prison for a sit-in blockade. According to the “Last Generation,” this is the “highest sentence to date” for a sit-in blockade.
The German government plans to tighten the Aviation Security Act to prevent climate activists from disrupting airport operations. In the future, activists who blockade airports could even face a prison sentence instead of a fine, as is currently the case.
In Bavaria, 27 “Last Generation” activists were taken intopreventive detention before the IAA motor show for announcing a protest against it. Preventive detention was actually created as an instrument to combat terrorism.
The Bavarian police also tapped the phones of the “Last Generation” – including the official press phone. Journalists have since lodged a constitutional complaint against this.
Emmanuel Schlichter from the NGO Green Legal Impact, which advises climate activists on the legal framework, is certain: “Political activism is being criminalized.” In his view, it is particularly disconcerting that stricter laws are no longer causing a huge outcry. Many have already become accustomed to the crackdown and other issues are currently considered more important. Schlichter said. He believes that one of the biggest problems is that Section 129 of the German Criminal Code is being used against climate activists, charging them with “forming a criminal organization.” He demands that repressive measures against peaceful climate activism must stop. “Protest plays an essential role in a democracy,” he says.
Amnesty report: Right to protest restricted in Europe
Climate activism is not only facing increasing pressure in Germany. “Climate activism is confronted with the same restrictive methods in various countries in Europe,” says Schlichter. A report by Amnesty International found that the right to protest was curtailed in all 21 European countries examined and even documented bodily harm in various cases. A report published last week by Climate Rights comes to similar conclusions.
Examples of increasing repression, especially of climate activism in Europe:
The UK has introduced various laws against different forms of protest – including climate activists. For example, the Public Order Act prohibits people from chaining or taping themselves to objects. In the fall of 2023, this led to the arrest of 630 activists from the “Just Stop Oil” movement. The severe sentences handed down to five activists also attracted much attention this summer – they received prison sentences of four and five years.
In the Netherlands last October, 2,400 activists were arrested during the “Extinction Rebellion” blockade of a freeway near The Hague, followed by another 500 arrests the next day.
The French group “Soulèvements de la Terre” was even temporarily outlawed for allegedly inciting violence. A court later overturned this decision.
In January this year, Italy passed a law against so-called eco-vandals. Previously, activists who defaced works of art or monuments faced a fine of 1,500 to 15,000 euros; now, they can be fined 40,000 to 60,000 euros.
Increasingly strong measures against climate activism
According to Paula Zimmermann from Amnesty, the “full range” of repressive measures is being used deliberately against climate activism. These include stricter laws, official repression such as assembly bans, police violence, heavy sentences, but also defamatory rhetoric. “Climate criminals” or “eco-terrorists” are now part of the common vocabulary when talking about these protests. “This leads to a social climate that legitimizes violence against climate activism,” warns Zimmermann.
She notes an increasing intensity of measures: A few years ago, most countries had mainly relied on deterrence, but now there is preventive detention and more and more convictions, some of them with long prison sentences. Criminalization is no longer limited to individuals, but applies to entire groups.
Klimaaktivisten
Events
September 19-20, Berlin ConferenceCLEW turns 10 – Journalism for the age of climate consequences The Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) journalism network is celebrating its tenth anniversary and will be discussing the role of journalism in the climate crisis.Info
September 20, Germany DemonstrationClimate strike Several climate movements, such as “Fridays for Future,” are calling for a global climate strike in Germany and worldwide. Activities are planned in many cities.
September 22 ElectionsState elections in Brandenburg The German state of Brandenburg will elect a new state parliament. The composition of the future state parliament will also have a major impact on climate policy.
September 24, 9:30 a.m. CEST, Online WebinarNavigating the ESG Regulation – What implications for Carbon Removal Projects in Europe? Euractiv is hosting this online discussion on ESG legislation and its implications for carbon removal projects in Europe. It also looks at the role of carbon and biodiversity credits.Info
News
Climate in Numbers: How Germany could quickly reach net zero
Germany’s Climate Change Act stipulates that the country must achieve net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. However, the measures taken by the German government to date are insufficient. How many additional emissions could the German industry save if steel production were climate-neutral? What would a ban on disposable plastics do for the climate? What would a faster expansion of wind and solar power, a speed limit, or a ban on new gasoline-powered cars do for the climate?
The climate organization GermanZero presented a tool on Tuesday that provides answers to these questions. “MappingZero” calculates the emissions reduction effect of various measures and is intended to act “like a route planner” for Germany’s path to net zero. According to GermanZero, “the most important question has been lost in the political debate far too often: How big is the impact of the measures being talked about?” Try out the tool for yourself here.
The “MappingZero” website aims to provide a clear yet differentiated answer to this question. It allows users to select specific climate action measures in each sector and then shows how many emissions they would reduce. For example, almost 136 megatons of CO2 equivalents could be saved by 2045 if the ban on the sale of new gasoline cars were brought forward to 2030. An e-fuel quota, on the other hand, performs significantly worse at 24 megatons. Strict emissions trading would be particularly beneficial: If the EU ETS were extended to all sectors – including agriculture – and the number of available credits tripled, emissions could be reduced by 5,215 megatons of CO2 equivalents. This would reduce significantly more emissions than an accelerated expansion of wind and solar power and a speed limit combined.
