AP Explains: How Germany hopes to quit using coal
6 years, 2 months ago

AP Explains: How Germany hopes to quit using coal

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany wants to stop using coal, a major source of the carbon emissions that drive climate change. Ottmar Edenhofer, co-director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said the best way for Germany to avoid yellow vest-style protests, the ones seen in France over a fuel tax increase meant to discourage fossil fuel use, would be for Berlin to actively communicate the benefits that outweigh the likely cost of quitting coal. Eric Schweitzer, head of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told business daily Handelsblatt that, all in all, the cost of Germany’s coal exit could reach up to 170 billion euros. “Protecting the climate will have a positive effect on the economy.” Failure to curb emissions could also force Germany to spend billions buying carbon credits from other countries to meet its EU-mandated targets in the coming years, money that wouldn’t be invested back home. A bold strategy on coal could spur action in Germany’s other economic sectors, such as transportation and heating, said Karen Pittel, director of the ifo Center for Energy, Climate and Resources.

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History of this topic

German energy transition could be 300 bln euros cheaper with more efficiency, finds study
2 weeks ago

German energy transition could be 300 bln euros cheaper with more efficiency, finds study

Live Mint  

BERLIN, March 20 - Germany could save more than 300 billion euros by 2035 by implementing the energy transition more efficiently, according to a study from the Boston Consulting Group and the country's BDI industry association released on Thursday. The BDI study calculated the savings based on current plans, which are expected to cost 1.57 trillion euros over the next …

Germany reduces use of fossil fuels
1 year ago

Germany reduces use of fossil fuels

China Daily  

Electrical power pylons with high-voltage power lines are seen during sunset near Weselitz, Germany November 18, 2022. Germany has taken another step in its attempts to cut carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuel energy sources by shutting down seven coal-fired power stations during the Easter weekend, power generator companies RWE and LEAG have said. "In view of the worsening …

Germany says climate measures will narrow but not fully close the country’s emissions gap by 2030
1 year, 9 months ago

Germany says climate measures will narrow but not fully close the country’s emissions gap by 2030

Associated Press  

BERLIN — An array of climate measures being introduced by Germany’s government will bring the country closer but not all the way toward meeting its national goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, officials said Wednesday. Germany’s Climate Ministry said that measures already in place or soon to become law will reduce emissions by about 900 million metric tons …

German town bids farewell to nuclear, eyes hydrogen future
1 year, 11 months ago

German town bids farewell to nuclear, eyes hydrogen future

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The Emsland nuclear power plant has indeed contributed significantly …

German governing parties agree on energy, climate measures
2 years ago

German governing parties agree on energy, climate measures

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany’s three ruling parties announced Tuesday that they have an agreement on a series of energy and climate policies following weeks of infighting that threatened to paralyze the government. Senior members of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats and two smaller parties, the environmentalist Greens and pro-business Free Democrats, said three days of closed-doors talks had resulted in …

Germany to draw up legislation to enable carbon storage
2 years, 2 months ago

Germany to draw up legislation to enable carbon storage

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany is working on legislation to enable the use of the much-discussed technology of underground carbon storage, a top government official said Thursday, adding that it is preferable to releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Speaking to an industry group in Norway, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is also Germany’s economy and climate minister, pointed to the prospects …

Germany's Scholz warns against fossil fuel 'renaissance'
2 years, 4 months ago

Germany's Scholz warns against fossil fuel 'renaissance'

The Hindu  

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday urged COP27 participants not to lose sight of renewable energy targets despite the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "There must not be a worldwide renaissance of fossil fuels," Scholz said in a speech at the climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. As a result, officials had made the decision to restart mothballed …

German leader warns against ‘worldwide renaissance’ for coal
2 years, 5 months ago

German leader warns against ‘worldwide renaissance’ for coal

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday that Russia’s war in Ukraine mustn’t lead to a “worldwide renaissance” for coal — comments that come as Germany itself brings coal-fired power plants back online in an effort to prevent an energy crunch this winter. The government has in recent months approved reactivating several coal- and oil-fired power plants, and environmental …

Germany overrides allies, keeps 3 nuclear power plants running
2 years, 5 months ago

Germany overrides allies, keeps 3 nuclear power plants running

LA Times  

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ordered ministers Monday to prepare to keep all of the country’s three remaining nuclear plants running until mid-April, putting his foot down on an issue that had threatened to split his three-party government. The environmentalist Greens, led by Economy and Energy Minister Robert Habeck, had argued that only two nuclear plants in southern Germany — Isar …

