Climate and Energy

Climate Change, Governance and Energy Discourse in Pakistan

February 11, 2013 - Pakistan is among the most-affected countries by climate change worldwide. At the same time, it has been crippled by a raging energy crisis for the last few years. What needs to be done in order to support and pressurize the government to implement a meaningful policy on climate change and energy?
  Tahir Hasnain more»

The “Doha Climate Gateway”: will the camel go through the eye of the needle?

- December 18, 2012 - Expectations for the climate summit in Doha were so low that it is quite remarkable that the meager results still managed to fall short of them. Many NGOs condemned the conference as a failure. The EU and Germany called it an important step in the right direction. A summary of the results of the climate conference in Doha.
Lili Fuhr and Liane Schalatek more»

Bangkok Climate Talk 2012: On the Road to Repeat Copenhagen?

- November 6, 2012 - During the informal talks in Bangkok in last August, animosities between developed and emerging countries rose to the surface once more. While negotiations happened mostly behind closed doors, Asian farmers and fishermen are already reporting how climate change has impacted on their harvests and livelihoods. A reports on the meeting, which was supposed to pave the way for the COP 18.  Sakhon Songma, Wanun Permpibul and Jost Pachaly more»

Publication

From Ignorance to Inclusion

- November 6, 2012 - Gender-Responsive Multilateral Adaptation Investments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region  - Multilateral institutions must establish and implement gender safeguard policies consistent with existing international conventions and instruments on gender equality in all adaptation projects. Liane Schalatek, Sarah Little, Sarah Bibler, Celine Salcedo-La Vina more»

Will Qatar Push for a Climate Spring?

- November 1, 2012 - Qatar, that faces many problems of climate change that many small island states do, has a golden opportunity to continue demonstrating leadership in the region beyond supporting the different revolutions. As the host of COP 18, Qatar should not only play the host but should also put climate change as the top political priority – now and in the future.

Wael Hmaidan more»
Israel's first solar field in the Arava Valley

Climate Change Policy in Israel Must Become a National Priority

- November 1, 2012 - The “startup nation” Israel that exports solar technology abroad and is famous for the early implementation of solar water heaters is failing to implement renewable energy sources at home. Public awareness is low and the government lacks a coherent strategy even though impacts already affect the country: African climate refugees seeking water, food and shelter. Maya Milrad-Givon more»

What you always wanted to know about the German renewables

- October 15, 2012 - Renewables raise German retail power rate by 7 percent but lower industry prices by 18 percent. Opponents of renewables are using the increase to claim that renewables are too expensive and should be stopped, and they are suddenly concerned about the impact on the poor – even as German power firms rake in the cash. But German media and consumer advocates don't buy the logic.

Craig Morris more»

Publication

North South Transitions to Green Economies

- June 19, 2012 - The worldwide and sustainable transition of energy systems will only succeed if the economic and technological capacities of all countries are involved. Few developing countries have considerable production capacities for climate-friendly technologies. If the creation of attractive enabling environments in the global South goes hand in hand with new ways of careful export support in the global North, this will work as a global and fair Green New Deal.  more»
Solar energy power plant in southern Spain

A Green Europe to Solve the Euro Crisis

- June 15, 2012 - From the euro crisis to a long-term vision: In Southern Europe, there should be immediate investment in solar energy. This would show EU citizens in the north that solidarity can provide them with cheaper renewable energy and citizens in the south would experience that reforms do serve a more integrated, greener, and more just Europe.  Ferdi De Ville more»

Another attempt to save the planet?

- April 5, 2012 -

Green technologies in themselves will not bring about the change we need. Growth at any price must no longer be the paramount goal. Agriculture is one of the sectors in which reform is most urgent – and, at the same time, most difficult.  

Barbara Unmüßig more»

Policy Paper

The Green Economy – The New Magic Bullet?

