Tag

Sustainability

Feature

Roadmap to carbon neutrality

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has drafted a carbon neutrality roadmap for China. According to the plan, solar energy will become the number one energy source by 2045, and coal consumption has to be cut back to one-fifth by 2060. Greater efficiency and a massive expansion of renewable energies are needed. There is even implementation of technologies that do not exist yet. This all costs a lot of money. But the IEA believes that China is capable of making the transition even faster.

By Christiane Kuehl

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Turning away from coal offers opportunities for wind and solar sectors

China wants to end the construction of new coal-fired power plants abroad. This may also mean an end to the financing of coal-fired power by Chinese development banks – which could be an important step in the fight against climate change, as Beijing invested billions in this sector in the past. But the devil is in the details.

By Nico Beckert

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Green Wall: climate reservoir made of Saxaul trees

In China, an area of about 36,000 square kilometers is to be afforested annually until 2025. One goal of this project is to counteract climate change by creating larger CO2 reservoirs. Although the plan fits in with Beijing's target of a climate-neutral economy by 2060, its origins date much further back.

By Redaktion Table

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EU pollutant strategy: cep warns of double burdens

The EU's new pollutant strategy could lead to bureaucratic double regulation in environmental and climate protection and cause considerable cost burdens, the Center for European Policy (cep) warns in an analysis that will be published on Tuesday and was made available to Europe.Table in advance. The EU Commission should differentiate more precisely between the unattainable goal of a "pollution-free" and a "low-pollution" environment.

By Eric Bonse

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Solar power from space

China wants to send a 1-gigawatt solar power station into orbit by the mid-century. Generating solar power in space has long been considered science fiction. But the threat of a climate catastrophe and Beijing's growing ambitions in space are now moving technology to a whole new realm of possibility. First tests are already scheduled for this year. The Chinese are thus further ahead than their international competitors.

By Frank Sieren

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Fighting "white pollution" with bioplastics

China has a plastic problem. Trash is everywhere, and a modern waste and recycling management system are only just in the works. Beijing wants to counteract this issue with bioplastics. Huge production capacities are planned. However, the benefits of bioplastics without industrial composting are limited, and there is the added problem of a lack of facilities.

By Christiane Kuehl

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Conflict minerals: gaps in the law

The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation has been in force since January. It is intended to ensure that importers fulfill their due diligence obligations and control their supply chains. But the regulation has crucial weaknesses.

By Charlotte Wirth