Refine
Has Fulltext
- yes (58) (remove)
Year of Publication
- 2009 (58) (remove)
Document Type
- Working Paper (18)
- Report (17)
- Contribution to Periodical (8)
- Peer-Reviewed Article (7)
- Conference Object (5)
- Part of a Book (2)
- Periodical Part (1)
Bad Hersfeld is a small city with about 30.000 inhabitants situated in the middle of Germany. Climate Protection has been on the political agenda in Bad Hersfeld since quite a while. In 1997 the Wuppertal Institute elaborated a first energy and CO2 balance for the city, which was updated in 2007. With the compilation of the CO2 balance it was shown that the emissions in Bad Hersfeld almost stayed at a constant level between 1997 and 2006.
The result was sobering for the local authority. Although some single measures had been implemented, there was no improvement of the CO2-balance.
It was concluded that a successful climate protection strategy needs a comprehensive concept comprising all sectors and a periodic monitoring. Bad Hersfeld commissioned the Wuppertal Institute to develop feasible measures to reduce the CO2 emissions drastically and instruments to overcome existing barriers. In a close cooperation with the City Council and the local municipal utility a climate protection concept was compiled that is rather ambitious for a city of this size.
In consideration of the regional peculiarities12 concrete measures and 7 accompanying measures build the core of the concept with a main focus on energy efficiency (final energy), combined heat and power (CHP) and renewable energies. Another important part of the concept is a municipal support programme to develop the endogenous efficiency potentials and renewable energies in the region. Further to these planning instruments, information and networking activities are compiled as well as a variety of suggestions for a climate protection marketing (Wagner 2008).
Some of these measures that were developed in an iterative and cooperative process between the responsible actors in Bad Hersfeld and the Wuppertal Institute are transferable to other cities and towns. The impeding factors in Bad Hersfeld like the user-investor dilemma, the low capital of small housing associations or the large stock of listed historical buildings, are typical for cities of this size.
The study "A Green New Deal for Europe" consists of two basic elements: Firstly it aims to cope with the economic crisis through intensive measures in order to systematically stimulate the eco-industries, to create jobs and to boost economic recovery. Secondly it aims at establishing the foundation for a green modernisation of the European economy. The study examines existing EU strategies policies and programs concerning their suitability to implement the Green New Deal. It proposes exemplary measures in the field of energy, mobility and resource use. The study has been compiled by the Wuppertal Institute on behalf of the Greens/European Free Alliance (EFA) Group in the European Parliament.
Achieving sustainable mobility in developing countries : suggestions for a post-2012 agreement
(2009)
In December 2009, countries meet in Copenhagen to establish a new global climate agreement. This article links the need for reducing transport-related greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries with the current international climate negotiations. Arguing that a sustainable transport approach requires comprehensive policy packages, it assesses the suitability of current climate negotiation proposals in promoting sustainable transport. The project-based approach under the current climate regime incentivises neither comprehensive sustainable transport and mobility policies, nor sufficient numbers of local projects. Current proposals to increase efforts by developing countries, to reform the Clean Development Mechanism, and to create new emission trading mechanisms are promising but still have to overcome several obstacles. One obstacle involves how to properly assess the impact of actions while maintaining streamlined procedures. The authors conclude from their analysis that the best way forward would be to establish an international mitigation fund with a dedicated transport window financed by industrialised countries. This fund would enable developing countries to implement national policies and local projects. Developing countries would outline low-carbon development strategies, including a sectoral strategy for low-carbon transport.
Analyzing rebound effects
(2009)
Are efficiency improvements in the use of natural resources the key for sustainable development, are they the solution to environmental problems, or will second round effects - so-called rebound effects - compensate or even overcompensate potential savings, will they fire back? The answer to this question will have fundamental policy implications but the research on rebound effects does not provide clear results. This paper aims to clarify the theoretical basis of various analytical approaches which lead to widely different estimates of rebound effects.
Wie viel ist genug? - Diese Frage stellt sich unausweichlich angesichts der offensichtlichen sozialen und ökologischen Probleme in der Welt. Gefragt ist nicht nur ein ressourcenleichtes Wirtschaftssystem, sondern eine leistungsbefriedete Gesellschaft, die den geordneten Rückzug aus der Wachstumslogik schafft, weil das Wohlergehen aller ihr Ziel ist.