The calculations are based on scientific studies and data from the Federal Government’s inventory and projection report. The tool also provides information on the specific ways of implementing the individual measures, potential risks and societal impacts and names the responsible members of the government and members of the Bundestag. ae
Verkehrswende
Flood protection: Why the German Christian Democrats reject a federal/state task
In light of the current flood disaster in Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland, the Christian Democratic parliamentary group CDU/CSU in the Bundestag has called for the German government to support the federal states and local authorities in flood protection – but has rejected a “joint task” between the federal government and the federal states on this matter. German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and the Conference of Environment Ministers of the federal states have repeatedly called for such a regulation, which would require an amendment to the Basic Law. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group also proposed it in 2022.
The flood disaster in Eastern Europe, partly caused by climate change, killed more than 20 people and caused billions of euros in damage.. The German regions have so far been spared any severe damage. In view of this development and the current “Climate Adaptation Week,” Environment Minister Lemke reiterated her call for the federal and state governments to adopt a “joint task” to finance climate adaptation, similar to the “Improvement of Agricultural Structure and Coastal Protection” (GAK). After all, estimates suggest that climate change adaptation could cost 38 billion euros by 2050. So far, only the federal states and local authorities have been responsible for this, and the federal government is prohibited from financing it regularly. To get the federal government on board, the Basic Law would need to be amended with a two-thirds majority, requiring the approval of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.
CDU/CSU: Federal government should pay, but not as a task
In an interview with Table.Briefings, Anja Weisgerber, environmental policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU, criticized the government for the fact that the Climate Change Adaptation Act fails to specify how its measures are to be funded. She said necessary funding for climate adaptation must be made available “without new debt and through budget reallocations.” The “challenges are so great that they cannot be tackled by the municipalities and federal states alone. The federal government must also provide support here.” However, Weisgerber and the CDU/CSU parliamentary group reject a “joint task” to set out such payments in the long term.
This was not always the case. In April 2022, the CDU/CSU tabled a motion in the Bundestag calling on the Federal Government to “secure funding for the future task of climate adaptation and to examine the options required for this, for example, the expansion of an existing joint task or the creation of a new climate adaptation joint task.” The Conference of Environment Ministers had also repeatedly urged setting up a joint task with the votes of the CDU/CSU-governed federal states. The background to the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s rejection is apparently the concern that the federal government might commit to new long-term expenditure despite empty coffers. bpo
Hochwasser
Wind power expansion: Sufficient bids for target path for the first time
The various measures to facilitate the approval of new wind turbines are showing an effect: In the latest round of tenders for onshore wind turbines in August, both participation and the capacity awarded were higher than ever before. As the German Federal Network Agency announced on Tuesday, nearly three gigawatts were bid for the tendered capacity of 2.7 gigawatts. If this trend continues, Germany could reach its annual expansion target from 2026 onwards.
The German government has set itself the goal of roughly doubling the installed capacity of onshore wind turbines to 115 gigawatts by 2030. To achieve this, an annual net increase of around eight gigawatts is required from 2025. As old wind turbines will be decommissioned simultaneously, a gross addition of ten gigawatts is required for the target path. According to the EEG, this amount will be put out to tender annually, in quarterly stages of 2.5 gigawatts each.
Higher tenders to make up for the backlog of the last auctions
However, this figure has never been reached to date. In 2023, only 6.5 gigawatts were awarded instead of ten due to insufficient bids. In May of this year, the target value was almost reached for the first time; in August, it was exceeded by 2.7 gigawatts. The fact that more than 2.5 gigawatts were put out to tender is because the backlog from the previous auctions was supposed to be made up for through higher tender volumes. However, this was only partially successful: The original plan was to put four gigawatts out to tender. However, the volume was scaled back in the run-up to the auction as it was foreseeable that there would not have been enough bids and therefore no price competition.
The German government passed several legislative packages to improve the conditions for wind energy, including making it an “overriding public interest,” which made legal action more difficult. In addition, the federal states have been issued with guidelines for the designation of wind areas. The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) welcomed the development. “The acceleration measures, particularly from the Easter, summer and PV package, are now having an impact,” the association explained. However, according to the Association, further facilitating planning and refraining from tightening the noise requirements is necessary to achieve the 2030 target. mkr
Bundesnetzagentur
Survey: What German companies demand to make the green transition a success
Two-thirds of German companies consider climate investments “unavoidable” to prevent future economic disadvantages. However, 90 percent of companies fear rising production costs, and 75 percent are concerned about job losses in energy-intensive sectors. Small companies in Eastern Germany are particularly worried. For this reason, business representatives are calling on politicians to create clear framework conditionsand lower and stabilize energy prices.
These are the findings of a representative survey of almost 550 companies conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW) on behalf of the German Association of Energy Buyers (VEA) and the non-profit foundation Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft. According to the survey, most companies fear that the climate targets will negatively impact the German economy over the next five years – although they have a more differentiated view of the situation for their own companies. “The majority of companies believe in Germany as a business location despite all the crises,” says Sabine Nallinger, Director of the Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft. “They know that their economic survival depends on a successful transformation.”