- March 30, 2012 - In this essay, the president of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Barbara Unmuessig, critically reflects on the opportunities for and the shortcomings of the concept of a "Green Economy" to influence economic policy making globally, its relationship to the paradigm of sustainable development and the need to rethink our understanding and focus on growth. Barbara Unmüßig more»

Climate Change and the Good Life

- March 1, 2012 - The definition of "good life" depends mostly on political, economical and cultural circumstances, but due to the effects of climate change and global warming, it also depends on issues of nature and environment. Georg Koessler investigates the relationship between climate change and living conditions. Georg Koessler more»

BRIEFING PAPER

Locking up the Future - Unconventional Oil in Africa

- November 21, 2011 - What price our future energy?
This short briefing gives an overview of three investments in unconventional oil in Africa currently in prospect in the context of debates about the need to mitigate global environmental threats and ensure sustainable development. more»

Perspectives #04/2011

No Romance: Mobilising Climate Finance for Africa

- November 18, 2011 - While Africa has contributed the least to historic greenhouse gas emissions globally, it stands to be the hardest hit by the effects of climate change. Africa will require substantial financial resources in order to adapt to the unavoidable consequences of climate change. At this year’s Climate Change Conference in Durban, climate finance is expected to feature prominently. Editors: Dr Antonie Katharina Nord, Jochen Luckscheiter and Kulthoum Omari more»

Dossier

Reaching Boiling Point? Global Perspectives on the 2011 UN Climate Summit

- November 1, 2011 - The 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Durban, South Africa, from 28 November to 9 December 2011. With slow progress having been achieved at previous meetings, expectations are high for a binding international agreement to deal with global climate change. Our Regional Office in Southern Africa has prepared a dossier with analysis of the major issues at stake, ongoing commentary and updates on major developments in the run up to the negotiations. more»

Report

No Nukes Asia Forum: Lessons from Fukushima Daiichi for Thailand

- October 11, 2011 -

Nearly six months after the Fukushima nuclear crisis, the No Nukes Asia Forum organized its annual forum to reiterate its position against nuclear technologies and to foster debates on its dangers. Our Southeast Asia Regional Office supported seven Thais to take part in the event. As a result, the experiences and lessons from Japan must be learnt and taken in the Thai power development plan.

Santi Chokechaichamnankit more»

Dossier

Rio + 20: Fairness in a Finite World

- In June 2012, the international community will gather in Rio de Janeiro 20 years after the first Earth Summit. The topics will be global environmental governance and greening the economy as the summit’s core topics. more»

Publication Series Ecology, Volume 15

Baltic Sea: Developing a Regional Cooperation for Renewables in the Electricity Sector

- June 24, 2011 - In this paper we take a closer look at a region that could be a pioneer for regional cooperation in the EU: the Baltic Sea Region. As the first region with a European Union regional cooperation initiative and with a long-lasting tradition of cooperation, this region could play an essential role in showing the EU the way forward by sharing their large potential of diverse renewable energy sources. Mats Abrahamsson more»

The Impact of the Fukushima disaster in the UK

- April 19, 2011 - Major nuclear events and policy announcements have never led to mass protests in the UK. Nevertheless, it is clear that the Fukushima disaster is likely to have a profound effect on the scale and timing of the new British nuclear programme. Steve Thomas more»
Atomkraftwerk mit zwei Beton-Kuppeln

Argentina: Uncertainty about the nuclear future

- April 18, 2011 - Argentina has been one of the first countries worldwide to build up a nuclear infrastructure since the 1950s. But after Fukushima, and in the context of possible financial restrictions in the coming years, the ambitious nuclear expansion plan presented by the government in 2010 of at least two more 700+ MW reactors seems less likely to be executed. Michael Alvarez Kalverkamp more»

Study

Biological Consequences of Chernobyl Catastrophe

- 14. April 2011 - The effects of radioactive contamination on biological objects are manifested on all levels of organization – from viruses to ecosystems. The most brightly such effects can be seen within the Chornobyl exclusion zone, where biological objects were critically affected by the radiation. Yaroslav Movchan mehr»

Nuclear Power in Uruguay

- April 8, 2011 - Since 1992 Uruguay has a law forbidding the use of nuclear power. Nevertheless the energy ministry of the government worked on an energy plan for the next 25 years focused on a great increase in renewables, sustainable biofuels and energy efficiency, which would make a nuclear power plant obsolete. Michael Alvarez Kalverkamp more»

The nuclear debate in Chile

- April 8, 2011 - In quake- and tsunami-striken Chile, things have turned different since March 12th. After Fukushima 86 percent of Chileans are against nuclear power and even 60 percent would not accept it “under any circumstances”. But the mega hydro projects are also controversial. Michael Alvarez Kalverkamp more»

Dossier

Nuclear Power after Fukushima (2011) and Chernobyl (1986)

- The nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan highlights once again the potential hazards of nuclear power in a dramatic way. This Web dossier provides an overview on the aspects of nuclear power in light of the incidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima.  more»

