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- Energie-, Verkehrs- und Klimapolitik (1625) (remove)
While digital technologies hold significant transformational potential, anecdotal evidence suggests that the digital transformation might not be directed towards sustainable development sufficiently. Drawing on a modified and extended version of the framework proposed by Wanzenböck et al. (2020), we explore the cases of the circular economy and the transition towards a sustainable energy system in the twin transition. Making use of insights from 20 expert interviews and two in-depth interviews, we aim to gain a first careful indication of the convergence/divergence in societal views on key problems and solutions across different dimensions (technological, economic, socio-cultural, regulatory) and derive insights for integrated policy-making. Thereby the study contributes to bridging the existing gap between mission-oriented policies and the twin transition. Overall, our first insights indicate that while showing high similarities in the structure of problems and solutions across cases, the variety in wickedness (contestation, complexity, uncertainty) calls for differentiated policy-making: Significant parts of the relatively young twin transition might be in a state of disorientation where societal views on problems and solutions diverge. This would require policy-makers to follow a "discovery-mode" (basic research, experiments and monitoring) with only selected diffusion-focused strategies. Further, we show that missions in the twin transition require highly flexible policy-making as different approaches need to be applied simultaneously. Finally, there are several options for exploiting synergies in policy-making due to some overlapping characteristics as well as learning opportunities between cases. We believe that particularly our holistic perspective on the twin transition can yield substantial guidance for researchers and policy-makers in the field.
In order to limit global warming and fulfill their contributions to the Paris agreement, both Germany and Japan have set targets for climate neutrality towards the middle of the century. Reaching these goals will imply transformation of all sectors of society to avoid all fossil greenhouse gas emissions, heavy industry not the least. The focus of this study is the transformation of the petrochemical industry. This sector can become climate neutral but cannot be "decarbonized", as carbon is integral to the chemical structures of the products like polymers and solvents. Reaching climate neutrality thus means that the whole lifecycle of the petrochemical products has to be regarded. Another specific challenge is today's synergetic relation of this industry to fossil transport fuel production, which cannot be maintained in a climate neutral world.
The two countries interestingly share a similar industrial structure overall, and the chemical and petrochemical industry is one of the major industries in both countries. The countries' respective chemical industries are the third and fourth largest in the world in terms of sales, but at the same time, these industries represent just over 5% of the respective countries' greenhouse gas emissions. However, these scope 1 emissions of the chemical industry itself are far less relevant than the end-of-life emissions of their products, which belong to scope 3 and are thus not counted under the chemical industry in the country greenhouse gas balances. To mediate these emissions, there is a need to set the direction, draw out paths and investigate possible alternatives for how the petrochemical industry can be become climate neutral. In this report, the existing scenario analyses, energy strategies and roadmaps dealing with this issue in the two countries are compared, as well as the current state of their petrochemical industries. We highlight similarities, differences and identify possible areas of cooperation and exchange in order to find robust paths forward for the transformation of the petrochemical industries.
Established in 2016, the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) strives to promote bilateral cooperation between Germany and Japan on energy transition. Among other studies and topical papers, an output paper in 2020 (Rauschen et al., 2020) already compared the energy efficiency in buildings in both countries with a particular focus on heating and cooling. One important finding of this output paper was that further efforts in the building sector are needed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in Germany and Japan. Following the more ambitious climate protection targets in both countries, this study seeks to analyze the German and Japanese policies put in place to accelerate the decarbonization of the building sector. The decarbonization of the vast number of buildings that both Japan and Germany are facing will be a major contribution to achieving the GHG reduction targets of both countries and should continue to be discussed among experts and developed into a discussion among policy makers.
This report examines and compares the characteristics of the building stock in both countries, as well as existing policies and new strategies and policies that are planned or discussed to achieve energy conservation and decarbonization of buildings. The current shape of buildings, especially houses, is greatly influenced by the land area of the country corresponding to the available space for buildings, the natural environment surrounding the country, the natural resources available, and the lifestyle and cultural ideas that have been passed down and taken root over time. Therefore, it might be difficult to compare them and the corresponding strategies and policies with the same yardstick, so we also discuss common or deviant situations. Through this joint research, we aim to find each other's advantages and challenges and to develop useful and concrete policy recommendations that will contribute to decarbonization policies in both countries.
Mit verschiedenen Wohnbauoffensiven versuchen viele Kommunen dem vorherrschenden Wohnraummangel entgegenzuwirken. Der Neubau von Häusern nimmt viel Fläche in Anspruch und verbraucht viele Ressourcen. Dabei lässt sich ein Großteil des Wohnraumbedarfs durch bestehende Wohngebäude decken, wenn sich Menschen an biografischen Wendepunkten, wie etwa Auszug der Kinder, für kleinere Wohnflächen und alternative Wohnkonzepte entscheiden würden.
Das Projekt OptiWohn ging darum der Frage nach, wie eine optimierte Nutzung der Wohnfläche proaktiv gefördert werden kann. Herzstück bildet die Entwicklung und Gründung von kommunalen Wohnraumagenturen. Sie identifizieren Wohnraumbedarfe im Quartier, bieten Beratung für Wohnungssuchende an, vermitteln alternative Wohnungen oder initiieren Angebote zum Wohnungstausch.
Neben dem Beratungs- und Förderangebot zur Optimierung der Wohnflächennutzung in den Städten Köln, Göttingen und Tübingen wurden die Ergebnisse in kommunale Handlungsempfehlungen übertragen, die neben Städten und Kommunen auch weitere Akteure ansprechen sollen. Darüber hinaus entwarfen die Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler ein bundesweites Förderprogramm für flächeneffizientes Wohnen.
Der hier vorliegende Klimaschutz-Aktionsplan 2030 für die Stadt Mannheim beschreibt Maßnahmen und Reduktionspfade für eine Minderung der Treibhausgasemissionen auf Mannheimer Stadtgebiet zur Erreichung der Klimaneutralität im Jahr 2030. Die Basis hierfür bildet die Energie- und CO2-Bilanz aus dem Jahr 2020.
In einem ersten Schritt wurden mit dem wissenschaftlichen Begleitkreis mögliche Reduktionspfade in den verschiedenen Sektoren und eine Definition für den Begriff der Klimaneutralität diskutiert. Mit dem Lenkungskreis wurden im nächsten Schritt acht Handlungsfelder festgelegt, für die in einzelnen Strategiegruppen die Maßnahmen entwickelt wurden. Weitere Vorschläge kamen aus der begleitenden öffentlichen Beteiligung. In diesem breit angelegten Beteiligungsprozess sind letztlich 81 Maßnahmen in acht thematischen Handlungsfeldern entstanden, von denen 34 als Maßnahmen von besonderer Priorität definiert wurden.
This paper presents a novel governance concept for sustainable development, introducing the "Safe System Approach" as a transformative model that shifts focus from individual behavioural change to systemic transformation. This approach challenges traditional governance models that emphasize individual responsibility in achieving sustainable development and decarbonization. Instead, it advocates for creating an enabling environment that inherently guides individuals and communities towards sustainable actions. The Safe System Approach is centred on delivering low-carbon services across essential sectors, including electricity, mobility, industry, buildings, human settlements, and agriculture, thereby embedding sustainability as a default choice in societal systems. Drawing parallels with successful models in road safety, the paper explores the potential of this approach in urban development and climate action. It emphasizes the need for a broad coalition and integrated approaches in managing shared resources, highlighting the significance of systemic adjustments over individual behavioral change. By proposing a structure where sustainability is facilitated by the system's design, the paper builds on key concepts from seminal works by scholars like Garrett Hardin, Mancur Olson, Elinor Ostrom, and Ahrend Lijphart. It discusses the challenges and opportunities in creating safe operating spaces for sustainable development, emphasizing the need for multi-actor, multilevel governance systems that can manage shared resources sustainably and are resilient to political volatility. The paper aims to offer a robust, efficient, and inclusive pathway to sustainable development, contributing to the global discourse on environmental and social resilience.
Dieses Buch bietet einen Leitfaden für mehr Klimaschutz an Schulen und holt Schulleitungen, Lehrkräfte und Schüler:innen gemeinschaftlich ins Boot - denn Klimaschutz ist eine Gemeinschaftsaufgabe. Mit dem "Whole School Approach" wird die ganzheitliche Umsetzung von Klimaschutzaktivitäten in der Schulentwicklung angestoßen und auf schulischer Ebene ermöglicht und erleichtert.
Ziel ist es, Lehrer:innen in ihrer Gestaltungskompetenz für mehr Klimaschutz zu stärken - dies geschieht durch konkrete Vorschläge für die Arbeit mit Schüler:innen im Unterricht. Partizipative Methoden der Beteiligung sollen die Schüler:innen empowern und den Lehrkräften Ideen geben, um die eigene Selbstwirksamkeit, aber auch die der Schüler:innen zu steigern.
Die zentrale Kernbotschaft lautet: ein Klimaschutzprojekt an der Schule ist wesentlich für die strukturelle Verankerung von Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung im Schulalltag. Der Leitfaden gibt Anregungen für die Unterrichtsgestaltung, Anregungen für die Entwicklung eines Klimaschutzleitbildes, Hinweise für das Gebäudemanagement und Ideen zur Einbindung des schulischen Umfelds.
Städte und damit auch ihre Straßen wurden in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten stark nach dem Leitbild einer autogerechten Stadt geplant. Heute besteht ein weitgehender Konsens darüber, dass sich Städte bzw. Straßen wandeln müssen, um sich an die Folgen des Klimawandels anzupassen, und dass die Verkehrswende nur mit angepassten städtischen Verkehrsinfrastrukturen, die aktive Mobilitätsformen fördern, gelingen kann. Dennoch kommt es bei konkreten Projekten vor Ort häufig zu gesellschaftlichen und politischen Widerständen. Vor diesem Hintergrund beschreibt dieser Beitrag einen dreistufigen kollaborativen Beteiligungs- und Planungsprozess mit der Zivilgesellschaft, der Stadtverwaltung und der Kommunalpolitik für den Umbau einer Quartiersstraße in Dortmund. Ziel des Prozesses war es, die Zieldimensionen Verkehrswende, Aufenthaltsqualität und Klimaresilienz (blau-grüne Infrastrukturen) integriert zu betrachten, um eine gleichermaßen ambitionierte wie gesellschaftlich tragfähige Planung zu entwickeln. Der Beitrag beschreibt die empirischen Arbeiten und Befunde, stellt dar, wie die Rückmeldungen aus dem Beteiligungs- und Planungsprozess in die Planungsentwürfe integriert wurden, und reflektiert den Einsatz von Visualisierungen und Straßenexperimenten als Instrumente für eine kollaborative Planung.