However, companies are “extremely uncertain.” Every tenth company plans to stop producing in Germany; many more fear an exodus to other countries. The choice of business location depends, above all, on the availability of skilled workers, energy costs and the regulatory environment – and the survey rates the latter particularly poorly. “Most companies are much further ahead than politicians,” criticizes Aysel Osmanoglu, CEO of GLS Bank. Like most companies surveyed, she calls for clear framework conditions from the German government. lb
Climate protection
Company
Economic policy
Energiewende
Energy transition
Klimaziele
Why China may now have reached its coal peak this time
Dieser Inhalt ist Lizenznehmern unserer Vollversion vorbehalten.
In 2013, China consumed 4.2 billion tons of coal. Over the next two years, demand continued to fall. China’s coal consumption had peaked, it seemed. In 2016, however, consumption began to rise again, even growing by about 5 percent per year during the Covid.
This development clearly undermined the goals of China’s 2030 Carbon Peak Action Plan, which called for strict control of coal consumption growth. On the positive side, coal’s share of primary energy consumption fell from around 70 percent in 2011 to 55 percent in 2022. However, this achievement is offset by the 40 percent growth in total energy consumption over the same period.
The increase in coal consumption was a direct result of the massive electricity shortage in 2021, which forced many factories to halt production. In response, the government has massively promoted the construction of coal-fired power plants.
Now there is hope for a second peak. The IEA estimates that Chinese coal consumption will decline in 2024 and plateau through 2026. China’s coal production in 2024 will be the same as last year. The peak would be in line with China’s policy targets to gradually reduce coal consumption from 2026 onwards.
There are signs of a near-term coal peak. According to an analyst by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), new coal power approvals fell by 83 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to last year. However, coal power construction activity remains at a high level due to the large number of approvals in 2022 and 2023.
The coal peak is a key condition for China to meet its commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030. This would also help reduce global coal consumption.
Sinolytics is a research-based business consultancy entirely focused on China. It advises European companies on their strategic orientation and specific business activities in the People’s Republic.
Innovations: Germany among the leaders in green ideas
According to a new index, Germany ranks among the international leaders in innovations in sustainability. Of 35 developed countries, Germany ranks third after Denmark and Finland, on par with South Korea and just ahead of the UK. This is the result of the annual “Innovation Indicator,” presented on Wednesday by the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
It includes sustainability since 2023, measuring efforts in areas such as:
Spending on research and development in renewables and efficiency as a proportion of GDP,
green early-stage investments,
government research funding for the environment and energy,
hiring, patents and scientific publications,
exports of sustainable goods and
environmental taxes.
Germany also performs comparatively well in the circular economy, energy technology and production technologies. Overall, however, the country has slipped from 10th to 12th place in the ranking compared to its competitors. According to the Innovation Indicator, Switzerland, Singapore and Denmark lead in innovations. It lists high investment in the science system, high spending on universities and close cooperation between business and science as key factors. bpo
BDI
Carbon dioxide: Why pipeline subsidies are not expected before 2025
A draft on the German government’s Carbon Management Strategy (CMS) from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) postpones the issue of public funding for a privately operated CO2 pipeline network until next year. The draft, which has yet to be coordinated between the ministries and is available to Table.Briefings, states that “the need for security mechanisms for investors in the ramp-up phase” is being examined. In addition to existing funding instruments such as Carbon Contracts for Difference – which, however, tend to benefit large manufacturing companies rather than grid operators – the German government will “probably examine options for state guarantees for financing infrastructure in the first half of 2025.” Instruments from the German investment and development bank KfW might be considered.
The CO2 network will allow captured carbon dioxide from waste incineration plants, cement factories and other industries to flow to storage sites in the North Sea. A study by the German Cement Works Association (VDZ) estimates construction costs of 14 billion euros.
Longer objection and planning procedures likely
In order to be able to lay the CO2 pipelines quickly, “route bundling during pipeline construction” is an option, according to the BMWK’s draft strategy. It refers to the parallel laying of carbon dioxide and hydrogen pipelines. However, planning the pipeline network in such a short time will be difficult: The application of gas transmission system operators for the construction of the hydrogen core network is due to be approved by the Federal Network Agency at the end of this week. Once approved, construction planning will have to begin quickly, as most of the H2 core network is scheduled to be operational by 2032. Some large-scale consumers, such as steel producer Salzgitter AG, even hope to be connected up to five years earlier.
At least the legal situation could be adapted in time for joint pipeline construction: Next week, the German parliament is planning the first reading of an amendment to the Carbon Capture and Storage Act, which will also re-regulate CO2 pipeline construction. It states that carbon dioxide pipelines built “predominantly or directly adjacent” to a hydrogen pipeline are to benefit from the planning privileges of the hydrogen core network. An “overriding public interest” applies to the H2 core network. In contrast, there is only to be a “public interest” for stand-alone CO2 pipelines. The latter makes longer objection and planning procedures likely. av
Klimakrise
Must-Reads
BBC: UK Foreign Secretary – Climate a more fundamental threat than terror. In a speech, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared that the climate issue would be at the heart of all the Foreign Office’s activities. He also announced that the government would launch a global initiative to accelerate the introduction of clean energy. However, the Minister warned that the UK’s previous funding commitments on this issue would need to be reviewed in light of the country’s dire financial situation. Click here for the article.
