Industry climate study 'a breakthrough'/ 'Top priority' for 2020 goal?
Tagesspiegel
The Federation of German Industries (BDI) signalling a new stance on climate protection with its 鈥淐limate paths鈥� study is a 鈥渂reakthrough, more important [鈥 than most governmental climate protection plans and targets,鈥� writes Jakob Schlandt in an opinion piece in the Tagesspiegel. 鈥淲hoever continues to warn of a 鈥榙e-industrialisation鈥� through climate protection and talks and writes of the 鈥楨nergiewende madness鈥�, is isolated and shifts him- or herself to the sidelines,鈥� writes Schlandt. He adds: 鈥淕erman industry wants climate protection and energy transition; that is certain now.鈥�
For background on the BDI study, read the 威力彩玩法 article German industry says protecting climate can benefit economy.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Like other recent studies, the German Industry Association鈥檚 (BDI) study shows that cutting emissions by 80 percent by 2050 is technically and economically feasible, writes Andreas Mihm in an editorial in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. But the preconditions are serious - getting policymakers 鈥渨ith their obsession to regulate everything in detail鈥� to take a back seat is a greater challenge than financing the necessary聽 1.5-trillion-euro investment needed. 鈥淓ven more challenging is explaining to citizens that climate protection and the transformation of the energy system will cost them a whole lot more money,鈥� writes Mihm. 鈥淭his Energiewende won't be a self-seller for a long time yet, but can be done better.鈥�
Find a 威力彩玩法 article on yesterday鈥檚 BDI study here.
For background on the BDI study, read the 威力彩玩法 article German industry says protecting climate can benefit economy.
Westdeutsche Zeitung
The decisive message of the聽German Industry Association鈥檚 (BDI) study聽is that climate protection can be an economic success story, writes Ekkehard R眉ger in an editorial for the Westdeutsche Zeitung. 鈥淭o hear this wake-up call not just from environmentalists but also from industry increases the pressure on the future government,鈥� writes R眉ger. 鈥淧olitical statements on climate targets must finally be substantiated with clear framework conditions. This regards protection against transferring production to countries with weaker emission rules, but also controversial subjects like the coal exit, a price for CO2, and transport emissions. Industry seems less scared of this than politicians.鈥�
Find a 威力彩玩法 article on yesterday鈥檚 BDI study here.
Find background on Germany鈥檚 political situation in 威力彩玩法鈥檚 Coalition watch 鈥� The making of a new German government.
German Bundestag / Greens
The Green parliamentary group in the German Bundestag (parliament) has introduced a motion calling on the government to give 鈥渢op priority鈥� to Germany鈥檚 target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020, initiating a debate in the plenary. Shutting down the 20 dirtiest coal power plants by 2020, formalising a step-by-step coal phase-out and an accelerated expansion of renewable energies are among the measures needed, write the Greens. 鈥淲e simply can鈥檛 afford to lose another year, or even half a year,鈥� said parliamentary novice and Green member Lisa Badum in her first speech. Christian Democrat (CDU) Thomas Barei脽 said that his conservative block and the Social Democrats (SPD) emphasised their commitment to all 鈥渋nternationally agreed climate targets鈥� in their blueprint for possible coalition negotiations. The Greens鈥� motion was referred to committee.
Read the motion in German and the debate transcript in German (p. 574).
Check out 威力彩玩法鈥檚 article German party leaders agree energy policy blueprint for coalition talks and the coalition watch for the latest on building Germany鈥檚 next government.
Reuters
Chemical companies BASF, Evonik, and Clariant seek to use excess renewable power in Germany to make synthetic fuels and other chemicals, reports Ludwig Burger for Reuters. According to Germany鈥檚 chemical industry lobby VCI, so-called power-to-X technology could become of 鈥渇oremost importance鈥� in stabilising the grid and replacing oil as a feedstock.
Read the article in English .
Shell / ITM Power
British鈥揇utch multinational oil and gas company Shell and ITM Power will build the world鈥檚 largest hydrogen electrolysis plant at Shell's Rhineland refinery in Germany, the companies announced in a press release. With a peak capacity of 10 megawatts, the hydrogen will be used for the processing and upgrading of products at the refinery鈥檚 Wesseling site as well as testing the technology and exploring applications in other sectors, they write. The plant, named 鈥淩efhyne鈥�, is scheduled to be in operation in 2020.
Find the press release in English .
Der Spiegel
Unconventional fracking, the gas drilling by means of chemicals, is a chance not only for supply security, but also for the climate, Michael Theurer, deputy leader of the Free Democrats (FDP) parliamentary group, told Der Spiegel. Using more natural gas could decrease the country鈥檚 CO鈧� emissions, writes Der Spiegel. Germany consumes large amounts of CO鈧�-intensive oil and coal. Germany has virtually banned unconventional fracking, aside from a few test drillings 鈥� which no federal state has thus far allowed.
Read the article in German .
Die Welt
The German government will likely arrive empty-handed at an EU Commission meeting on 30 January where several states are supposed to show how and by when they intend to achieve compliance with European Union air quality directives, writes Nikolaus Doll in Die Welt. Time is running out to decide 鈥渘ew and binding measures鈥� 鈥� demanded by the Commission 鈥� to bring down nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels in inner cities, in large parts caused by older diesel engine vehicles, writes Doll. Meetings of some of the working groups, established at the diesel summit in 2017 and responsible for proposing measures, were cancelled, which has delayed the process. The proposal to oblige carmakers to pay for hardware retrofitting is an issue heatedly debated in the working groups.
Read the article in German .
Find background on the diesel technology鈥檚 role for clean air and climate in the 威力彩玩法 article Why the German diesel summit matters for climate and energy.