Carbon capture and storage
(2009)
Purpose - This paper sets out to tackle the issue of climate change from a business perspective. It seeks to discuss why it is important to take climate change considerations into account in business decisions, how this can be done and what further action is required from managers and business scholars.
Design/methodology/approach - The paper describes ways of reducing emissions and adapting to climate change that can be implemented by any business. As an illustration, the proposed climate strategy of a large European utility company, RWE, is provided.
Findings - There are numerous ways to reduce emissions within business operations, along the supply chain and surrounding product usage and disposal. Climate-proofing operations is also becoming increasingly pertinent to businesses.
Research limitations/implications - New ways have to be found yet in order to take emission reductions to a more ambitious level by altering patterns of production and consumption.
Practical implications - The paper discusses how businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and anticipate changes in the physical and political environment related to climate change.
Originality/value - The paper is of value to managers who, today, are expected not only to reduce emissions from operations, but also to gain an awareness of the physical, political and social risks stemming from the impacts of climate change.
CO2-Abscheidung und -Lagerung bei Kohlekraftwerken : kein Beitrag zur Lösung des Klimaproblems
(2009)
Kohlekraftwerken nachgeschaltetes Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) dominiert die Debatte um CCS - zu Unrecht. Die Förderung dieser Anwendung torpediert den Übergang zu einem klimaneutralen Energiesystem: Sie schafft Anreize, weiter in die Kohleverstromung zu investieren und sie bedingt Wettbewerbsvorteile gegenüber Strom aus erneuerbaren Quellen. Dabei verursacht die Technologie aufgrund des Energieaufwands zur CO2-Abscheidung hohe Treibhausgasemissionen: Somit kann sie kein Element zur Lösung des Klimaproblems sein. Selbst ob und wie stark sie zur Emissionsminderung beiträgt, ist strittig - und hängt von der Wahl der Systemgrenzen ab.
Ende Dezember 2008 wurde im Europäischen Parlament die "Richtlinie über die geologische Speicherung von CO2" (auch als CCS-Richtlinie bezeichnet) verabschiedet, die eine Schlüsselrolle für die Entwicklung und die Umsetzung von Projekten der CO2-Abscheidung und -Speicherung (CCS) spielt. Der Artikel erläutert den Zusammenhang der CCS-Richtlinie mit dem Energie- und Klimapaket der EU, stellt die wesentlichen Inhalte der Richtlinie vor, zeigt die energiewirtschaftlichen Implikationen auf und arbeitet heraus, welche Regelungen zur Umsetzung der Richtlinie nun vom deutschen Gesetzgeber erfolgen müssen.
Die in diesem Diskussionspapier zusammengefassten Beiträge von Carsten Stahmer (Halbtagsgesellschaft: konkrete Utopie für eine zukunftsfähige Grundsicherung), Ronald Schettkat (Dienstleistungen zwischen Eigenarbeit und Professionalisierung) und Gerhard Scherhorn (Demokratisierung des Wohlstands) beruhen auf einer Reihe von Veranstaltungen im Rahmen des Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Kolloquiums des Wuppertal Instituts. In dieser von Ronald Schettkat im Jahr 2007 organisierten Seminarreihe wurden am Wuppertal Institut ausgewählte Fragestellungen im Spannungsfeld von Wirtschaftswachstum und Nachhaltiger Entwicklung diskutiert. Mit der Präsentation seines Konzeptes einer Halbtagsgesellschaft, die einen radikalen Bruch mit konventionellen Arbeitsarrangements und eine drastische Ausweitung informeller Versorgungssysteme (informelle Arbeit, räumliche Substitution, Zeittauschringe) vorsieht, hatte Carsten Stahmer einen Stein ins Wasser geworfen.
Die drei hier skizzierten Szenarien machen deutlich, dass verschiedene Zukünfte der Arbeit vorstellbar sind. Sie sind von unterschiedlichen Wertvorstellungen geprägt und mit verschiedenartigen Gestaltungsansätzen verbunden. Gesellschaft und Politik sind aufgerufen zu diskutieren, welche Entwicklungsrichtung wahrscheinlicher und welche zukunftsfähiger erscheint. Dazu wollen die drei Beiträge Impulse setzen.