On the campaign trail in 2024 and since the November election, former president Donald Trump has not let up in denying the tie between fossil-fuel use and global warming. His supporters include the world’s largest petroleum companies and they are expecting to be paid back. But it won’t happen on ‘day one,’ as he claims. Paul Hockenos reports.
Author: Paul Hockenos
A mess made in Germany: Volkswagen’s trials warn against resisting the green transition
The woes of the German automobile giant Volkswagen (VW) offer a lesson that applies beyond Germany and Europe: resist the green transition at your own peril – as laggards will pay a heavy price. Paul Hockenos reports.
Germany’s mixed record disappoints the climate conscious
Despite a record rollout of renewables, expectations for a notably greener Germany have not been met. Environmental think tanks and NGOs are taking their gripes to court to make the German government comply with German law – and the coalitions’ own promises. Paul Hockenos reports.
Harris-Walz ticket vague on post-Biden climate policy
With a moonshot US$500-billion spending programme announced in 2022, President Biden put the US on the map in terms of global climate policy. Thus far, the Democratic Party’s new candidates have been quiet on the issue. But the US climate community has no shortage of suggestions. Paul Hockenos reports. Read More
EU-China spat over EV tariffs: a race to the bottom?
In a rational world, Europe’s climate-conscious representatives would oppose surcharges that make clean tech, like electric vehicles (EVs) regardless of their origin, more costly. But that’s not the case: environmentalists warn that relying on Chinese imports will undermine a key promise of the European Green Deal, namely economic momentum and high-wage jobs within the bloc. Paul Hockenos reports. Read More
Making construction sustainable with upcycling
For the global construction industry, concrete is a key component. Even were only renewable energy sources employed for its production, the chemical process emits significant greenhouse gases. Paul Hockenos reports from Prague where the upcycling of waste-site rubble for new buildings cuts demand for concrete – and thus for energy.
European Parliament elections: climate policies will suffer
With the European Parliament tilting towards the right after the EP 2024 elections, there is a significant risk that the EU may shift towards a stance less favourable to assertive climate action. Paul Hockenos reports.
In principle, farmers should embrace climate protection. But they don’t.
The ways that farms can benefit from the energy transition and climate protection measures are manifold – if only they were more open to them. Paul Hockenos reports.
The US gets serious about climate protection: Biden’s IRA at one
In August 2022, the US Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), ultimately the Biden administration’s climate protection package. The investment into the hundreds of billions was billed as a “moonshot moment,” and applauded almost everywhere. Let’s take a look at what’s happened thus far. Paul Hockenos reports.
Hikers and bikers beware: Climate breakdown has hit Europe’s Alps hard
Central Europe is among the fastest warming locations on Earth. In the Alps, this has ramifications for nature, outdoorspeople, and tourist infrastructure. Paul Hockenos reports.