Germany launches mobility transition task force / LNG 'gesture' to US
威力彩玩法
The German government has launched a new advisory panel in order to reduce emissions in the transport sector. The cabinet agreed聽on Wednesday聽on the 鈥淣ational Platform Future of Mobility鈥� that will replace the National Platform for Electric Mobility (NPE). Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was important to extend the focus from e-cars to clean mobility in general.聽In its last progress report, the NPE says that Germany will reach its target of getting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2022, two years later than planned. The six working groups of the new task force 鈥� which was proposed in the grand coalition treaty at the beginning of the year 鈥� are to develop a strategy on the 鈥渇uture of affordable and sustainable mobility鈥� by the end of 2018.
Find a government press release on the task force in German and the NPE progess report in German .
Note: The 威力彩玩法 will publish an article on this topic later today.
威力彩玩法
Germany will initiate a domestic battery cell production in the framework of the federal government鈥檚 upcoming industrial strategy, said economy minister Peter Altmaier at a press conference after a meeting with Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice president and EU energy chief. "The details cannot be revealed today, but we are in full preparation. 聽[鈥 We will have a round table in Berlin in November where we can start the entire process,鈥� he said. The German initiative can be seen as part of the , launched in October 2017. The aim is to provide initial support to help European companies compete in the international market. 鈥淭he political support will help them overcome the problems in the starting phase,鈥� said Altmaier.
W/Minister on ways to take the further. Decisive steps are being taken by 's govt & industry. set to support cross-border coop, next generation technologies as well as regions active in the value chain.
鈥� Maro拧 艩ef膷ovi膷 (@MarosSefcovic)
Find a video of the press conference in English .
For background, read the 威力彩玩法 article Chinese-German battery cell deal key step for mobility transition.
威力彩玩法 / S&P Global Platts
Germany will choose where to build its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal by the end of 2018 as a gesture to the United States, which wants to ship more gas to Europe, economy minister Peter Altmaier said after a meeting with Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice president and EU energy chief. 鈥淭his is a gesture to our American friends,鈥� Peter Altmaier said of plans to decide on one of three competing sites for the LNG terminal. 鈥淚 have been sceptical in the past, but we have agreed to move on.鈥� According to the minister, a decision on an LNG terminal is 鈥渘ot directly related鈥� to the contentious Russian-German Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. The discussion about a possible LNG terminal in Germany received a new push when US President Donald Trump said the country relies too much on Russian energy resources and is 鈥渢otally controlled鈥� by the fossil fuel exporting giant.
Trump pushed US LNG exports as crucial to increasing European energy security during talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda while continuing his attacks on Nord Stream 2, reports S&P Global Platts in a separate article.
Find a Reuters article on the topic in English , the S&P article in English , and find a video of the press conference in English .
Find background in the 威力彩玩法 factsheet Gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 links Germany to Russia, but splits Europe and the dossier The role of gas in Germany's energy transition.
Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu) / VDA
German and European truck makers like to forget their climate problem while celebrating strong industry growth at the commercial vehicle show in Hanover (IAA), according to environmental NGO Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu). 鈥淏ehind closed doors, the truck makers do everything to prevent ambitious emission rules in Brussels, and to extent the use of diesel engines,鈥� said the organisation鈥檚 head Leif Miller. He added companies which do not offer climate-friendly propulsion technologies put the future of the commercial vehicle industry in Germany and Europe in danger.聽
At a press conference on the opening of the IAA, German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) head Bernhard Mattes called the 鈥� minus 30 percent by 2030 and minus 15 percent by 2025, compared to 2019 鈥� 鈥渘ot realistic鈥�. 鈥淓xtreme reduction goals鈥� which had to be reached in 鈥渧ery little time鈥� could easily overburden the freight industry, said Mattes.
Find the press release in German and the VDA head speech in German .
Find plenty of background in the factsheet Road freight emissions in Germany and the dossier How Germany is greening its growing freight sector to meet climate targets.
Handelsblatt
Sustainable investment - after years of being a niche product - is becoming the mainstream, writes German business daily Handelsblatt in a long analysis. 鈥淚nvestors cannot dodge their responsibilities for areas beyond return on investment anymore,鈥� writes Handelsblatt. 鈥淭he good news: Often, high returns fit well with environmental protection, social responsibility and good corporate governance (ESG).鈥�
Find the article (behind paywall) in German .
Aligned with the goals of the energy transition, the federal government cabinet has decided Germany鈥檚 7th energy research programme, the economy ministry said in a press release. 鈥淭he Energiewende is an ambitious modernisation project for our economy. With the 7th energy research programme, we will strengthen our pioneer role,鈥� said economy minister Peter Altmaier. From 2018 鈥� 2022, energy research will be supported with 6.4 billion euros, a 45 percent increase compared to the previous 2013 鈥� 2017 programme.
Find the press release in German and download the programme in German .
