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.
All posts tagged: energy transition
Green Deal under attack? Mapping the risks with the European Green Deal Risk Radar
There is a real risk that the European Green Deal will be weakened this new European policy cycle. What exact changes will be made to it? And will or won’t these changes ensure that we stay “the course on all of our goals”, as promised by re-elected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen? Our new European Green Deal Risk Radar looks into that. Commentary by Roderick Kefferpütz, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union.
The funding nightmares of Europe’s climate dreams
The urgency of the global climate crisis is driving Europe’s transition to a renewable energy system. However, the investment gap for adding renewable technologies and for updating its energy networks is gigantic. Seden Anlar stresses the need for new EU funding for climate goals and just transition.
The implication of South Africa’s 2024 election on its energy transition plan
South Africa’s 2024 election involves 27 million voters and 70 parties. Energy transition plans vary among candidates, revealing challenges and differing approaches to climate action and renewable energy.
Strengthening citizens’ participation in the EU’s energy transition – a toolbox
Europe’s switch to renewable energy supply and efficient energy consumption is gaining momentum, not only as a result of the European Green Deal but also in reaction to the fossil fuel price crisis. EU legislation already creates some opportunities for citizens to access affordable renewable energy more directly, as well as to facilitate energy savings through, for example, building renovation. In a new Knowledge Community, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and the Green European Foundation (GEF) gather a broad range of experts from EU institutions, local governments, industry, consumer organisations and think tanks to look into these opportunities. The aim is to explore concrete tools and identify their current potential, as well as the remaining gaps that need addressing. Analysis by Taube Van Melkebeke and Jörg Mühlenhoff
2024 elections: India’s energy transition plans and challenges
India’s energy transition has become a prominent issue in both the BJP and Congress manifesto. Although the nation’s clean energy future has been firmly set in motion, financial and policy challenges lie ahead for the future government. Mayank Aggarwal 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.
The complexities of the clean energy divide
At the height of power blackouts in South Africa earlier this year households went without electricity for 10 hours a days. The unprecedented spike in outage hours saw the middle class scramble for alternative energy sources to buffer against the failing electricity grid. However, the poorest and the most vulnerable were being left in the dark, writes Ufrieda Ho. Read More
How “green corridors” are driving sustainable policies in Medellín
Climate change impacts key parts of urban life, making climate resilience more important than ever. Rebecca Bertram looks at the Colombian city Medellín, exploring how smart climate resilience measures are boosting electric mobility and making it an example for the rest of the Latin American continent. Read More