Innovative Finanzierungskonzepte wie Solar und Spar-Bürgercontracting belegen, dass ein riesiges Einsparpotenzial an Schulen wirtschaftlich erschlossen werden könnte. Doch bislang passiert zu wenig, um dieses auch zu nutzen. Das Projekt Schools4Future zeigt, wie Schulen eigenständig eine CO2-Bilanz erstellen können, um nicht nur eigene Klimaschutzmaßnahmen umzusetzen, sondern auch, um der Politik zu zeigen, wo dringender Handlungsbedarf besteht.
Populäre Irrtümer beim Klimaschutz : was bringen Ökostrom, Kompensation und Baumpflanzaktionen?
(2024)
Die Schul-CO2-Bilanz
(2024)
This paper examines the current and prospective greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of e-fuels produced via electrolysis and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) for the years 2021, 2030, and 2050 for use in Germany. The GHG emissions are determined by a scenario approach as a combination of a literature-based top-down and bottom-up approach. Considered process steps are the provision of feedstocks, electrolysis (via solid oxide co-electrolysis; SOEC), synthesis (via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; FTS), e-crude refining, eventual transport to, and use in Germany. The results indicate that the current GHG emissions for e-fuel production in the exemplary export countries Saudi Arabia and Chile are above those of conventional fuels. Scenarios for the production in Germany lead to current GHG emissions of 2.78-3.47 kgCO2-eq/L e-fuel in 2021 as the reference year and 0.064-0.082 kgCO2-eq/L e-fuel in 2050. With a share of 58-96%, according to the respective scenario, the electrolysis is the main determinant of the GHG emissions in the production process. The use of additional renewable energy during the production process in combination with direct air capture (DAC) are the main leverages to reduce GHG emissions.
Demand-side mitigation strategies have been gaining momentum in climate change mitigation research. Still, the impact of different approaches in passenger transport, one of the largest energy demand sectors, remains unclear. We couple a transport simulation model to an energy system optimisation model, both highly disintegrated in order to compare those impacts. Our scenarios are created for the case of Germany in an interdisciplinary, qualitative-quantitative research design, going beyond techno-economic assumptions, and cover Avoid, Shift, and Improve strategies, as well as their combination. The results show that sufficiency - Avoid and Shift strategies - have the same impact as the improvement of propulsion technologies (i.e. efficiency), which is reduction of generation capacities by one quarter. This lowers energy system transformation cost accordingly, but requires different kinds of investments: Sufficiency measures require public investment for high-quality public services, while efficiency measures require individuals to purchase more expensive vehicles at their own cost. These results raise socio-political questions of system design and well-being. However, all strategies are required to unleash the full potential of climate change mitigation.
Familie und Generationen
(2023)
Die große Herausforderung der Industrietransformation ist von besonderer Bedeutung für Nordrhein-Westfalen als eine der wichtigsten Industrieregionen Deutschlands und Europas, in der etwa die Hälfte der Anlagen der energieintensiven Grundstoffindustrie Deutschlands verortet sind und in der die industrielle Produktion wirtschaftlich eine besonders große Rolle spielt. Gleichzeitig kann eine gelingende Transformation der Industrie in NRW als Blaupause für andere Regionen dienen. Der vorliegende Bericht stellt die Ergebnisse des Forschungsprojekts SCI4climate.NRW 2018-2022 dar, welches die Industrietransformation in NRW wissenschaftlich begleitet und untersucht hat.
Die Schaffung von bezahlbarem und sozial gerechtem Wohnraum stellt eine zentrale Herausforderung der nachhaltigen Stadtentwicklung dar. Zur Begegnung dieser Herausforderungen spielen innovative Wohnformen wie gemeinschaftliche Wohnprojekte eine bedeutende Rolle, da sie vielfältige soziale Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte aufweisen und dadurch zu einer nachhaltigen Stadtentwicklung beitragen können. In diesem Kontext bleibt die Frage offen, ob die Gemeinschaften in Wohnprojekten nach ihrer Gründung beständig bleiben. Das Ziel der Arbeit war die Beantwortung der folgenden Forschungsfrage: "Wie können gemeinschaftliche Wohnprojekte dauerhaft in Bezug auf ihre Weiterentwicklung bestehen bleiben und somit langfristig eine nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung unterstützen?"
Zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfrage wurde eine qualitative Studie in Form von narrativen Interviews mit Bewohner:innen gemeinschaftlicher Wohnprojekte durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse aus Literatur und Praxis konnten acht besonders relevante Faktoren für die Beständigkeit von gemeinschaftlichen Wohnprojekten identifizieren: Soziale Durchmischung, Organisationsstruktur, Gemeinschaftspflege, Vertrauen, Soziales Netzwerk, Kommunikationskultur, gelebte Nachhaltigkeit, Flexibilität und Anpassungsfähigkeit. Diese Faktoren ermöglichen eine nachhaltige und anpassungsfähige Gemeinschaft, welche zu einer nachhaltigen Stadtentwicklung beitragen kann. Dafür sollten gemeinschaftliche Wohnprojekte ihre vorhandenen Potenziale weiterhin ausbauen.
Im September 2023 sind zwei wenig ermutigende Untersuchungen veröffentlicht worden: Das Klimasekretariat der Vereinten Nationen macht in seinem Report zur ersten Globalen Bestandsaufnahme (Global Stocktake) deutlich, dass die bisher zugesagten nationalen Klimaschutzbeiträge bei weitem nicht genügen, um die Pariser Klimaschutzziele zu erreichen. Auch das Update zur Einhaltung der planetaren Grenzen fällt ernüchternd aus: In sechs von neun Bereichen sind die Grenzen teils weit überschritten - auch in Bezug auf den Klimawandel.
Allerdings reichen die ergriffenen Klimaschutzmaßnahmen nicht aus, um die gesteckten Ziele zu erreichen. Suffizienzstrategien und -politik können den Wandel bringen - bei Konsum, Gebäuden, Verkehr, Kreislaufwirtschaft und Energie, wie der Zukunftsimpuls zeigt.
Strengthening global climate governance and international cooperation for energy‐efficient buildings
(2023)
Buildings constitute one of the main GHG emitting sectors, and energy efficiency is a key lever to reduce emissions in the sector. Global climate policy has so far mostly focused on economy-wide emissions. However, emission reduction actions are ultimately sectoral, and opportunities and barriers to achieving emission reductions vary strongly among sectors. This article therefore seeks to analyse to what extent more targeted global governance may help to leverage mitigation enablers and overcome barriers to energy efficiency in buildings. To this end, the article first synthesises existing literature on mitigation enablers and barriers as well as existing literature on how global governance may help address these barriers ("governance potential"). On this basis, the article analyses to what extent this governance potential has already been activated by existing activities of international institutions. Finally, the article discusses how identified governance gaps could be closed. The analysis finds that despite the local characteristics of the sector, global governance has a number of levers at its disposal that could be used to promote emission reductions via energy efficiency. In practice, however, lacking attention to energy efficiency in buildings at national level is mirrored at the international level. Recently, though, a number of coalitions demanding stronger action have emerged. Such frontrunners could work through like-minded coalitions and at the same time try to improve conditions for cooperation in the climate regime and other existing institutions.
Junge Menschen sehen sich durch die Klimakrise einer Einschränkung ihrer Entfaltungs- und Lebensmöglichkeiten gegenübergestellt. So überrascht es nicht, dass gerade die junge Generation sich aktiv für mehr Klimaschutz einsetzt - doch sind es wirklich alle Jugendlichen, die auf die Straße gehen? Die vorliegende explorative Studie zeigt auf, wie sowohl die Wahrnehmung der Klimakrise, die Handlungsmuster und auch die Verantwortungsattribution - individuell, innergenerational und politisch - milieuspezifisch verhandelt werden. Informiert durch das Projekt Schools4Future wurden vier Leitfadeninterviews mit Schüler*innen zur Wahrnehmung und Deutung der Klimakrise geführt. Im dreischrittigen Kodierprozess der Grounded Theory konnten Muster der Betroffenheit, der Verantwortungsattribution und der Handlungsstrategien von vier jugendlichen Klimaaktivist*innen aus akademischen und prekären Herkunftsmilieus rekonstruiert werden.
Most air-conditioned buildings in India operate as Mixed-Mode Buildings (MMBs), either fully air-conditioned or with natural ventilation depending on the weather. Energy consumption for space cooling is a vital end-use service in buildings. Air-conditioning is expected to increase significantly due to high growth estimates in building construction, sales of Room Air-Conditioners (RACs), and real income growth. Therefore, this thesis examines the most influential design and control parameters that influence the potential of MMBs in India in relation to their thermal and energy performance. The primary features of MMBs analysed in the research project are as follows: shutting windows at night makes night ventilation redundant; natural ventilation through ceiling fans and windows is utilised to maintain optimal thermal conditions in naturally-ventilated mode and RACs are employed in air-conditioned mode. This thesis poses three research questions and aims to answer them. Firstly, what are the research gaps in assessing thermal and energy performance in mixed-mode buildings in India? Secondly, what is their potential concerning key operating conditions, and which parameters affect this potential? Lastly, how can these influential parameters be optimised? To answer these questions, three research methods were employed: 1) literature review; 2) large-scale simulation of building energy performance combined with uncertainty and sensitivity analysis; and 3) field studies of user behaviour with regards to RACs and the impact of ceiling fans and RACs on indoor conditions and energy consumption. The study identifies the cooling set point temperature as the most influential control parameter. In general, input parameters related to building design, shape and geometry were considered more important than those related to construction parameters. Furthermore, the study highlights that a set point temperature of 28 or 30°C is sufficient to maintain indoor comfort according to the Indian Model for Adaptive Comfort (IMAC) for residential buildings. If a specific airflow is required, it would use the least energy to run the ceiling fan at a low speed, usually set at 1.
Analyzing previous international and national policy processes, the study offers recommendations for leveraging the Global Stocktake's (GST) outcomes for national climate action, especially for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to ensure the results of the GST influence national political discourse. It proposes communication strategies tailored to the different stages of the NDC policy process and diverse target audiences. The paper advocates for a nuanced and strategic approach to communication and emphasizes the importance of legitimacy and complexity in engaging stakeholders at different levels of decision-making.