Perspectives Middle East No.1: Nuclear Energy and the Arab World

- April 5, 2011 - In the first edition of Perspectives Middle East, activists and decision-makers from the Arab world and Europe critically discuss the transfer and use of civilian nuclear energy in the region. With contributions from Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Hamed Beheshti, Ali Darwish, Leila Ghanem, Dennis Kumentat und Nikolaus Supersberger, Najib Saab, Larbi Sadiki, und Jürgen Trittin. more»

Speech

The Future of E-mobility

- March 31, 2011 - The German Embassy and The Representative of German Industry and Trade hosted a conference on electro-mobility in Washington, D.C. on March 30. Our president Ralf Fücks held the keynote speech, hilighting the development of the electric car industry on both sides of the Atlantic. Ralf Fücks more»
Photo of construction kit for a nuclear power plant

Debates about the nuclear future in Thailand

- March 24, 2011 - In 2010 the Government of Thailand adopted the Power Development Plan. It provides the construction of five nuclear power plants. But the nuclear disaster in Japan has opened up the discussion about the nuclear future of Thailand again. Jost Pachaly more»

Learning from Experience

- March 22, 2011 - The accelerated phase-out of nuclear energy in Germany will prepare the ground for increased investment in renewable energies. Ralf Fücks more»

Is there a Nuclear Revival in the United States?

- March 14, 2011 -

The U.S. currently has 104 nuclear reactors. Many of them that have received extensions would never be approved for construction today, experts argue. The U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has not turned down a single renewal application thus far. How safe is nuclear power in the United States?

  Michele Boyd more»
A gas station in Jordan

"Jordan has to reduce its dependency on foreign energy sources"

- February 17, 2011 - On  February 5th an explosion on the Sinai Peninsula damaged a gas pipeline to Jordan. The consequences are far-reaching: Supply of natural gas from Egypt was suspended, which Jordan relies on for about 80 per cent of its electricity generation needs. Heinrich Böll Stiftung asked energy consultant Dr. Malek Kabariti about the implications of the latest developments. more»

Issue Paper ERENE

The external relations of the EU in energy policy

- February 8, 2011 - What is the nature of the European Union’s relations to third countries with regard to renewable sources of Energy? And what are the options available for developing those relations further in order to exploit the potential of renewable energy more effectively? Sascha Müller-Kraenner more»

Where does international climate policy stand after Cancún?

- February 7, 2011 - One year ago, the climate summit in Copenhagen failed, leaving the UN climate negotiations in tatters. The result of the following summit in Mexico – the Cancún Agreement – was a pleasant surprise for many observers, whose post-Copenhagen blues left them with little expectation of an agreement. An analysis by Lili Fuhr and Ingrid Spiller more»

Publication

Climate Policy in 2010: One Step Forward and Two Sideward

- January 24, 2011 - The year 2010 offered mixed results concerning global climate policy, with serious setbacks as well as some small victories. Find more in the Regional Analysis of Climate Policy in 2010 and the Cancun Climate Conference (COP 16). more»

Issue briefs

Climate Finance Fundamentals

- January 18, 2011 - In cooperation with ODI, our Washington Office is offering a new series of short introductory briefings meant for readers new to the debate on global climate change financing and its myriads of facets and needing a quick overview. In light of the fast pace of developments in climate finance, the briefs will allow the reader to gain a better understanding of not only the quantity but also the quality of existing financial flows for adaptation and mitigation.

“Step in the right direction”

- December 16, 2010 - In Cancún UN members affirmed that average temperatures on Earth must not rise by more than two degrees. They also decided to establish a new Green Climate Fund and called for a timely follow-up to the Kyoto Protocol. In an interview with Hans Dembowski, Barbara Unmüssig, board member of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, assessed the results.  more»

Pro CSS

- May 11, 2010 - In 2050, three billion more people will inhabit the earth, while at the same time a large section of humanity will need greater access to energy in order to escape poverty. Eventually, we will have to become “CO2 negative” by capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and channelling it back underground. By Eivind Hoff more»

Gender and Climate Change: Namibia Case Study

- This report focuses on the Namibian case study. Due to the fact that climate change and gender has strong links to poverty, and that the majority of rural poor are women engaged primarily in subsistence agriculture,  the research primarily examined rural communities of Namibia. Fieldwork was carried out in Epyeshona village located in northern-central Namibia and Daures Constituency in the Northwestern region. By Margaret Angula more»