Brookings: The barriers to financing a more scalable climate response. Amid the rising damage and escalating costs associated with climate change, US leaders increasingly recognize the need for a comprehensive national response. Financial markets help translate climate intentions into action – but are not always aligned with the most pressing climate problems or social needs. Click here for the article.
BBC: Climate change is turbo-charging Somalia’s problems. Somalia has been plagued by crises for decades. In 2022, the country experienced its worst drought in 40 years – an event scientists say has become 100 times more likely due to man-made climate change. But many people in the country are taking action. For example, the local power plant in Garowe has invested in wind and solar energy. Click here for the article.
Financial Times: Presidential election crucial for climate protection. Former US Vice President, Nobel Peace Prize winner and climate activist Al Gore believes that the outcome of the US presidential election will be decisive for the US’s approach to climate protection. US citizens have the choice between Kamala Harris, who takes the climate issue seriously, and climate change denier Donald Trump. Click here for the article.
Climate strike! In recent years, it has often been a key political event: Hundreds of thousands of people, especially the youth, took to the streets worldwide to demand more climate action – accompanied and cheered on by large parts of society. Now, Friday is another day of protest for the climate, but the wind has changed: Those who call for more climate action are often harassed, criticized, marginalized and voted out of office – and those who protest more radically are branded as criminals or eco-terrorists. Today, we report on how the climate movement faces a wave of harsh sentences and strict laws across Europe.
There are signs of hope from Brussels, however: The new EU Commission has designated politicians for climate and the Green Deal who are showing great ambition in the green transition – we analyze in detail what might be in the cards. We also report that Germany is the world leader in sustainability innovations. Germany is also making greater progress than expected in expanding wind energy. There you go!
Or is it? There is a rather bizarre story surrounding the Christian Democrats’ rejection of a new “joint task” for the federal and state governments in light of the flood damage. This leads us to suspect that the motto “devil-may-care” is still the prevailing theme in the political debate.
Your Bernhard Pötter
Feature
Von der Leyen’s climate team: Green Deal and industrial policy become one
Hoekstra, Ribera and Jørgensen know each other well – they already worked side by side at COP28 in Dubai.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has put together a promising team of Commissioners to continue the climate policy agenda over the next five years. Spain’s Teresa Ribera will be the new Commissioner for Competition. What does not initially sound like a climate portfolio actually involves the task of aligning the European Union’s state aid law with the EU’s climate targets – specifically, the expansion of renewables and industrial decarbonization.
According to a senior Commission official, Ribera’s competitive portfolio is the key to achieving the 2030 climate targets. The five-year mandate of this Commission ends shortly before the greenhouse gas reduction target of 55 percent compared to 1990 must be achieved. Consequently, the new Commission is “fully focussed” on the EU’s 2030 climate target, the official added.
Ribera, Séjourné and Hoekstra lead the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’
The plan is to be brought to life with a Green Deal 2.0 named “Clean Industrial Deal.” The ambitious and experienced climate politician Ribera and the French liberal industrial commissioner Stéphane Séjourné will oversee it. This shows that there is no room for regression, but rather the intention to step up the ambition for more climate action in industrial and economic policy, says Chiara Martinelli, Director of Climate Action Network Europe (CAN). Europe must undoubtedly continue to be a climate champion and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but also remain competitive along the way – that is the signal that von der Leyen sent out on Tuesday.
Reporting to Ribera will be Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen and Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall. Hoekstra and Jørgensen are also experienced climate politicians – one as current Climate Commissioner, the other as former Energy and Environment Minister in Denmark.
Von der Leyen’s mandate to combine climate action with industrial and economic policy is also reflected here in the allocation of tasks. The legislative work for the “Clean Industrial Deal” comes from the Directorates-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and Internal Market and Industry (DG GROW). This means that Hoekstra and Séjourné are taskedwith jointly driving forward industrial decarbonization, the ramp-up of clean technologies and investment incentives.
Hoekstra could get serious about the kerosene tax
Hoekstra’s nomination also ensures continuity. As he did last year in Dubai, he will also lead the international climate negotiations at COP29 in Baku this November. If Hoekstra’s portfolio had changed, the EU would have appeared headless, given Hungary’s unambitious climate policy presidency in Baku. Von der Leyen has found an elegant and satisfactory solution for both Hoekstra and the Dutch government.
He and his subordinate DG CLIMA are also responsible for drafting the legislative package for the EU’s 2040 climate target, whose reduction target of 90 percent Hoekstra himself presented back in February. Moreover, he has been assigned the tax portfolio – the economic task the Netherlands had hoped for. Among other things, he will work on aligning value-added taxes with environmental criteria. Hoekstra could also drive the introduction of climate taxes and end environmentally harmful subsidies and tax privileges. For example, he could now tackle the issue of the kerosene tax, which was announced a year ago.
Jørgensen to promote CCS and nuclear power
Danish national Jørgensen also has a relevant climate profile, but will now be Energy Commissioner. The economic aspects of his portfolio are obvious: Low energy prices are essential for economic recovery. However, von der Leyen insists that energy sources must become cleaner. According to the Commission President, small modular nuclear power plants and CO2 capture technologies, which Jørgensen is supposed to help ramp up, will also help.
