A green and equitable renewal? Published: 8 June 2021 Analysis Crises are moments when the hairline cracks and chips in the structures of our societies start to show. Whether the crisis is of an economic, public health, rule of law or climate nature: for bold responses to the crises of our times, strong and progressive alliances are needed now more than ever. By Nina Locher and Dr. Ellen Ueberschär
Biden's climate summit brings some ambition boost but no true U.S. climate leadership Published: 4 May 2021 Analysis With the two-day Biden leaders summit on climate attended by 40 countries, the United States has returned to the international stage of climate diplomacy. Whether the increased ambition of new climate action pledges via video made by several core countries can be implemented in a binding manner, however, remains an open question. By Liane Schalatek
What the new US climate target means compared to the EU’s target Published: 28 April 2021 On 22 April 2021, Joe Biden hosted heads of States at a climate summit, announcing a new climate goal of the United States under the Paris Agreement. In Europe, a compromise for the EU’s climate goal for 2030 was found. What do these targets mean in terms of actual emission reductions? By Sabine Gores, Jakob Graichen, Anke Herold and Dr. Lambert Schneider
Youth Against Climate Change in South Africa: “There is a major lack of representation in the movement” Published: 26 February 2021 Interview Most of food production in Africa is shouldered by small scale farmers and the majority of farmers are women. Alarmed by the effects of climate change on her family’s farm Ayakha Melithafa from South Africa’s Western Cape joined an environmental school club and engages now in a national and an international youth movements for climate justice. By Imeh Ituen
Role of central banks calls for rigorous societal debate Published: 11 August 2021 Speech As well as in 2008, the very necessary, unavoidable actions of central banks now in the Covid-19 crisis have massive side effects: cheap money is fostering asset price inflation, fueling inequalities. At the same time, central banks are still disregarding climate risk in the way they treat fossil assets as collateral. By Barbara Unmüßig
Climate change and global finance: Is the financial sector reaching a tipping point? Published: 17 December 2020 Analyse The financial industry also sees the climate crisis as a threat to future speculation profits. Industry giants like BlackRock are calling for an end to fossil fuels and siding with the environmental movement. By Jörg Haas and Barbara Unmüßig
5 years later - Happy Birthday, Paris Agreement? Published: 14 December 2020 Analysis December 12, 2020, will be the 5th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement. This analysis provides important materials and pursues the questions: Where do we stand in dealing with the climate crisis? What false solutions must be avoided? And how can we push the urgently needed radical course change in pursuit of climate justice? By Lili Fuhr, Linda Schneider , Liane Schalatek and Lisa Tostado
"Build Back Greener? "Biden's Plan for America's International Climate Commitment Published: 11 December 2020 Commentary "Build back better" has been Joe Biden’s campaign promise. Climate policy is central to this, both in domestic and foreign policy. Ultimately, it is also a question of whether the Biden government can succeed in regaining lost credibility on the international stage. By Liane Schalatek
A Societal Transformation Scenario for Staying Below 1.5°C Published: 9 December 2020 The „Societal Transfomation Scenario“ is a global 1.5°C mitigation scenario, which challenges the notion of perpetual global economic growth and its compatibility with ambitious climate goals like the 1.5°C limit. It shows how through a reduction of production and consumption in the Global North, we can stay below 1.5°C without resorting to high-risk technologies like CCS, geoengineering and nuclear, while also avoiding temperature overshoot. pdf
The Myth of Good Plastic Published: 21 January 2021 Essay Plastic is a material that used to be a symbol of progress and modernity. Now it represents an industry that subordinates everything to profit, even if the world is ruined in the process. By Barbara Unmüßig