Seit Einführung der ersten Wärmeschutzverordnung in den 1970er Jahren als Antwort auf die Ölkrise sind die energetischen Anforderungen an Gebäude kontinuierlich gestiegen. Heute werden sie im
Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG) geregelt, das aktuell erneut novelliert wird. Trotz dieser kontinuierlichen Verschärfungen der Anforderungen ist der Endenergiebedarf von Wohngebäuden in Deutschland in den letzten Jahrzehnten kaum gesunken. Ein wesentlicher Grund hierfür ist die ebenso kontinuierlich steigende Wohnfläche pro Person.
Das Ziel einer urbanen Verkehrswende ist klar definiert: mehr Fläche für städtisches Leben, weniger Lärm und klimaschädliche Emissionen und eine saubere Luft. Das bedeutet weniger Autoverkehr in den Städten und mehr Wege zu Fuß, mit dem Fahrrad, dem Tretroller oder mit dem öffentlichen Verkehr. Dabei reicht es nicht aus nur auf Innovationen und attraktive Alternativen zu setzen - es braucht auch Exnovation, also restriktive und reduzierende Ansätze für den Autoverkehr.
Dieser Zukunftsimpuls zeigt, wie die urbane Verkehrswende durch Exnovation beschleunigt und richtungssicher umgesetzt werden kann, welche Hemmnisse es bei bisher umgesetzten deutschen und europäischen Projekten gibt und welche Strategie- und Handlungsempfehlungen sich daraus ableiten lassen.
Since the introduction of Germany's first Thermal Insulation Ordinance in the 1970s in response to the oil crisis, requirements for the energy performance of buildings have consistently increased.
Today, these are ruled by the German Building Energy Act, which is currently being amended. Despite this continuous tightening of regulations, the energy consumption in German housing has hardly decreased. The continuous increase in residential space per person is a significant reason for this.
The objectives of the urban mobility transition have been clearly set out: gaining more space for urban living, reducing noise and emissions that have a negative impact on the climate and improving air quality. That means less traffic in cities and more trips made using environmentally-friendly modes of transport - i.e., walking, cycling or foot scooters or public transport. In transport policy, the focus is generally on innovative approaches to shaping the mobility transition.
This paper aims to explain the concept of exnovation in the context of the urban mobility transition and to underpin it using specific practical examples. In the course of this process, it is intended to identify the obstacles that stand in the way of rolling out the concept on an area-wide basis in order to deduce strategies and courses of action for expanding the concept in the future.
As investors and financial intermediaries, private banks are increasingly confronted with climate change concerns. But to what extent do banks identify as the changemakers driving climate alignment forward? To advance this question, this paper analyzes the South African banking sector with a specific focus on Standard Bank and Nedbank as exemplary case studies. Relying on the concept of "climate mainstreaming", we critically assess the banks' annual reports and compare their self-portrayal with publicly available sources on the bank's business practices, chiefly provided by non-governmental organizations and media. We find that Nedbank pushes a holistic narrative of climate change as an inevitable business opportunity. Standard Bank, in turn, relies on a "narrative of balance" between climate change and other profit-oriented investments to safeguard its stakes in the fossil industry. In so doing, this paper sheds light on greenwashing practices within disclosure specifically and the lack of binding corporate regulation more generally.
In view of the accelerating climate crisis, the Russian invasion of Ukraine highlighted the dependency of fossil fuels on the part of Germany and the European Union (EU). With the priority aim to reduce the import dependency from the Russian Federation while providing energy security and staying on track with climate mitigation efforts, the Federal Government was presented with major challenges. Prior to the war, an approximate 34% of the mineral oil, 53.6% of the natural gas, and 50% of hard coal supplies to Germany originated from Russian sources. As of 2023, however, Germany is independent from Russian energy imports. This paper examines implications of the global energy crisis induced by the invasion on the energy sector in Germany. As a basis for achieving this analysis, a short overview of the energy situation in the country before the war and a demonstration of the provisional conditions is presented. This is followed by an analysis of the main consequences of the war and medium and long-term strategies to reach Germany's climate goals while maintaining energy security. Lastly, foreseeable consequences regarding the European and German climate goals are discussed.
There is a growing body of scientific evidence supporting sufficiency as an inevitable strategy for mitigating climate change. Despite this, sufficiency plays a minor role in existing climate and energy policies. Following previous work on the National Energy and Climate Plans of EU countries, we conduct a similar content analysis of the recommendations made by citizen assemblies on climate change mitigation in ten European countries and the EU, and compare the results of these studies. Citizen assemblies are representative mini-publics and enjoy a high level of legitimacy.
We identify a total of 860 mitigation policy recommendations in the citizen assemblies' documents, of which 332 (39 %) include sufficiency. Most of the sufficiency policies relate to the mobility sector, the least relate to the buildings sector. Regulatory instruments are the most often proposed means for achieving sufficiency, followed by fiscal and economic instruments. The average approval rate of sufficiency policies is high (93 %), with the highest rates for regulatory policies.
Compared to National Energy and Climate Plans, the citizen assembly recommendations include a significantly higher share of sufficiency policies (factor three to six) with a stronger focus on regulatory policies. Consequently, the recommendations can be interpreted as a call for a sufficiency turn and a regulatory turn in climate mitigation politics. These results suggest that the observed lack of sufficiency in climate policy making is not due to a lack of legitimacy, but rather reflects a reluctance to implement sufficiency policies, the constitution of the policy making process and competing interests.
The rise of pedal-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) has the potential to contribute to reducing ubiquitous automobility and its negative externalities on the global climate, mobility justice and the quality of urban life. But what makes this new practice so successful in recruiting new practitioners? What policies can ensure that e-bikes are used in a wide range of situations, thus substituting as much car driving as possible - or even reducing the number of cars? The study focuses on commuting as this use case frequently entails the main obstacles to e-biking in daily routines (e.g., sweat, weather, transporting children or goods). The analysis is primarily based on interviews with practitioners and initially provides a thorough depiction of the practice elements (meanings, materials and competences) involved in e-bike commuting. It furthermore elicits key drivers of and barriers to daily e-bike commuting, points to a number of elements that are important to overcome these barriers and develops two tangible policy approaches to foster the substitution of e-biking for car driving.
The 2015 Paris Agreement relies on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to outline each country's policies and plans for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To strengthen global climate action and achieve the Agreement's temperature goal, it is crucial to enhance the ambition level of NDCs every 5 years. While previous studies have explored the ambition of initial NDCs, limited research has delved into the factors driving the enhancement or lack thereof in NDCs' emission reduction plans. This study employs a mixed-method design to investigate the determinants of NDC enhancement. First, we analyse the updated or revised NDCs of 111 countries using quantitative methods. Second, we conduct qualitative case studies focusing on Brazil and South Africa. Our findings reveal that countries that engaged in stakeholder consultations with civil society, business, and labour groups prior to developing their updated or revised NDCs were more likely to enhance their greenhouse gas reduction targets. These results are further supported by the case studies. South Africa conducted comprehensive consultations and submitted an enhanced GHG target, while Brazil, which did not arrange open consultations, did not improve its target. This study underscores the significance of comprehensive and transparent stakeholder engagement processes, highlighting their potential to drive enhanced NDCs. By involving diverse stakeholders, including civil society, business, and labour groups, countries can foster greater ambition and effectiveness in their climate action, ultimately contributing to the global effort to combat climate change.
Better integration of climate action and sustainable development can help enhance the ambition of the next nationally determined contributions, as well as implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Governments should use this year as an opportunity to emphasize the links between climate and sustainable development.
Studies show that people can tolerate elevated temperatures in the presence of appreciable air movement (e.g., from using ceiling fans). This minimises the use of air-conditioners and extends their set-point temperature (Tset), resulting in energy savings in space cooling. However, there is little empirical evidence on the energy savings from using ceiling fans with Room Air-Conditioners (RACs). To address this gap, we analysed the energy performance of RACs with both fixed-speed compressors and inverter technology at different set-point temperatures and ceiling fan speed settings in 15 residential Mixed-Mode Buildings (MMBs) in India. Thermal comfort conditions (as predicted by the Indian Model for Adaptive Comfort-Residential (IMAC-R)) with minimum energy consumption were maintained at a set-point temperature (𝑇set) of 28 and 30 C and a fan speed setting of one. Compared with a Tset of 24 °C, a 𝑇set of 28 and 30 °C resulted in energy savings of 44 and 67%, respectively. With the use of RACs, a configuration with a minimum fan speed was satisfactory for an optimal use of energy and for maintaining the conditions of thermal comfort. In addition, RACs with inverter technology used 34-68% less energy than fixed-speed compressors. With the rising use of RACs, particularly in tropical regions, the study's outcomes offer a significant potential for reducing space-cooling energy consumption and the resultant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
As the climate crisis is accelerating and the pressure to act is steadily increasing, many companies are claiming themselves or their products carbon neutral. This is usually achieved by offsetting residual emissions with carbon certificates (carbon offsetting). However, recent revelations about the inadequate quality of carbon credits and legal uncertainties surrounding the use of such offset claims are increasingly raising doubts about this approach.
This Wuppertal Report examines how the EU can promote integrity in corporate climate action. Taking into account the new framework of the Paris Agreement, the paper outlines various options for how the EU could push for more integrity and effectively combat greenwashing through the targeted use of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
In their recommendations, the authors advocate addressing the most serious consequences of ongoing offset practices through increased regulation of offset claims. If a ban on offset claims cannot be implemented, claims requirements and carbon offset regulations should be further specified, for example, by prohibiting any type of double counting of emissions reductions. In addition to tightening the rules for corporate offset claims within Europe, the EU could help partner countries make informed decisions when approving climate change mitigation measures and respective carbon credits. The report also emphasizes the EU's special role in international climate negotiations, where it should advocate for a strong legal framework for climate action under Article 6.
In recent years, the public discourse on the phase-out of carbon-intensive technologies and practices has come to a near consensus that a "just transition" is required. Yet, this term seems to have as many meanings as there are stakeholders using it. The purpose of this paper is to unpack the different meanings that regional stakeholders assign to it and the underlying dimensions of in(justice) that they invoke in their political communication.