Gender and Climate Change: Mozambique Case Study

- Mozambique is considered one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa that has been hard hit by climate change due to its geographical location and the weak socioeconomic situation. The major anticipated impacts of climate change are increase in the frequency and severity of floods, droughts and cyclones. Thus, adaptation measures to cope with the impacts of climate change are urgently needed at different levels in the country. These must be gender-sensitive, considering the differentiated role women and men play in rural societies. By Natasha Ribeiro and Aniceto Chaúque more»

Gender and Climate Change: Regional Summary

- Parts of southern Africa are highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. Successful adaptation actions are likely to be those that are finely tuned to the immediate needs of individual communities. Local realities and social structures need to be taken into account. In many cases, women and men have separate roles and different knowledge and a range of different coping strategies. By Belynda Petrie more»

Where’s the Money? The Status of Climate Finance Post-Copenhagen

- March 4, 2010 - When the dust settled after the near failure of the UNFCCC climate talks in Copenhagen, the issue of climate finance seemed strangely to have been one of the few areas, where despite all procedural and political misgivings, real progress was made.  By Liane Schalatek, Neil Bird and Jessica Brown more»

E-Paper

Failure or Opportunity?

- March 1, 2010 - From a sheer climate protection perspective, various experts claim that the outcome of the Copenhagen climate conference has been a failure. Two months after the Copenhagen climate summit, this paper sheds some light on the different regional and national evaluations of the conference and analyzes how perceptions on the outcome of the conference vary between key countries and regions. more»
Cover

E-PAPER

Global Climate Politics in the Congo Basin

- November 27, 2009 - The destruction of tropical forests contributes between percent of the greenhouse gases generated by human activity. Donor governments consider Congo Basin countries to be prime candidates for REDD (UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries), and national governments in the region are eager to seize the opportunity. more»
Front Cover: Green Solutions to the Auto Crisis

Publication Series Ecology, Volume 4

Green Solutions to the Auto Crisis

- November 11, 2009 - The current automotive crisis is not merely the result of an economic downturn, but has revealed structural flaws within the industry itself. This strategy paper analyzes the current crisis and outlines a vision of the “mobility products of the future”. By Weert Canzler and Andreas Knie more»

STUDY

Eni´s Investment in Tar Sands and Palm Oil in the Congo Basin

- 9. November 2009 - Eni, formerly the Italian state oil company,  is undertaking a new multi-billion dollar investment in Congo in developing tar sands, oil palm for food and bio-diesel and gas-fuelled electricity. Such investments have been heavily criticized for causing social and environmental damage, both locally and globally. The actual study gives background information about the plans. mehr»

Gender and Climate Change: Botswana Case Study

- The general objective of this report was to analyse differentiated impacts of climate change and climate variability in Botswana. Furthermore, it was to examine the gendered dimension of climate change, its impacts and women and men’s responses. The central research question that the study sought to answer was ‘Are women and men in Botswana affected by climate change differently?’. By Kulthoum Omari more»

Gender and Climate Change: South Africa Case Study

- The study shows that women in South Africa are very knowledgeable and innovative with regards to coping with the impacts of the changing climate. Lessons can be drawn from their knowledge on how women can be better assisted to adapt to climate change. Results confirm that women play an important role in supporting households and communities to cope and adapt to climate variability. By Dr Agnes Babugura more»
Cover mit Schriftzug ERENE

Publication series Europe, Volume 3

ERENE - European Community for Renewable Energy

- November 21, 2008 - Climate protection and a secure energy supply both are questions of our future. The European Union must set itself ambitious goals if it wants to maintain its political dynamic. A feasibility study by Michaele Schreyer and Lutz Mez in collaboration with David Jacobs. more»
Logo of the study "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change"

Climate Change and Energy as Security Threats

- February 24, 2009 - In the coming years, NATO will surely respond to international crises. Yet, NATO’s strategy should also take into account the two dominant security threats currently shaping the state of the planet: global climate change and energy security. By Sherri Goodman and David Catarious more»

Dealing with the Financial and Climate Crises

- November 14, 2008 - Policymakers must make sure that the restructuring of the financial system lays the ground for an ecological transformation. This, in turn, will stimulate the economy. To secure its international competitiveness Europe needs to retain its leadership in energy efficiency and green collar industries. By Roderick Kefferpütz more»

New Finance for Climate Change and the Environment

- July 18, 2008 - The study analyses the numerous climate funds and the impact these funds will have on a fair, efficient, equitable and co-ordinated global response to the pressing financial needs of worldwide climate mitigation and adaption efforts. By Gareth Porter, Neil Bird, Nanki Kaur, and Leo Peskett more»