Jørgensen is a solid choice as Energy Commissioner, says Linda Kalcher, Director of the Brussels-based think tank Strategic Perspectives. “I expect him to be immune to greenwashing, that blue hydrogen or various carbon capture technologies will solve all our problems of tomorrow, and that he will be pragmatic about nuclear energy.”
Remaining doubts about Roswall
Although Environment Commissioner-designate Jessika Roswall has no experience in her new area of responsibility, she is a clever political compromise. The EPP party family had recently focussed its criticism primarily on nature conservation and is now getting a responsible Commissioner from its own ranks.
Von der Leyen will certainly not give her free rein. Her department will have to make a significant contribution to the planned European climate adaptation plan and revise the controversial EU chemicals regulation REACH, which some in the EPP will not be happy about and is likely to greatly impact the chemical industry.
She will have an easier time selling environmental protection in her party family than her Green predecessor, Virginijus Sinkevičius. But the Environment Committee could make life difficult for her. Sweden voted against the Nature Restoration Law and did not support the anti-deforestation regulation, liberal environmental politician Pascal Canfin posted on X. Commissioners usually jointly represent Commission proposals. Now, Canfin suggests, there is a risk that Roswall will go against the Commission’s line. “We will have to make sure she acts as true EU commissioner.”
Séjourné is to create lead markets for clean tech
In addition, Séjourné has been tasked with proposing an “Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act” to promote “European lead markets for the development, production and diffusion in industry of clean tech” and accelerating planning, tendering and approval procedures, especially for energy-intensive industries. The European Commission has thus taken up an idea that German Economy Minister Robert Habeck had previously put forward with his concept for green lead markets.
At a panel discussion on Wednesday, Director-General Kerstin Jorna (DG GROW) and Director-General Kurt Vandenberghe (DG CLIMA) gave an initial insight into the new Commission’s industrial strategy: “The real question will be how to make the business case of the transition a good business case,” said Jorna. This business case does not yet exist in Europe, especially in energy-intensive industries such as steel, glass, cement and chemicals. While the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) of the last mandate has improved the approval processes for sustainable energy technologies, this has not yet been done for the customers of these technologies, she said.
Public procurement should prioritize European suppliers
In parallel with the Accelerator Act, Séjourné has also taken on the task of adapting public procurement rules in favor of European companies. The explicitly formulated goal of favoring European producers is new. Such “buy European” clauses have been included in draft versions of the NZIA in the past – but they were then omitted from the Commission’s final proposal.
The Commissioners-designate will now have to attend hearings before the relevant committees in the EU Parliament. They will be questioned about their qualifications for the job as well as potential political conflicts. The committee coordinators of the political groups then vote on the appointment. Finally, the plenary of the EU Parliament will vote on the entire college of the new EU Commission.
Climate & Environment
COP29
EU climate policy
EU climate target 2040
EVP
Fit for 55
Green Deal
Industrial policy
Net Zero Industry Act
Climate strike: How activism is increasingly sanctioned
A “Last Generation” activist is taken away in handcuffs by the police.
Longer prison sentences, harsher punishments and a public opinion that is turning against them – the climate movement in Germany is facing more and more direct and indirect repression. The protest for a faster and more effective climate policy faces a dilemma: On the one hand, public attention for large demonstrations such as tomorrow’s climate strike on September 20 is dwindling, while the effects of the climate crisis are becoming increasingly visible, such as the flood disaster in Eastern Europe. While activists resort to more extreme forms of protest, such as blocking roads and airports, the reactions from politicians, authorities and courts to the protests are becoming increasingly harsh.
This development also worries the UN. Earlier this year, Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, said: “The repression that environmental activists who use peaceful civil disobedience are currently facing in Europe is a major threat to democracy and human rights. The environmental emergency that we are collectively facing (…) cannot be addressed if those raising the alarm and demanding action are criminalized for it.
Prison sentences, preventive detention and tapped phone calls
“Fridays for Future” and other groups have called for their traditional fall protests on September 20. While 1.4 million people participated in the demonstrations five years ago, the organizers expect significantly less support this year.
Society’s stance on the climate debate has deteriorated. Germany has recently seen a whole series of restrictive reactions to climate activism. Among them:
In late August, the Tiergarten district court in Berlin sentenced a “Last Generation” activist to one year and ten months in prison for a sit-in blockade. According to the “Last Generation,” this is the “highest sentence to date” for a sit-in blockade.
The German government plans to tighten the Aviation Security Act to prevent climate activists from disrupting airport operations. In the future, activists who blockade airports could even face a prison sentence instead of a fine, as is currently the case.
In Bavaria, 27 “Last Generation” activists were taken intopreventive detention before the IAA motor show for announcing a protest against it. Preventive detention was actually created as an instrument to combat terrorism.
The Bavarian police also tapped the phones of the “Last Generation” – including the official press phone. Journalists have since lodged a constitutional complaint against this.
Emmanuel Schlichter from the NGO Green Legal Impact, which advises climate activists on the legal framework, is certain: “Political activism is being criminalized.” In his view, it is particularly disconcerting that stricter laws are no longer causing a huge outcry. Many have already become accustomed to the crackdown and other issues are currently considered more important. Schlichter said. He believes that one of the biggest problems is that Section 129 of the German Criminal Code is being used against climate activists, charging them with “forming a criminal organization.” He demands that repressive measures against peaceful climate activism must stop. “Protest plays an essential role in a democracy,” he says.