To this end, we employ a policy narrative analysis to study and compare the political discourse in four European coal and carbon-intensive mining regions: Ida-Virumaa (Estonia, oil shale), the Rhenish mining region (Germany, lignite), Upper Silesia (Poland, hard coal) and Western Macedonia (Greece, lignite). Specifically, we address the following research questions: Which narratives are characterising the political discourse around just transition? Which (in)justices are being invoked? Which patterns, similarities or differences are recognizable between regions?
We found that hopeful narratives describing structural change as an opportunity to reinvent the region are prevalent in all regions. Strong narratives of resistance only prevail in Upper Silesia and Ida-Virumaa where a phase-out decision has not yet been adopted. In terms of injustices, we find surprisingly little evidence that injustices related to the immediate effects of the transformation (e.g. lay-offs and compensation for workers and companies) play an important role. Instead, the aspects related to the historical injustices produced by the legacy industrial system prevail. And perhaps most importantly, questions about access and allocation of the opportunities of the imminent transition are key and should be addressed more explicitly.
Rising energy costs have led to increased discussion about the social impact of the energy transition in Germany in recent years. In 2021, a gradually increasing CO2 tax was introduced. This paper analyzes the question of whether a CO2 tax can be socially just. Using data analysis and desk research, correlations between income and energy consumption in Germany are shown. In a short analysis, it is investigated which additional burdens different types of private households have to expect in the coming years due to the introduction of CO2 pricing on energy. In particular, the introduction of a per capita flat rate fed by CO2 tax revenues could be a suitable way to reduce the burden on low-income households.
Der Wärmesektor hat einen Anteil von rund 55 Prozent am deutschen Primärenergieverbrauch, wobei der Anteil klimafreundlicher Wärmeerzeugung (erneuerbare Energien und Abwärmenutzung) bislang aber noch sehr gering ist und unter 20 Prozent liegt. Entsprechend sind die Potenziale zur Erschließung von Dekarbonisierungserfolgen im Wärmesektor besonders groß. Ein Gelingen der Wärmewende ist daher zwingende Voraussetzung dafür, dass die nationalen Klimaschutzziele erreicht werden.
Gerade Städte spielen auf Grund des hohen Energie- und Ressourcenverbrauchs, der hohen örtlichen Dichte von Infrastrukturen und durch die Vielzahl von Akteuren eine zentrale Rolle bei der Energiewende und für den Klimaschutz. So bilden beispielsweise gewachsene Strukturen im Bestand und hohe Nutzungsdichten potenzielle Restriktionen für die Integration von Technologien zur effizienten Nutzung erneuerbarer Energiequellen. Städtische Quartiere sind gleichzeitig der sinnvollste Umsetzungsmaßstab für integrierte innovative Systeme, da hier die größten Synergieeffekte zwischen Effizienzmaßnahmen und nachhaltiger Energieerzeugung erschlossen werden können.
Umsetzung wie auch Förderung der Industrietransformation obliegen insbesondere Akteuren auf der europäischen sowie der nationalen Governance-Ebene. Gleichwohl sind vor dem Hintergrund der Dringlichkeit der Herausforderung und der Maßstabsebene eines Großteils der erforderlichen Maßnahmen auch kommunale Akteure und lokale Initiativen, darunter öffentliche Betreiber, Verwaltungen, öffentlich-private Kooperationen, Unternehmen oder zivilgesellschaftliche Gruppen in diesem Bereich von Bedeutung. Das liegt auch an der Tatsache, dass je nach wirtschaftlicher Struktur die Industrie für einen großen Teil der Treibhausgasemissionen in einer Kommune oder Region verantwortlich sein kann. Gleichzeitig gibt es vielfältige Stellschrauben vor Ort, um Klimaschutzmaßnahmen umzusetzen. Aufgrund der hohen Dichte an Akteuren und Institutionen bestehen auf der kommunalen Ebene große Handlungsmöglichkeiten für nachhaltige Transformationen, etwa im Bereich des Klimaschutzes.
Viele Kommunen setzen in ihren Klimaschutzkonzepten allerdings einen Schwerpunkt auf andere Bereiche, wie bspw. auf Klimaschutz bei öffentlichen Gebäuden, auch wegen der direkten Handlungsmöglichkeiten. Um die Industrie zu adressieren, greift die Kommunalverwaltung vornehmlich auf Beratungsangebote und Anreize zur Nutzung von erneuerbaren Energien zurück. Dabei gewinnt das Thema Klimaschutz gleichermaßen für Unternehmen wie auch für Kommunen immer weiter an Bedeutung. Für beide ist schon heute Klimaschutz ein wichtiger Wettbewerbs- und Standortfaktor.
Die bislang auf (Landes-)Politik, Unternehmen und Wissenschaft fokussierte Analyse der Industrietransformation in SCI4climate.NRW erweitert mit diesem Bericht den Blick auf die Einbindung und Rolle kommunaler Akteure, Strukturen und Prozesse. Es wird der Frage nachgegangen, welche Einflussmöglichkeiten Kommunen im Mehrebenen-Governance System der Industrietransformation in NRW haben und welche Interessen, Chancen und Herausforderungen seitens der Kommunen bestehen, um die Industrietransformation mitzugestalten.
Der Fokus wird dabei auf die Grundstoffindustrie, konkret auf die Chemie-, Stahl- und Zementindustrie, gelegt, da diese Industriezweige mit sehr hohen Treibhausgasemissionen verbunden sind und bislang bei der Frage nach kommunalen Handlungsmöglichkeiten von der Forschung noch wenig betrachtet wurden. Neben einer Literaturrecherche werden drei Fallstudien präsentiert, um sowohl die Möglichkeiten der Kommunen zu analysieren, aktuelle Aktivitäten einzuordnen sowie Chancen und Herausforderungen, die mit den Tätigkeiten verbunden sind, zu ermitteln.
The number of motorcycle taxis has soared in East African cities over the last decades, filling a gap in mobility needs while providing revenue opportunities to drivers. However, poor road safety combined with contribution to carbon emissions and air pollution creates a sustainability conundrum, which has led governments to control or repress the mode, yet without much success. After reviewing the characteristics and regulation of motorcycle taxis in Nairobi, Kigali, and Kampala, this study investigates the existence and impacts of two recent trends: digitalization and electrification. A comprehensive approach is adopted with a systematic review of the literature and policies, completed by field research and key informant interviews. We find out that electrification is mostly associated with positive impacts covering a spectrum of environment, economics, health, and social-related benefits, while the benefits of digitalization are more uncertain or contested. Impacts are however limited for both at the time of study as digitalization is highly volatile and electrification nascent. In conclusion, the paper identifies an interlinkage between the trends via the example of data, and further key research needs.
Although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute considerably to Germany's carbon emissions, regional savings and cooperative banks - SMEs' most important financiers - hardly consider this aspect in lending to these businesses. However, given Germany's commitment to climate neutrality by 2045, suitable approaches for injecting climate finance into these SME lending processes are greatly required. Against this background, the paper at hand aims to introduce the specific case of regional banks into the debate on green finance and green banking and suggest future research in this context. In discussing the state of research on the peculiarities of regional savings and cooperative banks, we outline the resulting opportunities and limitations for climate impact assessments in SME lending. We argue that while the dual bottom-line orientation of regional banks in Germany precludes them from applying simple positive or negative screenings, their in-depth knowledge about local clients and circumstances enables them to be active and engaging partners for the green transformation of SMEs. Nonetheless, we explain why developing solutions to utilise this knowledge for climate finance by integrating climate impact assessments into routine lending processes remains a particularly challenging task.
Power-law city-size distributions are a statistical regularity researched in many countries and urban systems. In this history of science treatise we reconsider Felix Auerbach’s paper published in 1913. We reviewed his analysis and found (i) that a constant absolute concentration, as introduced by him, is equivalent to a power-law distribution with exponent ≈1, (ii) that Auerbach describes this equivalence, and (iii) that Auerbach also pioneered the empirical analysis of city-size distributions across countries, regions, and time periods. We further investigate his legacy as reflected in citations and find that important follow-up work, e.g. by Lotka (Elements of physical biology. Williams & Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1925) and Zipf (Human behavior and the principle of least effort: an introduction to human ecology, Martino Publishing, Manfield Centre, CT (2012), 1949), does give proper reference to his discovery - but others do not. For example, only approximately 20% of city-related works citing Zipf (1949) also cite Auerbach (Petermanns Geogr Mitteilungen 59(74):74–76, 1913). To our best knowledge, Lotka (1925) was the first to describe the power-law rank-size rule as it is analyzed today. Saibante (Metron Rivista Internazionale di Statistica 7(2):53–99, 1928), building on Auerbach and Lotka, investigated the power-law rank-size rule across countries, regions, and time periods. Zipf's achievement was to embed these findings in his monumental 1949 book. We suggest that the use of “Auerbach–Lotka–Zipf law” (or "ALZ-law") is more appropriate than "Zipf's law for cities", which also avoids confusion with Zipf’s law for word frequency. We end the treatise with biographical notes on Auerbach.
Die Analyse erläutert die Funktionsweise des globalen Kohlenstoffmarkts und wie dieser von Unternehmen zur CO2-Kompensation bei der Erfüllung ihrer freiwilligen Klimaschutzziele genutzt wird. Vor dem Hintergrund der veränderten Rahmenbedingungen des Übereinkommens von Paris stellen die Autoren dar, mit welchen Herausforderungen der Kohlenstoffmarkt konfrontiert ist und wie diese durch Nutzung einer Alternative zur CO2-Kompensation überwunden werden können.
Das derzeitige, auf privaten Pkw basierende Mobilitätssystem ist nicht nachhaltig: Es trägt zum Klimawandel bei, ist sozioökonomisch ungerecht, benachteiligt Frauen und Personen, die sich um den Haushalt kümmern, gefährdet die Gesundheit und verstellt den städtischen Raum. Mobilitätsdaten bieten völlig neue Möglichkeiten, um diese Probleme durch eine bessere Planung, Organisation und Umsetzung von Mobilität und Verkehr zu überwinden. Dieses Strategiepapier schlägt zwei Möglichkeiten vor, um Mobilitätsdaten für ökologische Nachhaltigkeit und gerechten Zugang zum Verkehr in Deutschland zu nutzen.
The current, private car-based mobility system is not sustainable: it contributes to climate change, it is unjust from gender- and socio-economic perspectives, endangers health and obstructs urban space. To counteract this, mobility data offers entirely new avenues for planning, organizing, and implementing mobility and transport. This strategy paper considers two possible ways to use mobility data for improving environmental sustainability and equitable access to transportation in Germany.
