While there are clear signs of progress when examining the overall trends—particularly in emissions reductions and renewable energy deployment—the weather-related setbacks and the temporary resurgence of coal-fired power generation highlight ongoing vulnerabilities. As Germany progresses through 2025, its efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions present a picture of cautious optimism mixed with emerging challenges. The...
Families at the low end of the income scale are the most vulnerable to climate justice, as they are the first to face the negative effects of energy poverty. Many of them rely on social transfers or the minimum necessary to survive. However, in the face of the recent sharp rise in energy prices, the...
On our path to net zero, nature-based solutions provide a chance to reduce and avoid many carbon emissions. By 2050, these solutions will save up to 10 gigatons of CO2 worldwide. Many of these initiatives are developed and implemented in countries from the Global South, such as the Congo, Brazil, or Indonesia, as these countries...
Germany, with more than 84 million inhabitants, is located in the heart of Europe and is a crucial road and rail junction within the continent. Hundreds of thousands of people commuting to or traveling through Germany daily rely on Germany’s bus and train network.In 2023, approximately 80,760 buses and coaches were in operation on German...
Germany’s electric vehicle (EV) market is set to grow significantly over the next decade, driven by technological innovation, government policy, and shifting consumer preferences for greener transport. This post explores key insights into the present and future of EV adoption in Germany, including trends in EV models, infrastructure developments, economic impacts, and projections for the...
Professional and Social Background: Luisa Neubauer is one of Germany’s most prominent climate activists. She leads the country’s Fridays for Future movement and the 1.5 Grad—der Klima podcast. She studied geography at the University of Göttingen and developed a deep understanding of environmental systems, sustainability, and climate science. Her activism took off when she became...
Since 1990, Germany has set ambitious climate protection and emissions reduction targets and invested heavily in renewable energy to meet national and international environmental goals. This commitment has made Germany a key leader in European climate policy and positioned it as a major player in international climate change initiatives. However, this environmental leadership faces challenges,...
Forests play a crucial role in the ecosystem, acting as carbon sinks, centres of biodiversity and sources of renewable resources. According to the World Bank, forests cover about 32.68% of Germany’s land area, or about 114,190 square kilometres in 2021. Over the past 30 years, Germany’s forest cover has remained relatively stable, increasing by around...
Germany’s energy landscape has undergone significant transformation over the past decade, with renewables increasingly supplanting fossil fuels in the energy mix, especially when considering electricity generation. Although the statistics may vary depending on the source, one can see in the below graph (from the UBA Umweltbundesamt, the main German environmental protection agency) that as of...
Germany has experienced a series of extreme heat-related conditions, which have significantly impacted public health, agriculture, and the environment. These conditions include record-breaking temperatures, prolonged droughts, wildfires, and flooding. “Temperatures that can harm health have become more common in Germany. Six out of the eleven most extreme heat waves between 1951 and 2015 occurred after 2000. Since 1990, what were previously...