Amnesty report: Right to protest restricted in Europe
Climate activism is not only facing increasing pressure in Germany. “Climate activism is confronted with the same restrictive methods in various countries in Europe,” says Schlichter. A report by Amnesty International found that the right to protest was curtailed in all 21 European countries examined and even documented bodily harm in various cases. A report published last week by Climate Rights comes to similar conclusions.
Examples of increasing repression, especially of climate activism in Europe:
The UK has introduced various laws against different forms of protest – including climate activists. For example, the Public Order Act prohibits people from chaining or taping themselves to objects. In the fall of 2023, this led to the arrest of 630 activists from the “Just Stop Oil” movement. The severe sentences handed down to five activists also attracted much attention this summer – they received prison sentences of four and five years.
In the Netherlands last October, 2,400 activists were arrested during the “Extinction Rebellion” blockade of a freeway near The Hague, followed by another 500 arrests the next day.
The French group “Soulèvements de la Terre” was even temporarily outlawed for allegedly inciting violence. A court later overturned this decision.
In January this year, Italy passed a law against so-called eco-vandals. Previously, activists who defaced works of art or monuments faced a fine of 1,500 to 15,000 euros; now, they can be fined 40,000 to 60,000 euros.
Increasingly strong measures against climate activism
According to Paula Zimmermann from Amnesty, the “full range” of repressive measures is being used deliberately against climate activism. These include stricter laws, official repression such as assembly bans, police violence, heavy sentences, but also defamatory rhetoric. “Climate criminals” or “eco-terrorists” are now part of the common vocabulary when talking about these protests. “This leads to a social climate that legitimizes violence against climate activism,” warns Zimmermann.
She notes an increasing intensity of measures: A few years ago, most countries had mainly relied on deterrence, but now there is preventive detention and more and more convictions, some of them with long prison sentences. Criminalization is no longer limited to individuals, but applies to entire groups.
Klimaaktivisten
Events
September 19-20, Berlin ConferenceCLEW turns 10 – Journalism for the age of climate consequences The Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) journalism network is celebrating its tenth anniversary and will be discussing the role of journalism in the climate crisis.Info
September 20, Germany DemonstrationClimate strike Several climate movements, such as “Fridays for Future,” are calling for a global climate strike in Germany and worldwide. Activities are planned in many cities.
September 22 ElectionsState elections in Brandenburg The German state of Brandenburg will elect a new state parliament. The composition of the future state parliament will also have a major impact on climate policy.
September 24, 9:30 a.m. CEST, Online WebinarNavigating the ESG Regulation – What implications for Carbon Removal Projects in Europe? Euractiv is hosting this online discussion on ESG legislation and its implications for carbon removal projects in Europe. It also looks at the role of carbon and biodiversity credits.Info
News
Climate in Numbers: How Germany could quickly reach net zero
Germany’s Climate Change Act stipulates that the country must achieve net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. However, the measures taken by the German government to date are insufficient. How many additional emissions could the German industry save if steel production were climate-neutral? What would a ban on disposable plastics do for the climate? What would a faster expansion of wind and solar power, a speed limit, or a ban on new gasoline-powered cars do for the climate?
The climate organization GermanZero presented a tool on Tuesday that provides answers to these questions. “MappingZero” calculates the emissions reduction effect of various measures and is intended to act “like a route planner” for Germany’s path to net zero. According to GermanZero, “the most important question has been lost in the political debate far too often: How big is the impact of the measures being talked about?” Try out the tool for yourself here.
The “MappingZero” website aims to provide a clear yet differentiated answer to this question. It allows users to select specific climate action measures in each sector and then shows how many emissions they would reduce. For example, almost 136 megatons of CO2 equivalents could be saved by 2045 if the ban on the sale of new gasoline cars were brought forward to 2030. An e-fuel quota, on the other hand, performs significantly worse at 24 megatons. Strict emissions trading would be particularly beneficial: If the EU ETS were extended to all sectors – including agriculture – and the number of available credits tripled, emissions could be reduced by 5,215 megatons of CO2 equivalents. This would reduce significantly more emissions than an accelerated expansion of wind and solar power and a speed limit combined.
The calculations are based on scientific studies and data from the Federal Government’s inventory and projection report. The tool also provides information on the specific ways of implementing the individual measures, potential risks and societal impacts and names the responsible members of the government and members of the Bundestag. ae
Verkehrswende
Flood protection: Why the German Christian Democrats reject a federal/state task
In light of the current flood disaster in Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland, the Christian Democratic parliamentary group CDU/CSU in the Bundestag has called for the German government to support the federal states and local authorities in flood protection – but has rejected a “joint task” between the federal government and the federal states on this matter. German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and the Conference of Environment Ministers of the federal states have repeatedly called for such a regulation, which would require an amendment to the Basic Law. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group also proposed it in 2022.