Thunberg: Coal worse than keeping German nuclear plants on
2 years, 5 months ago

Thunberg: Coal worse than keeping German nuclear plants on

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Climate activist Greta Thunberg says it would be “a mistake” for Germany to switch off its nuclear power plants if that means the country must burn more planet-heating coal. Asked whether it would be better for the planet if Germany keeps its three remaining nuclear plants going, Thunberg responded: “If we have them already running, I feel that …

German energy company RWE to end coal use by 2030
2 years, 5 months ago

German energy company RWE to end coal use by 2030

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German energy company RWE said Tuesday that it will phase out the burning of coal by 2030, saving 280 million metric tons of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who is responsible for energy, said negotiations with the operators of Germany’s other coal mines and eight coal-fired power plants were ongoing. In parallel to its phaseout …

Amid an energy crisis, Germany turns to the world's dirtiest fossil fuel
2 years, 6 months ago

Amid an energy crisis, Germany turns to the world's dirtiest fossil fuel

NPR  

Amid an energy crisis, Germany turns to the world's dirtiest fossil fuel Enlarge this image toggle caption Rob Schmitz/NPR Rob Schmitz/NPR DORTMUND, Germany — Power Plant Manager Bernard Vendt stands on a platform jutting out from a smokestack, 20 stories above his company's chemical park. The coal's destination lies underneath Vendt in a massive furnace whose heat will spin turbines …

Scholz: Germany’s increased coal, oil use will be temporary
2 years, 8 months ago

Scholz: Germany’s increased coal, oil use will be temporary

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany’s decision to reactivate coal and oil-fired power plants to relieve energy shortages because of the war in Ukraine is only temporary and his government remains committed to doing “everything” to combat the climate crisis. In a video message Saturday, Scholz expressed regret over Germany’s decision to fire up 16 dormant fossil fuel power …

Germany sticks to 2030 coal exit target amid energy worries
2 years, 9 months ago

Germany sticks to 2030 coal exit target amid energy worries

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The German government said Monday that it remains committed to its goal of phasing out coal as a power source by 2030, despite deepening worries about a cut in Russia’s gas supplies. In neighboring Netherlands, the government announced Monday that despite Moscow’s reductions in gas deliveries to parts of Europe it still plans to close the biggest Dutch …

G-7 pledges put coal on notice, could boost climate aid
2 years, 10 months ago

G-7 pledges put coal on notice, could boost climate aid

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Officials from the Group of Seven wealthy nations announced Friday that they will aim to largely end greenhouse gas emissions from their power sectors by 2035, making it highly unlikely that those countries will burn coal for electricity beyond that date. Under pressure to step up their financial aid to poor nations, the G-7 ministers in Berlin said …

Germany: G-7 nations can lead the way on ending coal use
2 years, 10 months ago

Germany: G-7 nations can lead the way on ending coal use

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany’s energy and climate minister said Thursday that the Group of Seven wealthy nations can lead the way on ending the use of coal, a heavily polluting fossil fuel that’s responsible for a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. “The G-7 can perhaps take on a certain pioneering role to push forward ending the use …

The environmental case for buying a coal mine
3 years, 2 months ago

The environmental case for buying a coal mine

BBC  

The environmental case for buying a coal mine Getty Images A giant extractor at the Vattenfall lignite mines in Germany Why would those who care about climate change choose to buy up coal mines or oil drilling rights? But Krueger wasn't an energy executive, nor was her organisation a mining firm – she was the acting director of the Nordic …

Germany faces ‘gigantic’ task meeting energy, climate goals
3 years, 2 months ago

Germany faces ‘gigantic’ task meeting energy, climate goals

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany’s new climate minister said Tuesday that the country faces a “gigantic” task if it wants to achieve its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring sufficient energy for its energy-hungry industry. The government plans to phase out coal power “ideally” by 2030 as well, filling the gap with less polluting natural gas until enough renewable energy …

Why phasing out coal completely is easier said than done even though its future is bleak
3 years, 4 months ago

Why phasing out coal completely is easier said than done even though its future is bleak

Firstpost  

Electricity needs are soaring as the world’s population and prosperity increase, and renewables simply aren’t enough to satisfy that growth in demand Glasgow, Scotland: In the run-up to the UN climate talks in Glasgow, host Britain announced one of its goals of the conference was to consign coal to history. Government negotiators in Glasgow wrote and rewrote a paragraph that …

EXPLAINER: Why quitting coal is so hard
3 years, 4 months ago

EXPLAINER: Why quitting coal is so hard

Live Mint  

In the run-up to the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, host Britain announced one of its goals of the conference was to consign coal to history. Government negotiators in Glasgow wrote and rewrote a paragraph that spells out that fighting climate change requires the world to end coal power, along with fossil fuel subsidies. But adjusted for population size the …