Nicht nur für den Klimaschutz führt an der Wärmewende kein Weg vorbei. Mittelfristig wird sie auch die Heizkosten senken. Kurzfristig sind allerdings erhöhte Investitionen erforderlich, die für alle tragbar sein müssen. Ein wichtiges Instrument ist dabei die kommunale Wärmeplanung.
Sie wird kommen und sie wird zu erheblichem Aufwand bei den kommunalen Gebietskörperschaften führen, aber den Bürgerinnen und Bürgern, Unternehmen und öffentlichen Einrichtungen auch Anleitung und Sicherheit für ihre Investitionen in zukunftsfähige Heizungssysteme bieten. Nach den bisherigen Planungen ist vorgesehen, dass seitens des Bundes ein Gesetz verabschiedet wird, welches die Länder verpflichten wird, flächendeckend eine kommunale Wärmeplanung zumindest für die mittleren und größeren Städte und Gemeinden vorzunehmen. Seitens der Länder wird diese Aufgabe dann an die Kommunen weitergegeben. Die Bundesländer Baden-Württemberg und Schleswig-Holstein haben bereits seit einiger Zeit Erfahrung mit diesem kommunalen Planungsinstrument. Der Gesetzentwurf auf Bundesebene wird noch für das zweite Quartal 2023 erwartet. Unabhängig davon sieht der Koalitionsvertrag der Landesregierung in Nordrhein-Westfalen vor, dass im laufenden Jahr 2023 der gesetzliche Ordnungsrahmen für die kommunale Wärmeplanung geschaffen wird. Der genaue Zeitplan steht somit noch nicht fest; klar ist aber, dass es in absehbarer Zeit zu einer Verpflichtung für die NRW-Kommunen kommen wird, solche Pläne zu erstellen. Es lohnt daher, sich bereits frühzeitig mit dem Thema zu befassen.
This Wuppertal Paper analyses the energy transition models of Colombia and Germany. The emphasis of the exercise is on an analysis of options for the complete decarbonization of the energy system in Colombia as a Global South country. To this end, it analyses the current situation, projections, public policy and narratives, and contrasts it with Germany as one of the countries of the Global North with which Colombia has historically maintained energy trade relations and is currently collaborating in the exploration of energy alternatives for decarbonization.
Detailed analysis of sectoral energy consumption in Colombia shows the sectors with the highest fossil energy consumption (in this order): transport (fuels), industry (gas, coal), electricity generation (gas, coal) and residential (gas). We show the projected increase in demand for fuels and electricity, and calculate the amount of electricity theoretically needed to substitute fossil sources in each sector. We estimate the total electricity required for decarbonization via sector coupling and derive a first estimation of the range of additional renewable energy capacities needed to supply this demand. We find that required capacities are expectedly large (56-110 GW), depending on decarbonization pathways, and that export capacity beyond national demand may be limited.
Our analysis of the policy and scenario arena in both countries finds that Colombia is still lacking both sector-specific decarbonization strategies and an embedding in a systemic vision of a systemic energy transition. Germany has more advanced sector strategies and (national) systemic visions, but lacks embedding assumptions on energy imports in a global-system analysis, i.e. in the analysis of an energy transition in potential exporting countries like Colombia. We formulate requirements to close these gaps in our conclusions.
Junge Menschen sehen sich durch die Klimakrise einer Einschränkung ihrer Entfaltungs- und Lebensmöglichkeiten gegenübergestellt. Diese explorative Studie verdeutlicht, wie sowohl die Wahrnehmung der Klimakrise, die Verantwortungsattribution, die wahrgenommene Handlungswirksamkeit und die einschlägigen Sozialisationserfahrungen milieuspezifisch strukturiert sind.
Informiert durch das Projekt Schools4Future wurden vier Leitfadeninterviews mit Schüler*innen zur Wahrnehmung und Deutung der Klimakrise geführt. Im dreischrittigen Kodierprozess der Grounded Theory konnten Muster der Betroffenheit, der Verantwortungsattribution und der Handlungsstrategien von vier jugendlichen Klimaaktivist*innen aus akademischen und prekären Herkunftsmilieus rekonstruiert werden. Während die sozial bevorteilten Jugendlichen sich als Betroffene und unter dem Fehlverhalten vorangehender Generationen leidende Gruppe wahrnehmen, sehen die sozial benachteiligten Jugendlichen die Klimakrise als ein systemisches Versagen neben anderen. Der medial so vertraute Aktivismus geht von dem gehobenen Milieu aus und verbindet sich mit Konsum als distinktive Praxis des klimafreundlichen Handelns. Im prekären Milieu zeigen sich andere Formen des stillen, konkreten und intrinsisch motivierten Engagements sowie das (schulische) Engagement als Investition in den individuellen, sozialen Aufstieg. Konsistenter Weise sehen sich die akademischen Jugendlichen als bevorteilt in der Bearbeitung der Klimakrise, dethematisieren aber, was die jungen Menschen aus dem sozial schwachen Milieu deutlich diagnostizieren: Der ökologische Fußabdruck ihres Konsums ist ungleich höher als der der benachteiligten Jugendlichen.
Der Anteil erneuerbarer Energien bei der Wärme- (und Kälte-)Versorgung lag 2021 in Deutschland bei 16,5 % (knapp 200 TWh/a). Davon stammten 86 % aus Biomasse und davon wiederum 47% allein aus Holzfeuerungen im häuslichen Bereich. Der Rest der erneuerbaren Wärme stammte aus oberflächennaher Geothermie und Umgebungswärme (Wärmepumpen) mit 9 % und Solarthermie mit 4,2 %. Bisher vergleichsweise kleine Beiträge stammten aus der tiefen Geothermie. Im Jahr 2021 waren bezogen auf die rund 21 Millionen im Bestand befindlichen Einzelgebäudeheizanlagen (nicht Einzelraumfeuerstätten) 1,1 Mio. Wärmepumpen und 0,9 Mio. Biomassekessel im Betrieb. Hinzu kommen zusätzliche 2,5 Mio. solarthermische Anlagen mit einer Gesamtkollektorfläche von rund 21 Mio. m2. Bei den neu installierten Wärmeerzeugern konnten Wärmepumpen und Biomassekessel auch 2021 einen deutlich steigenden Absatz verzeichnen, wobei ihr Anteil an den insgesamt rund 930.000 neu installierten Wärmerzeugern bei knapp 25% lag.
Doch 2021 nutzten immer noch rund 19 Mio. Wärmeerzeuger Gas und Öl. Darüber hinaus müssen in Wohngebäuden auch noch Etagenheizungen und veraltete Biomasseheizsysteme ausgetauscht werden. Für eine erfolgreiche Wärmewende bis 2045 im Gebäudewärmebereich müssen also weiterhin jedes Jahr rund eine Million neue komplett Erneuerbare-Heizanlagen installiert und in Betrieb genommen werden. Nach dem Anschluss an zumindest perspektivisch vollständig erneuerbar versorgte Wärmenetze sind für alle anderen Objekte Wärmepumpen, Wärmepumpen-Biomasse-Hybride und, nur wo es keine anderen Möglichkeiten gibt, reine Biomassekessel zu installieren. Alle Lösungen lassen sich zusätzlich mit Solarthermieanlagen ergänzen. Im Vergleich zu Erdgasthermen ist jedoch allein die Installation der deutlich komplexeren Systeme mit mindestens dem doppelten Zeitaufwand zu veranschlagen, während die Branche bereits heute über einen realen Fachkräftemangel klagt. Es braucht also wirksame Lösungsansätze der Forschung zur Überwindung dieser und vieler anderer Hemmnisse zur erfolgreichen Wärmewende bis 2045.
At the next United Nations (UN) climate conference in the United Arab Emirates at the end of 2023, the first Global Stocktake (GST) of the Paris Agreement is due to conclude. The main goal of this process is to feed into a new round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by Parties to the Agreement for 2035. In addition, the GST is aimed at identifying opportunities for strengthening international cooperation to achieve the Paris goals. The GST represents the first opportunity for Parties and other stakeholders to collectively highlight opportunities for international climate cooperation. Specifically, outcomes should plant the seeds for the development of concrete sectoral decarbonization roadmaps that could guide international cooperation in years to come.
Der Gebäudebereich steht nicht nur aufgrund seiner Umweltwirkungen vor großen Herausforderungen. Bei der Einhaltung der Klima- und Nachhaltigkeitsziele spielen auch die mit langen Lebens- und Nutzungsdauern von Gebäuden einhergehenden Investitionszyklen eine entscheidende Rolle. Politische und planerische Maßnahmen werden bislang hauptsächlich im Rahmen von Effizienz- und Konsistenzstrategien entwickelt und umgesetzt, um Umweltwirkungen zu minimieren. Die Suffizienzstrategie erfährt im Vergleich dazu eine deutlich geringere Aufmerksamkeit. Ziel dieses Vorhabens ist es deshalb, Suffizienz für den Gebäudebereich zu definieren, geeignete technische und organisatorische Ansätze zu ihrer Unterstützung zu identifizieren sowie Vorschläge zu ihrer Verankerung in politischen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen und Instrumenten zu erarbeiten und exemplarisch darzustellen.
Sustainable urban mobility : interventions, key measures and solutions, actors, and opportunities
(2023)
Am frühen Sonntagmorgen des 20. November 2022 ging die 27. Konferenz der Vertragsparteien des Rahmenübereinkommens der Vereinten Nationen über Klimaänderungen (27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP27) im ägyptischen Scharm El Sheikh zu Ende. Geplant war die Konferenz bis Freitag. Doch es gab viel zu diskutieren. Katastrophale Extremwetterereignisse wie die Überschwemmungen in Pakistan und historische Dürren in Europa unterstrichen auch dieses Jahr wieder die Bedeutung von ambitionierten klimapolitischen Entschlüssen. Auch der neueste Bericht des Weltklimarats (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC) hatte erneut hervorgehoben, dass diese Ereignisse weiter eskalieren werden, je mehr die globale Erwärmung zunimmt.