The flood disaster in Eastern Europe, partly caused by climate change, killed more than 20 people and caused billions of euros in damage.. The German regions have so far been spared any severe damage. In view of this development and the current “Climate Adaptation Week,” Environment Minister Lemke reiterated her call for the federal and state governments to adopt a “joint task” to finance climate adaptation, similar to the “Improvement of Agricultural Structure and Coastal Protection” (GAK). After all, estimates suggest that climate change adaptation could cost 38 billion euros by 2050. So far, only the federal states and local authorities have been responsible for this, and the federal government is prohibited from financing it regularly. To get the federal government on board, the Basic Law would need to be amended with a two-thirds majority, requiring the approval of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.
CDU/CSU: Federal government should pay, but not as a task
In an interview with Table.Briefings, Anja Weisgerber, environmental policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU, criticized the government for the fact that the Climate Change Adaptation Act fails to specify how its measures are to be funded. She said necessary funding for climate adaptation must be made available “without new debt and through budget reallocations.” The “challenges are so great that they cannot be tackled by the municipalities and federal states alone. The federal government must also provide support here.” However, Weisgerber and the CDU/CSU parliamentary group reject a “joint task” to set out such payments in the long term.
This was not always the case. In April 2022, the CDU/CSU tabled a motion in the Bundestag calling on the Federal Government to “secure funding for the future task of climate adaptation and to examine the options required for this, for example, the expansion of an existing joint task or the creation of a new climate adaptation joint task.” The Conference of Environment Ministers had also repeatedly urged setting up a joint task with the votes of the CDU/CSU-governed federal states. The background to the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s rejection is apparently the concern that the federal government might commit to new long-term expenditure despite empty coffers. bpo
Hochwasser
Wind power expansion: Sufficient bids for target path for the first time
The various measures to facilitate the approval of new wind turbines are showing an effect: In the latest round of tenders for onshore wind turbines in August, both participation and the capacity awarded were higher than ever before. As the German Federal Network Agency announced on Tuesday, nearly three gigawatts were bid for the tendered capacity of 2.7 gigawatts. If this trend continues, Germany could reach its annual expansion target from 2026 onwards.
The German government has set itself the goal of roughly doubling the installed capacity of onshore wind turbines to 115 gigawatts by 2030. To achieve this, an annual net increase of around eight gigawatts is required from 2025. As old wind turbines will be decommissioned simultaneously, a gross addition of ten gigawatts is required for the target path. According to the EEG, this amount will be put out to tender annually, in quarterly stages of 2.5 gigawatts each.
Higher tenders to make up for the backlog of the last auctions
However, this figure has never been reached to date. In 2023, only 6.5 gigawatts were awarded instead of ten due to insufficient bids. In May of this year, the target value was almost reached for the first time; in August, it was exceeded by 2.7 gigawatts. The fact that more than 2.5 gigawatts were put out to tender is because the backlog from the previous auctions was supposed to be made up for through higher tender volumes. However, this was only partially successful: The original plan was to put four gigawatts out to tender. However, the volume was scaled back in the run-up to the auction as it was foreseeable that there would not have been enough bids and therefore no price competition.
The German government passed several legislative packages to improve the conditions for wind energy, including making it an “overriding public interest,” which made legal action more difficult. In addition, the federal states have been issued with guidelines for the designation of wind areas. The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) welcomed the development. “The acceleration measures, particularly from the Easter, summer and PV package, are now having an impact,” the association explained. However, according to the Association, further facilitating planning and refraining from tightening the noise requirements is necessary to achieve the 2030 target. mkr
Bundesnetzagentur
Survey: What German companies demand to make the green transition a success
Two-thirds of German companies consider climate investments “unavoidable” to prevent future economic disadvantages. However, 90 percent of companies fear rising production costs, and 75 percent are concerned about job losses in energy-intensive sectors. Small companies in Eastern Germany are particularly worried. For this reason, business representatives are calling on politicians to create clear framework conditionsand lower and stabilize energy prices.
These are the findings of a representative survey of almost 550 companies conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW) on behalf of the German Association of Energy Buyers (VEA) and the non-profit foundation Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft. According to the survey, most companies fear that the climate targets will negatively impact the German economy over the next five years – although they have a more differentiated view of the situation for their own companies. “The majority of companies believe in Germany as a business location despite all the crises,” says Sabine Nallinger, Director of the Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft. “They know that their economic survival depends on a successful transformation.”
However, companies are “extremely uncertain.” Every tenth company plans to stop producing in Germany; many more fear an exodus to other countries. The choice of business location depends, above all, on the availability of skilled workers, energy costs and the regulatory environment – and the survey rates the latter particularly poorly. “Most companies are much further ahead than politicians,” criticizes Aysel Osmanoglu, CEO of GLS Bank. Like most companies surveyed, she calls for clear framework conditions from the German government. lb
Climate protection
Company
Economic policy
Energiewende
Energy transition
Klimaziele
Why China may now have reached its coal peak this time
Dieser Inhalt ist Lizenznehmern unserer Vollversion vorbehalten.
In 2013, China consumed 4.2 billion tons of coal. Over the next two years, demand continued to fall. China’s coal consumption had peaked, it seemed. In 2016, however, consumption began to rise again, even growing by about 5 percent per year during the Covid.
This development clearly undermined the goals of China’s 2030 Carbon Peak Action Plan, which called for strict control of coal consumption growth. On the positive side, coal’s share of primary energy consumption fell from around 70 percent in 2011 to 55 percent in 2022. However, this achievement is offset by the 40 percent growth in total energy consumption over the same period.