The Next Big Project for the EU is Energy

- July 14, 2008 - The global energy system is undergoing a structural crisis. At its heart lies the need to restrain climatic change while at the same time dealing with energy security in an era of rapidly growing demand. By Michaele Schreyer and Ralf Fücks more»

Conference

Global Greens 2008: Greens gather at a world congress in Brazil

- Over 500 delegates from all world continents gathered at São Paulo for the Global Greens conference from May 1st to 4th, 2008. The conference focused on political, social, economic and ecological aspects of the climate crisis. The Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted two events within the conference programme. more»

Global Issue Paper

A Brief, Adequacy and Equity-Based Evaluation of Some Prominent Climate Policy Frameworks and Proposals

- 18. Februar 2008 - While the climate debate is raging, the climate negotiations themselves are barely moving. Finger pointing seems to be the name of the game, with each negotiating bloc focused on passing the bill for solving the climate crisis onto the others. The process as a whole is in impasse, and it’s time to admit it, as it’s time to admit that disagreements about fairness and equity are at the centre of the impasse. By Paul Baer & Tom Athanasiou mehr»
Cover "Mythos Atomkraft"

Nuclear Issues Papers

Nuclear Power - Myth and Reality

- January 18, 2008 - A series of papers on nuclear energy written by an international team of experts - published by the Johannesburg Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. more»

Issue Paper

The Risk and Prospects of Nuclear Power

- January 21, 2008 - The deep divide over nuclear power is nearly as old as its commercial use. - But the "accident-proof" reactor has remained an unfulfilled promise now for decades. By Gerd Rosenkranz more»

Issue paper

Nuclear Reactor Hazards

- January 21, 2008 - A report based on Greenpeace International’s report "Nuclear Reactor Hazards, Ongoing Dangers of Operating Nuclear Technology in the 21st Century," published in April 2005. By Anthony Frogatt more»

Issue Paper

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

- January 21, 2008 - The use of nuclear energy involves the work of several very different industrial plants. Each of these plant types has a specific hazardous potential.
By Jürgen Kreusch, Wolfgang Neumann, Detlef Appel and Peter Diehl more»

Issue Paper

Nuclear Energy and Proliferation

- January 21, 2008 -  Any civilian nuclear fuel cycle and especially some of the elements thereof confront the world with certain security-related risks. Nuclear materials, nuclear know-how, and technology can be proliferated. By Otfried Nassauer more»

Issue Paper

The Economics of Nuclear Power

- January 21, 2008 - The severe challenge posed by the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases has led to renewed interest in the construction of new nuclear power plants. The objective of this paper is to identify the key economic parameters commenting on their determining factors and to review the assumptions of main forecasts from the past five years to identify how and why these forecasts differ. Steve Thomas more»

Issue Paper

Nuclear Energy and Climate Change

- January 21, 2008 - We firmly believe that nuclear energy is no answer to climate change. We therefore present this 6th Nuclear Issues Paper as a contribution to the public debate on adequate responses to climate change and on the future of nuclear energy. By Felix Chr. Matthes more»

Appeal

Africa Speaks up on Climate Change

- January 10, 2008 - Africa is the continent that will be hit hardest by climate change. Unpredictable rains and floods, prolonged droughts, subsequent crop failures, and rapid desertification have already begun to change the face of our continent. Africa’s poor will be particularly hit by rising temperatures. more»
Horn von Afrika, Foto: NASA

Interview

Demanding Climate Justice

- January 10, 2008 - Interview with Negusu Aklilu, co-ordinator of the Ethiopian Forum for Environment, editor-in-chief of “AKIRMA: a Magazine on Environment and Development“, and one of the primary signatories of the appeal Africa Speaks up on Climate Change. by Bettina Schneider more»

Cancun Archive

Where does international climate policy stand after Cancún?

February 7, 2011 - One year ago, the climate summit in Copenhagen failed, leaving the UN climate negotiations in tatters. The result of the following summit in Mexico – the Cancún Agreement – was a pleasant surprise for many observers, whose post-Copenhagen blues left them with little expectation of an agreement. An analysis by Lili Fuhr and Ingrid Spiller more»

Study

A Matter of Principle(s) - A Normative Framework for a Global Compact on Public Climate Finance

- November 26, 2010 - How can we assure, that tax money used for public climate change finance are used as fairly, efficiently and effectively as possible? A study suggests principles and criteria that the public sector should take into account in the allocation of funds for urgent action in developing countries to adapt and reduce emissions. By Liane Schalatek more»
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