Exnovation und Verkehrswende : vom Automobilitätsregime zu einer nachhaltigen urbanen Mobilität
(2023)
Der Verkehrssektor ist das Sorgenkind beim Klimaschutz. Um die Klimaschutzziele zu erreichen, sind ein rascher und tiefgreifender Wandel beim Verkehr und insgesamt weniger Autoverkehr nötig. In der Verkehrspolitik werden dazu meist innovationsorientierte Strategien verfolgt. Solange das Auto aber seinen privilegierten Status als bevorzugtes Verkehrsmittel behält, wird eine Verlagerung auf innovative und nachhaltige Alternativen verhindert.
Alina Wetzchewald untersucht hier, ob und wie "Exnovation" - also die Beendigung nichtnachhaltiger Praktiken - eine urbane Verkehrswende befördern kann, sodass sich nachhaltige Innovationen und Alternativen in der Folge besser etablieren können. Die Autorin begründet die Notwendigkeit von Exnovation, erarbeitet theoriebasiert Erklärungsansätze und untersucht Exnovation am Fall der Stadt Oslo. Im Ergebnis kann sie konkrete Empfehlungen zur aktiven Gestaltung der urbanen Verkehrswende durch Exnovation ableiten.
Klimapaket Autoverkehr : mit welchen Maßnahmen der PKW-Verkehr in Deutschland auf Klimakurs kommt
(2021)
Bereits in diesem Jahr droht der Verkehr sein Klimaziel nach dem Pandemie-bedingten Rückgang im vergangenen Jahr wieder um bis zu 10 Millionen Tonnen CO2 zu verfehlen, so eine aktuelle Abschätzung der Berliner Denkfabrik Agora Energiewende. Der Rückstand des Verkehrs beim Klimaschutz ist so groß, dass sich die CO2-Ziele bis zum Jahr 2030 nur mit einer Kombination mehrerer politischer Maßnahmen erreichen lassen.
Dies zeigt die vorliegende Studie des Wuppertal Instituts im Auftrag von Greenpeace. Die Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler haben kalkuliert, wie viel CO2 sich mit acht Maßnahmen im Autoverkehr jeweils einsparen lässt. Eine Zulassungssteuer für besonders umweltschädliche Autos etwa könne den CO2-Ausstoß bis 2030 in Summe um etwa 28 Millionen Tonnen senken, ein angemessener CO2-Preis für Diesel und Benzin um 16 Millionen Tonnen. Den Ausbau des Fernstraßennetzes auszusetzen, ersparte dem Klima knapp 21 Millionen Tonnen.
Der Autoverkehr verursacht mit fast zwei Dritteln den Großteil der Verkehrsemissionen. Um das im Klimaschutzgesetz für den Verkehrsbereich festgelegte Sektorziel zu erreichen, müssten die Emissionen bis zum Jahr 2030 annähernd halbiert werden. Die Regierungsparteien haben sich im Koalitionsvertrag das Ziel gesetzt, die Zahl der in Deutschland zugelassenen vollelektrischen Pkw bis 2030 auf 15 Millionen zu erhöhen. Doch reichen 15 Millionen Elektroautos aus, um das CO2-Ziel dieses Sektors einzuhalten?
Das haben Wissenschaftler des Wuppertal Instituts in einer Studie im Auftrag von Greenpeace untersucht. Ihr Ergebnis: Mit dem im Koalitionsvertrag genannten Ziel von 15 Millionen E-Autos bis 2030 wird das Klimaziel im Verkehr verfehlt, sofern in anderen Bereichen keine zusätzlichen Maßnahmen ergriffen werden - beispielsweise den Verkehr in den ÖPNV zu verlagern.
The original objectives for introducing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) were 1) to make energy performance transparent in the building market, as a measure of energy costs of using a building that a potential buyer or tenant would be interested in; and 2) to encourage energy efficiency renovation. However, the current implementation of EPC schemes in the Member States still shows significant challenges in achieving these two objectives. The recast of the EU Directive on the Overall Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) provides a chance to enhance both the usefulness and quality of EPCs and the EPC schemes overall.
This document aims to inform both the debate on the recast of the EPBD and the enhancement of national EPC schemes in EU Member States. It presents the draft policy recommendations of the Horizon 2020 QualDeEPC project for making the EPBD and the national schemes more effective, particularly for deep renovation, and enhance their quality overall. The policy recommendations particularly target the link between EPCs and deep (energy) renovation1, while increasing the levels of ambition and convergence across the EU in terms of building renovation. Deep (energy) renovation is crucial for mitigating climate change and for energy security. The EPBD and all of its articles, as well as national EPC schemes, should aim to make deep (energy) renovation the default. This objective would be embedded and ensured in EPC schemes, if the policy recommendations provided in this document were adopted and implemented.
The QualDeEPC project is aiming to both improve quality and cross-EU convergence of Energy Performance Certificate schemes, and the link between EPCs and deep renovation: High-quality Energy Performance Assessment and Certification in Europe Accelerating Deep Energy Renovation. The objective of the project is to improve the practical implementation of the assessment, issuance, design, and use of EPCs as well as their renovation recommendations, in the participating countries and beyond.
This report serves as a compilation of the project's proposal for an enhanced and converging EPC assessment and certification scheme. It aims to provide a detailed description on the set of practical concepts, policy proposals, and tools for an enhanced EPC scheme towards deep renovation, developed by the QualDeEPC project. The project's substantial proposals both on EU and national level are presented in a comprehensive and rational way, guiding the relevant stakeholders, in particular the policy makers and competed bodies, on which steps need to be followed so as the proposals to be adapted and how the specific values can be determined in MSs. Furthermore, this report includes the project's proposal for defining "Deep Energy Renovation" based on a modified nZEB-based approach.
The project's priorities A) to G) addressed are presented in the following order in this document, reflecting the importance of the enhanced EPC template form and the training of EPC assessors in such schemes:
A) Improving the recommendations for renovation, which are provided on the EPCs, towards deep energy renovation;
E) High user-friendliness of the EPC, by way of an enhanced EPC template form, including an introduction of the proposed "Energy Rating" indicator;
D) Regular mandatory EPC assessor training or examination on assessment and renovation recommendations, required for certification/accreditation and registry;
B) Online tool for comparing EPC recommendations to deep energy renovation recommendations;
C) Creating Deep Renovation Network Platforms (DRNPs);
F) & G) Voluntary/mandatory advertising guidelines for EPCs and Improving compliance with the mandatory use of EPCs in real estate advertisement.
D2.1 report on local EPC situation and cross-country comparison matrix : QualDeEPC H2020 project
(2020)
Considering that 40% of the European Union's energy consumption can be traced back to its buildings, it is essential to improve their energy efficiency in order to achieve the EU's energy efficiency targets. Both the rate of energy renovation and its depth, i.e. the amount of energy savings during a renovation, need to be improved. Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), regulated by the EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), are an important instrument to enhance the market uptake of energy-efficient new buildings and the energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings.
Against this background, the Horizon2020 funded project QualDeEPC will work on EU-wide convergence of the building assessment and the issuance, design, and use of quality-enhanced EPCs as well as their recommendations for building renovation. The aim is to make these recommendations coherent with deep energy renovation towards a nearly-zero energy building stock by 2050.
The first part of the QualDeEPC project (work package 2) aims to identify the priorities for elements of EPC schemes that show a need to be improved, and for which the project will investigate further and propose how the elements can be improved. The first step in identifying these priorities is taking stock of the existing EPC schemes. Based on the input from all national consortium partners and other sources, the Wuppertal Institute prepared this detailed overview of the country-specific EPC assessment and certification procedures and their links to other policies and programmes, existing initiatives, and projects. The analysis was based on a list of almost 50 potential options for enhancing the existing EPC schemes.
The aim of this deliverable is to present this stock-taking by a detailed analysis on which of the potential enhanced EPC elements are already implemented in which form in which country, covering all 28 countries that were EU member states until 31 January 2020. All partners conducted bilateral interviews with the major actors in the EPC procedures, including executive bodies on EPC at regional and/or national level. For countries not represented in the Consortium, Wuppertal Institut and EAP conducted specific literature research, e.g. from the Concerted Action EPBD, and aimed to obtain contributions from other member states. The information collected allows a detailed presentation on the elements implemented as well as a cross-country comparison matrix (see Annex I) in this report, which outlines the current EPC practices across the EU regarding the elements of a good practice scheme or innovative improvement options, their comparability, compliance with EU legislation, and to which extent they differ or converge.
The results show, once more, the high diversity in EPC schemes across the EU. They also provide useful information in at least two directions: 1) which improvement options are not yet implemented at all or in sufficient quality in most QualDeEPC partner countries as well as other EU member states, and could therefore be interesting candidates for the further work of the QualDeEPC project in development, testing, discussion, and possibly implementation of elements for enhanced and converging EPC schemes; and 2) which countries, within or beyond the QualDeEPC project, offer good practice examples for the implementation of these options that could serve to guide the development and implementation in other countries. This deliverable will thus serve as a basis for the upcoming tasks to develop priorities and actual proposals for improvement of EPC schemes.
Berlin will bis 2045 klimaneutral werden und bis 2030 70 Prozent seiner CO2-Emissionen gegenüber 1990 reduzieren. Das größte Potenzial zur CO2-Vermeidung liegt im Gebäudesektor, in dem durch moderne Technologien der Einsatz fossiler Energien zu verringern ist. Im Verkehrssektor sind die CO2-Emissionen in den vergangenen Jahren sogar gestiegen: Rund 30 Prozent - das sind 5,6 Millionen Tonnen – der CO2-Emissionen in Berlin werden durch den Verkehr verursacht.
Das Berliner Energie- und Klimaschutzprogramm (BEK 2030) ist das zentrale Instrument auf dem Weg zu einer klimaneutralen Hauptstadt. Das Wuppertal Institut hat gemeinsam mit der Berliner Energieagentur GmbH und DIW Econ Empfehlungen für die Weiterentwicklung des Programms für den Umsetzungszeitraum 2022 bis 2026 entwickelt. Der Bericht basiert auf neun Monaten intensiven Beratungsgesprächen, an denen Bürger*innen sowie mehr als 500 Vertreter*innen aus Verwaltungen, dem Handwerk, der Ver- und Entsorgungsbranche, von Wohnungsunternehmen sowie von weiteren interessierten Institutionen teilgenommen haben. Es umfasst mehr als 70 Maßnahmenvorschläge in den Handlungsfeldern Energie, Gebäude, Verkehr, Wirtschaft sowie Privater Konsum und Haushalte, die mit den globalen Zielen des Berliner Klimaschutz- und Energiewendegesetzes konsistent sind. Die Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Mobilität, Verbraucher- und Klimaschutz wird nun aufbauend auf den wissenschaftlichen Empfehlungen eine Beschlussvorlage für den Senat erarbeiten.