The increase in coal consumption was a direct result of the massive electricity shortage in 2021, which forced many factories to halt production. In response, the government has massively promoted the construction of coal-fired power plants.
Now there is hope for a second peak. The IEA estimates that Chinese coal consumption will decline in 2024 and plateau through 2026. China’s coal production in 2024 will be the same as last year. The peak would be in line with China’s policy targets to gradually reduce coal consumption from 2026 onwards.
There are signs of a near-term coal peak. According to an analyst by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), new coal power approvals fell by 83 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to last year. However, coal power construction activity remains at a high level due to the large number of approvals in 2022 and 2023.
The coal peak is a key condition for China to meet its commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030. This would also help reduce global coal consumption.
Sinolytics is a research-based business consultancy entirely focused on China. It advises European companies on their strategic orientation and specific business activities in the People’s Republic.
Innovations: Germany among the leaders in green ideas
According to a new index, Germany ranks among the international leaders in innovations in sustainability. Of 35 developed countries, Germany ranks third after Denmark and Finland, on par with South Korea and just ahead of the UK. This is the result of the annual “Innovation Indicator,” presented on Wednesday by the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
It includes sustainability since 2023, measuring efforts in areas such as:
Spending on research and development in renewables and efficiency as a proportion of GDP,
green early-stage investments,
government research funding for the environment and energy,
hiring, patents and scientific publications,
exports of sustainable goods and
environmental taxes.
Germany also performs comparatively well in the circular economy, energy technology and production technologies. Overall, however, the country has slipped from 10th to 12th place in the ranking compared to its competitors. According to the Innovation Indicator, Switzerland, Singapore and Denmark lead in innovations. It lists high investment in the science system, high spending on universities and close cooperation between business and science as key factors. bpo
BDI
Carbon dioxide: Why pipeline subsidies are not expected before 2025
A draft on the German government’s Carbon Management Strategy (CMS) from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) postpones the issue of public funding for a privately operated CO2 pipeline network until next year. The draft, which has yet to be coordinated between the ministries and is available to Table.Briefings, states that “the need for security mechanisms for investors in the ramp-up phase” is being examined. In addition to existing funding instruments such as Carbon Contracts for Difference – which, however, tend to benefit large manufacturing companies rather than grid operators – the German government will “probably examine options for state guarantees for financing infrastructure in the first half of 2025.” Instruments from the German investment and development bank KfW might be considered.
The CO2 network will allow captured carbon dioxide from waste incineration plants, cement factories and other industries to flow to storage sites in the North Sea. A study by the German Cement Works Association (VDZ) estimates construction costs of 14 billion euros.
Longer objection and planning procedures likely
In order to be able to lay the CO2 pipelines quickly, “route bundling during pipeline construction” is an option, according to the BMWK’s draft strategy. It refers to the parallel laying of carbon dioxide and hydrogen pipelines. However, planning the pipeline network in such a short time will be difficult: The application of gas transmission system operators for the construction of the hydrogen core network is due to be approved by the Federal Network Agency at the end of this week. Once approved, construction planning will have to begin quickly, as most of the H2 core network is scheduled to be operational by 2032. Some large-scale consumers, such as steel producer Salzgitter AG, even hope to be connected up to five years earlier.
At least the legal situation could be adapted in time for joint pipeline construction: Next week, the German parliament is planning the first reading of an amendment to the Carbon Capture and Storage Act, which will also re-regulate CO2 pipeline construction. It states that carbon dioxide pipelines built “predominantly or directly adjacent” to a hydrogen pipeline are to benefit from the planning privileges of the hydrogen core network. An “overriding public interest” applies to the H2 core network. In contrast, there is only to be a “public interest” for stand-alone CO2 pipelines. The latter makes longer objection and planning procedures likely. av
Klimakrise
Must-Reads
BBC: UK Foreign Secretary – Climate a more fundamental threat than terror. In a speech, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared that the climate issue would be at the heart of all the Foreign Office’s activities. He also announced that the government would launch a global initiative to accelerate the introduction of clean energy. However, the Minister warned that the UK’s previous funding commitments on this issue would need to be reviewed in light of the country’s dire financial situation. Click here for the article.
Brookings: The barriers to financing a more scalable climate response. Amid the rising damage and escalating costs associated with climate change, US leaders increasingly recognize the need for a comprehensive national response. Financial markets help translate climate intentions into action – but are not always aligned with the most pressing climate problems or social needs. Click here for the article.
BBC: Climate change is turbo-charging Somalia’s problems. Somalia has been plagued by crises for decades. In 2022, the country experienced its worst drought in 40 years – an event scientists say has become 100 times more likely due to man-made climate change. But many people in the country are taking action. For example, the local power plant in Garowe has invested in wind and solar energy. Click here for the article.
Financial Times: Presidential election crucial for climate protection. Former US Vice President, Nobel Peace Prize winner and climate activist Al Gore believes that the outcome of the US presidential election will be decisive for the US’s approach to climate protection. US citizens have the choice between Kamala Harris, who takes the climate issue seriously, and climate change denier Donald Trump. Click here for the article.
