Table.Briefings

Feature

COP26: controversy over global combustion engine phase-out

A joint declaration on the global phase-out of internal combustion vehicles from 2040 onward is not only finding supporters at the UN Climate Change Conference. Germany is hesitant, Volkswagen rejects the agreement. Meanwhile, Greenpeace announces it will sue the carmaker for insufficient climate protection measures.

By Timo Landenberger

A symbolic deal

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to announce an agreement with New Zealand on a free trade agreement in mid-November. The political significance of the deal is greater than the economic one.

By Redaktion Table

Frans Timmermans ist Vize-Präsident der Europäischen Kommission und zuständig für den Green Deal.

Frans Timmermans: "The CBAM has never been a contentious issue"

The EU is stepping up its presence in Glasgow for the second half of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). Alongside a delegation from the European Parliament, Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans is also on-site all week to promote his ideas on climate protection. Lukas Scheid and Timo Landenberger spoke with the Climate Commissioner.

By Timo Landenberger

China's inflation fears

Prices in China are climbing. The prices for Spinach alone saw an increase of 160 percent. Many people worry that food could become scarce. And in some places, panic buying has already started. And the government's attempts to calm people's fears are failing. Foreign companies in China are also affected.

By Ning Wang

EVs instead of iPhones

Taiwanese Apple supplier Foxconn wants to produce EV under the brand name Foxtron. The company has already unveiled three prototypes designed in Italy. As with iPhones, the cars are to be produced for other manufacturers; there is already a joint venture with European manufacturer Stellantis (Chrysler, Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat). And these ambitious plans could very well work out thanks to the group's technical know-how and financial resources.

By Frank Sieren

Ruth-Schimanowski

'We need China expertise beyond sinology'

Not even universities are spared the re-ideologization of the People's Republic. If you want to work in China as a Western academic, you should be aware of this – and to a certain extent have to come to terms with it, says Ruth Schimanowski. She is heading the Beijing office of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). In our CEO-Talk, she explains why Chinese scholars are good for the German academic landscape and why there is a renaissance of German as an academic language. The interview was conducted by Frank Sieren.

By Frank Sieren

"No-COVID" strategy remains in force

Almost everywhere, governments are currently easing their COVID restrictions despite rising infection numbers. Only China does not want to change its course. Yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the virus in check, as the latest outbreak shows.

By Redaktion Table

Aiways 1

Aiways U5: China has caught up

China's e-car makers are increasingly pushing into international markets. Our author Christian Domke Seidel test drove the Aiways U5. The SUV is a solid package. However, there were still problems in the crash test, where the car could only achieve three out of five stars. And digitalization is still an issue. And yet: The Aiways brand is only four years old and still manages to demonstrate how quickly Chinese carmakers are catching up.

By Redaktion Table

COP26: tough negotiations concerning Article 6

There has been little progress so far on the most important issues of the world climate conference: the negotiations on the "Paris Rulebook", the design of global emissions trading, and transparency mechanisms. Even some of the success stories from the first week of the COP26 turn out to be unreliable at a second glance.

By Lukas Knigge