Das Wuppertal Institut war federführend für die Bestimmung von sektoralen Zielpfaden sowie für die Maßnahmenentwicklung und -bewertung im Verkehrssektor verantwortlich. Zu den dort vorgeschlagenen Maßnahmen zählen unter anderem der Ausbau der Rad- und Fußverkehrsinfrastruktur sowie des ÖPNV, die Unterstützung der Antriebswende bei privaten und öffentlichen Fahrzeugflotten, die Ausweitung der Parkraumbewirtschaftung, aber auch die Neuaufteilung des knappen öffentlichen Raums zugunsten des Umweltverbunds und anderer Nutzungsformen.
Agriculture is a major sector responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. Local food production can contribute to reducing transport-related emissions. Since most of the worldwide population lives in cities, locally producing food implies practicing agriculture in urban and peri-urban areas. Exemplary, we analyze the potential to produce fresh vegetables within Berlin, Germany. We investigate the spatial extent of five different urban spaces for soil-based agriculture or gardening, i.e., non-built residential areas, allotment gardens, rooftops, supermarket parking lots, and cemeteries. We also quantify inputs required for such food production in terms of water, human resources, and investment. Our findings highlight that up to 82% of Berlin’s vegetable demand could be produced within the city, based on a reasonable validation of existing areas. Meeting this potential requires 42 km2 of urban spaces for cultivation, a considerable amount of irrigation water, around 17 thousand gardeners, and over 750 million EUR of initial investments. The final vegetable cost would be around 2 EUR to 10 EUR per kg without any profit margin. We conclude that it is realistic to produce a significant amount of Berlin's vegetable demand within the city, even if it comes with great challenges.
In the energy sector, few topics, if any, are more hyped than hydrogen. Countries develop hydrogen strategies to provide a perspective for hydrogen production and use in order to meet climate-neutrality goals. However, in this topical field the role of water is less accentuated. Hence, in this study, we seek to map the interrelations between the water and wastewater sector on the one hand and the hydrogen sector on the other hand, before reflecting upon our findings in a country case study. We chose the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan because (i) hydrogen is politically discussed not least due to its high potentials for solar PV, and (ii) Jordan is water stressed - definitely a bad precondition for water-splitting electrolyzers. This research is based on a project called the German-Jordanian Water-Hydrogen-Dialogue (GJWHD), which started with comprehensive desk research mostly to map the intersectoral relations and to scope the situation in Jordan. Then, we carried out two expert workshops in Wuppertal, Germany, and Amman, Jordan, in order to further discuss the nexus by inviting a diverse set of stakeholders. The mapping exercise shows various options for hydrogen production and opportunities for planning hydrogen projects in water-scarce contexts such as Jordan.
Enhancing evaluations of future energy-related product policies with the digital product passport
(2022)
The twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Sharm el-Sheikh made history by for the first time ever discussing and ultimately even agreeing to establish a fund to address loss and damage caused by climate change. However, the conference did little to limit the occurrence of loss and damage in the first place by containing the extent of climate change. This article discusses the conference's outcomes in the areas of mitigation and adaptation, loss and damage, the Global Stocktake, cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, climate finance, and gender-responsiveness. While modest progress can be observed, it is too slow to actually achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. This pace is leading many, not least the most vulnerable countries, to search for parallel arenas of cooperation.
The EU Horizon 2020 project HiEff-BioPower (grant agreement No 727330, duration: 10/2016 - 09/2021) aimed at the development of a new, innovative, fuel flexible and highly efficient biomass CHP technology for a capacity range of 1 to 10 MW total energy output, suitable e.g. for on-site generation at larger residential apartment buildings or local heat grids. The new technology shall define a new milestone in terms of CHP efficiency and contribute to a sustainable energy supply based on renewable energies using otherwise unused residual biomass. It consists of a fuel-flexible updraft gasification technology with ultra-low particulate matter emissions, an integrated gas cleaning system and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The technology shall be applicable for a wide fuel spectrum for residual biomass (wood pellets, wood chips or selected agricultural fuels like agro-pellets) and achieve high gross electric (40%) and overall (90%) efficiencies as well as almost zero gaseous and particulate matter (PM) emissions (close or below the level of detection) as non-energy benefits. At the end of the project, final technology data has become available, as well as techno-economic analyses and market studies. Based on this data, this paper presents final results from the environmental impact assessment of the new HiEff-BioPower technology.
Angesichts der drängenden Herausforderungen unserer Zeit erwarten große Teile der Öffentlichkeit und Politik eine engagierte Wissenschaft, die sich aktiv an der Lösung ökologischer, ökonomischer und sozialer Probleme beteiligt. Diese Erwartungshaltung hat dazu beigetragen, Diskussionen über eine "third mission" der Wissenschaft aufzuwerfen. Damit verbunden sind Fragen zu gesellschaftlichem Engagement und Distanz zur Politik in Forschung und Lehre, mit denen sich bereits der amerikanische Wissenschaftssoziologe Robert K. Merton in den 30er Jahren des vergangenen Jahrhunderts beschäftigte und die ihn dazu bewogen, ein Ethos der Wissenschaft zu postulieren. (...)
Vor dem Hintergrund der Traumatisierung der Wissenschaft durch den Nationalsozialismus und seine dramatischen Folgen stellt sich heute nach wie vor die Frage, ob - und wenn ja wie - Forschung und Lehre gegen politische Intervention und Pervertierung immunisiert werden können. Gibt es überhaupt so etwas wie "reine Wissenschaft" und wie lässt sich diese abgrenzen? Brauchen wir ein Wissenschaftsethos oder gibt es dazu Alternativen?
Im Folgenden versuchen wir uns diesen Fragen zu nähern. Wir sind weder Wissenschaftssoziologen noch Wissenschaftshistoriker und werden deshalb nur sehr kursorisch auf die entsprechenden Forschungen verweisen. Wir nähern uns den Fragen zum einen aus der Perspektive der angewandten Nachhaltigkeitsforschung und zum anderen mit einem wissenschaftsphilosophischen und erkenntnistheoretischen Hintergrund. Unsere Kritik an Mertons Ansatz hat daher sowohl einen explizit praktischen als auch philosophischen Zugang.
Wie sehen lebenswerte Quartiersstraßen aus und wie gelingt es, die Zieldimensionen Verkehrswende, Klimaanpassung und Aufenthaltsqualität integriert zu betrachten? Diesen Fragen hat sich über 1,5 Jahre das Projekt "Lebenswerte Straßen, Orte und Nachbarschaften" für einen konkreten Straßenzug in Dortmund gewidmet. Basierend auf einem kollaborativ angelegten Beteiligungs- und Planungsprozess ist eine gleichermaßen ambitionierte wie gesellschaftlich tragfähige Planung entstanden. Der Artikel gibt einen Überblick über das Projekt, stellt die Planung vor und diskutiert Erkenntnisse, die für die Initiierung vergleichbarer Projekte, aber auch für Landes-/Bundespolitik Relevanz besitzen.
In his essay, the author presents a stock-taking of the debate on Green Deals. The starting point of this personal assessment is a brief outline of the content and impact of a study in which the author and colleagues published a first outline of a "Green New Deal for Europe" as a political response to the 2008 financial crisis. 2008 had been a critical juncture for mainstream economics: however, from the perspective of policy-learning, the period after has been a lost decade. The European Green Deal as presented by the European Commission in 2019 can be perceived as a historic milestone and confirmation of a regime change in mainstream economic policy in which ecological considerations gain in importance. Yet, the Deal suffers from major deficits. In sum, the European Green Deal could be interpreted as an insufficient attempt to take advantage of the rapidly closing windows of opportunity for a peaceful transition towards sustainability. On the eve of a planetary crisis, the governance of economic transitions towards sustainability needs to be improved and accelerated. Reflecting on the 2009 study A Green New Deal for Europe, this essay attempts to draw a few lessons and frugal heuristics for the policy-design of Green Deals.
Als die 15-jährige Greta Thunberg an einem Freitag im August 2018 vor dem schwedischen Parlamentsgebäude in Stockholm ihren einsamen Klimastreik begann, ahnte niemand, dass sie in den Folgejahren unter anderem auf zwei Weltklimakonferenzen und vor der UN-Vollversammlung als Repräsentantin der größten Jugendbewegung der Welt - Fridays for Future - vielbeachtete Reden halten würde. Das, was Greta Thunberg auf der Weltbühne der Politik gelungen ist, sollte auch klimaschutzengagierten Schülerinnen in der Kommunalpolitik ermöglicht werden. Sie sollten von Entscheidungsträgerinnen und Entscheidungsträgern gehört und ernst genommen werden. Um ihren Forderungen für klimafreundliche Schulen auch gegenüber Kommunalpolitikerinnen und Kommunalpolitikern mehr Nachdruck verleihen zu können, müssen sie aber auch gestärkt und qualifiziert werden. So die Kernanliegen des Projekts Schools4Future, welches vom Wuppertal Institut sowie dem Büro Ö-quadrat aus Freiburg durchgeführt und vom Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz gefördert wird.
The sales of pedelecs are currently skyrocketing in Germany and in many other places. As a low-carbon means of mobility, pedelecs have the potential to make a substantial contribution to the mobility transition.
This thesis employs practice theory as proposed by Shove et al. (2012) to investigate this quickly evolving phenomenon. The analysis is based on interviews with e-bike commuters which were investigated using template analysis and exploratory memos. To obtain a broad picture the practice, a maximum variance sampling strategy was carried out in two cities that vary substantially with regard to velomobility: Wuppertal and Münster.
This thesis one hand presents the first encompassing account on the practice elements which commuting by pedelec is composed of. It hence contributes to the debate about the depiction of practices. Furthermore, the thesis finds that pedelec commuting should be conceptualized as a variant of velomobility and not as a variant of motoring or as an independent practice. Yet, the elements integrated in pedelec-commuting are found to clearly differ from those of cycling, so that pedelec-commuting meets the requirements of everyday life much better than commuting on non-electrified bikes.
The findings of this thesis suggest several pathways to strengthening this novel practice. The capacity of e-biking to serve mundane trips can for example be supported through the normalization of the use of weather- and transport relevant materials and competences. Deeper linkages with interacting practices from other sectors, such as an integration of cycling materials (GPS-trackers) into policing practices, can also con-tribute to this goal.