EXPLAINER: Why quitting coal is so hard
3 years, 4 months ago

EXPLAINER: Why quitting coal is so hard

Associated Press  

GLASGOW, Scotland — In the run-up to the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, host Britain announced one of its goals of the conference was to consign coal to history. Government negotiators in Glasgow wrote and rewrote a paragraph that spells out that fighting climate change requires the world to end coal power, along with fossil fuel subsidies. The wording on …

Global emissions goals come with big cost and political hurdles
3 years, 11 months ago

Global emissions goals come with big cost and political hurdles

Live Mint  

Countries aiming to sharply reduce their emissions to meet climate goals must be prepared for staggering costs and looming political battles as they seek to overhaul swaths of their economies, climate analysts and economists say. China needs to invest $21 trillion over three decades to overhaul transportation, industry and construction while building nuclear, wind and solar production facilities to reach …

EU probes Germany’s move to pay for coal plant closures
4 years, 1 month ago

EU probes Germany’s move to pay for coal plant closures

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The European Commission said Tuesday it has opened a probe into whether Germany’s plans to compensate owners for the early shutdown of coal-fired power plants by 2038 is in line with the bloc’s rules on state aid to businesses. Germany agreed last year to pay utility companies 4.35 billion euros to speed up the closure of their coal-fired …

Germany says it beat 2020 goal to cut greenhouse emissions
4 years, 1 month ago

Germany says it beat 2020 goal to cut greenhouse emissions

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany’s economy minister says the country beat its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% last year compared to 1990 levels. Peter Altmaier said figures show Germany’s emissions of planet-heating gases were 42% lower in 2020 than three decades ago, confounding warnings that the country couldn’t meet its goal. While the coronavirus pandemic helped reduce emissions, Altmaier …

Germany is first major economy to phase out coal and nuclear
4 years, 8 months ago

Germany is first major economy to phase out coal and nuclear

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German lawmakers have finalized the country’s long-awaited phase-out of coal as an energy source, backing a plan that environmental groups say isn’t ambitious enough and free marketeers criticize as a waste of taxpayers’ money. The plan is part of Germany’s ‘energy transition’ - an effort to wean Europe’s biggest economy off planet-warming fossil fuels and generate all of …

Why Germans all agree on shutting down the coal industry
5 years, 1 month ago

Why Germans all agree on shutting down the coal industry

ABC  

It was a time of big shoulder pads, Versace glitter and National Economic Summits. Germany is doing what Australia says it can't — shutting down its coal industry. This week's Foreign Correspondent looked at Germany's so-called Coal Compromise that will see mines and power plants start to close as early as this year with a complete shutdown by 2038. Germany …

Germany agrees timeline, compensation for coal phase-out
5 years, 2 months ago

Germany agrees timeline, compensation for coal phase-out

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany will pay utility companies billions of euros to speed up the shutdown of their coal-fired power plants as part of the country’s efforts to fight climate change, the government said Thursday. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said that operators of heavily polluting coal-fired power plants in western Germany will receive 2.6 billion euros in compensation for switching them …

Renewable energy providing more electricity than coal and nuclear power combined in Germany
5 years, 8 months ago

Renewable energy providing more electricity than coal and nuclear power combined in Germany

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Renewable sources of energy produced more electricity than coal and nuclear power combined for the …

Germany says emissions dropped in 2018 amid warm weather
6 years ago

Germany says emissions dropped in 2018 amid warm weather

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions fell 4.2% in 2018, the first major decrease in Europe’s biggest economy four years, thanks in large part to warm weather. Environment Minister Svenja Schulze acknowledged that Germany benefited from last year’s warm and sunny weather, which increased production of renewable energy and reduced the need for heating fuel. “Germans simply heated their homes …

German experts meet to discuss country’s exit from coal use
6 years, 9 months ago

German experts meet to discuss country’s exit from coal use

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Representatives from German industry, environmental groups and unions met Tuesday in Berlin to discuss how and when the country can stop using coal to generate electricity. In the eastern region of Lusatia, billions of dollars have been spent over the past decades to turn former coal pits into an artificial lake district with the aim of boosting tourism, …

Why Germany has a dirty climate secret
7 years, 8 months ago

Why Germany has a dirty climate secret

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Paul Hockenos is a Berlin-based writer, author of several books on Europe including most recently Berlin Calling: A Story of Anarchy, Music, the Wall and the Birth of the New Berlin. If even Germany can’t live up to its obligations, the international goal set at the 2015 Paris climate summit of keeping the rise in global temperatures below …

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