With regard to research, the present work offers starting points for quantifications, for example on the relative importance of single elements as well as on the characteristics of their relations among each other or with regard to typical constellations of elements.
Die global gesehen größte Gesundheitsbedrohung des 21. Jahrhunderts ist der Klimawandel. Krankenhäuser müssen sich zwangsläufig vermehrt mit den Folgen des Klimawandels auseinandersetzen, wenn neue Krankheitserreger aus fernen Ländern auftreten oder wenn ältere Menschen, chronisch Kranke, Kinder oder anderweitig besonders betroffene Menschen an heißen Tagen mit bislang unerreichten Hitzerekorden dehydrieren mit der Folge von Herzkreislaufproblemen. Eine Untersuchung des Robert Koch-Instituts kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass allein in den drei Sommern zwischen 2018 und 2020 in Deutschland über 19.000 Menschen aufgrund der Hitze gestorben sind.
Der Gesundheitssektor trägt aber auch wesentlich zur Klimakrise bei, indem er selbst für einen erheblichen Teil der klimaschädlichen Emissionen verantwortlich ist. Dieser Wuppertal Report zeigt einen Weg, wie Krankenhäuser perspektivisch Teil der Lösung der derzeit größten Transformationsherausforderung werden können. Dabei sind Krankenhäuser ein Mikrokosmos der Gesellschaft. In ihnen spiegelt sich förmlich alles, was das Leben einer Gesellschaft hinsichtlich der Herausforderung des Klimaschutzes ausmacht: Strom- und Wärmeversorgung, Mobilität, Ernährung, Ressourcenverbrauch und Abfall. Der vorliegende Wuppertal Report macht deutlich, dass Krankenhäuser als Reallabore des bevorstehenden Transformationsprozesses, hin zu einer klimagerechten und ressourcenleichten Gesellschaft verstanden werden können.
Das für die Krankenhausgesellschaft Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V. (KGNW) entwickelte Zielbild Klimaneutrales Krankenhaus gibt Krankenhäusern umsetzungsorientierte Hinweise darauf, wie sie sich auf den Weg zur Klimaneutralität begeben können:
Es identifiziert klimaschutzrelevante Handlungsfelder im Betrieb.
Es verdeutlicht, wie die KGNW die Krankenhäuser in NRW auf ihrem Weg in Richtung Klimaneutralität unterstützen kann.
Es motiviert, Klimaschutz als wichtiges Unternehmensziel aktiv anzugehen.
Research on environmental behaviour is often overlooked in literature on regime destabilization in energy transitions. This study addresses that gap by focusing on socio-political and demographic factors shaping support for carbon regime destabilization policies in one of the most carbon-intensive regions of Europe. Carbon-intensive industries, especially coal mining and coal-based power generation, are often concentrated in a few carbon-intensive regions. Therefore, decarbonization actions will affect those regions particularly strongly. Correspondingly, carbon-intensive regions often exert significant political influence on the two climate mitigation policies at the national level. Focusing on Poland, we investigate socio-political and demographic factors that correlate with the approval or rejection of the two climate mitigation policies: increasing taxes on fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal and using public money to subsidize renewable energy such as wind and solar power in Poland and its carbon-intensive Silesia region. Using logistic regression with individual-level data derived from the 2016 European Social Survey (ESS) and the 2014 Chapel Hill Expert Survey (CHES), we find party-political ideology to be an important predictor at the national level but much less so at the regional level. Specifically, voting for right-wing party is not a divisive factor for individual support of the two climate mitigation policies either nationally or regionally. More interestingly, populism is a strong factor in support of increasing taxes on fossil fuel in the carbon-intensive Silesia region but is less important concerning in support of using public money to subsidize renewable energy in Poland overall. These results show the heterogeneity of right-wing party and populism within the support for the two climate mitigation policies. Socio-demographic factors, especially age, gender, education level, employment status, and employment sector, have even more complex and heterogeneous components in support of the two climate mitigation policies at the national and regional levels. Identifying the complex socio-political and demographic factors of climate mitigation policies across different national versus carbon-intensive regional contexts is an essential step for generating in situ decarbonization strategies.
Deutschland liegt bei Klimaschutz und der langfristigen Sicherung der Energie- und Rohstoffversorgung weit hinter seinen eigenen Zielen. Nur mit Tempo, Mut und Ehrlichkeit lässt sich der Rückstand jetzt aufholen. Dazu gehören ein beschleunigter Ausbau erneuerbarer Energien, ein sofortiger Aufbau eines umfassenden Netzes für grünen Wasserstoff, verbindliche Ziele für eine echte Kreislaufwirtschaft, klare Vorgaben für den Wohnungsbestand, eine ernsthafte Mobilitätswende und wirksame Anreize für eine nachhaltige Produktion. Bei all dem müssen sozial gerechte Lösungen gefunden werden, nur so lässt sich CO2-Vermeidung und Ressourcenschutz in der Breite durchsetzen.
Das vorliegende Impulspapier des Wuppertals Instituts zeigt, wie sehr Deutschland auf dem Weg zur Nachhaltigkeit seinen eigenen Zielen hinterherhinkt.
Vor dem Hintergrund der zunehmenden Auswirkungen der Klimakrise und der durch den Angriffskriegs Russlands gegen die Ukraine entstandenen Energie- und Rohstoffversorgungsprobleme ist die Bundesregierung zu einem schnellen und zielführenden Handeln gezwungen. Neben der Herstellung von Versorgungssicherheit müssen die durch stark steigende Energie- und Lebensmittelpreise entstehenden sozialen Härten abgefedert werden. Um diese Aufgabe bestmöglich zu bewältigen, bedarf es eines politischen Instruments, das notwendige Veränderungen der Lebens- und Wirtschaftsweise ermöglicht und soziale Belastungen in den Krisen auffängt.
Mit Blick auf diese Problemstellung werden in diesem Wuppertal Report bereits vorhandene politische Instrumente, deren Mittel nicht zweckgebunden verwendet werden müssen, einer SWOT-Analyse unterzogen und erste Ideen für ein sogenanntes Transformationsgeld vorgestellt, das die Mehrdimensionalität der derzeitigen Problemlage berücksichtigt. Das Transformationsgeld ist als zweckungebundene staatliche Transferleistung konzipiert, um die Freiheit der Konsument*innen nicht einzuschränken und Preiseffekte nicht zu nivellieren. Die Höhe der Transferleistung hängt von der ökonomischen Situation des Haushalts ab und soll nicht nur eine Kompensation der Mehrkosten darstellen, sondern gesellschaftliche Teilhabe ermöglichen.
Abseits des Transformationsgelds liefert die Kurzstudie auch eine Einschätzung der Autor*innen, was aus ihrer Sicht kurzfristig gegen die bestehenden Probleme getan werden sollte.
Partizipation und Akzeptanz : Synthesebericht 5 ; Ergebnissynthese des SINTEG-Förderprogramms
(2022)
Wie gelingt die Energiewende? Wie kann ganz Deutschland umweltverträglich, sicher und wirtschaftlich mit hohen Anteilen erneuerbarer Energien versorgt werden? Diesen Fragen widmete sich das Förderprogramm "Schaufenster intelligente Energie - Digitale Agenda für die Energiewende (SINTEG)" des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK). Von 2016 bis 2020 wurden in den fünf Modellregionen C/sells, DESIGNETZ, enera, NEW 4.0 und WindNODE Ansätze für die digitale Energiezukunft erprobt, Handlungsempfehlungen identifiziert und Lösungen entwickelt.
Gemeinsam mit dem Beratungsunternehmen ifok GmbH führte das Wuppertal Institut die SINTEG-Ergebnisse für das Synthesefeld 5 "Partizipation & Akzeptanz" zusammen und werteten diese aus. Im entsprechenden Synthesebericht 5 wird deutlich, dass für das Gelingen der Energiewende eine möglichst breite Akzeptanz und die Beteiligung der Bevölkerung entscheidend sind.
Es wurden spezifische Blaupausen zur Einbindung der Bevölkerung erarbeitet, die Akteur*innen aus Politik, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft dabei unterstützen, jeweils für sie geeignete Formate zur Beteiligung einzusetzen. Insbesondere richten sich diese Blaupausen an die Kommunalpolitik, lokale Energieversorger, Stadtwerke sowie Expert*innen aus den Beteiligung- und Kommunikationswissenschaften.
Digital product passport : the ticket to achieving a climate neutral and circular European economy?
(2022)
The introduction of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) is an opportunity to create a system that can store and share all relevant information throughout a product's life cycle. This would provide industry stakeholders, businesses, public authorities and consumers with a better understanding of the materials used in the product as well as their embodied environmental impact.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis, now is a critical moment to transform our economic and business models, while also addressing the huge scale of material emissions. DPPs can be a pivotal policy instrument in this goal. Furthermore, DPPs can accelerate the twin green and digital transitions as part of EU efforts to deliver positive climate action and sustainable economies.
In 2020, the European Commission (EC) adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), which emphasised the need for circular economy initiatives to consider the entire life cycle of products, from the production of basic materials to end-of-life disposal. The Circular Economy Package published in March 2022 includes a proposal for an Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which builds upon the Ecodesign Directive that covers energy-related products.
A DPP will form a key regulatory element of the ESPR by enhancing the traceability of products and their components. This will provide consumers and manufacturers with the information needed to make better informed choices by taking their environmental impact into consideration.
As discussed in the report, there is widespread agreement amongst business leaders that a well-designed DPP could have both short- and longer-term benefits, improving access to reliable and comparable product sustainability information for businesses, consumers and policymakers.
A well-designed DPP can unify information, making it more readily accessible to all actors in the supply chain. This will support businesses to ensure an effective transformation towards a decarbonised industry. It could also create incentives for companies to make their products more sustainable, as improving access to reliable and consistent information across supply chains will make it easier for customers to make comparisons.
What is necessary to reach net zero emissions in the transport sector on a global level? To keep limiting global warming to 1.5° C within reach, the world has to decarbonise by mid-century, with every sector contributing as much as possible as soon as possible. This paper identifies what has to be done in road transport, aviation, and shipping to achieve net zero emission in the transport sector.
For this purpose, it first sets the scene by providing an overview of the origins and impacts of the concept of net zero emissions in international climate policy as well as of the current state and future prospects of global transport emissions using currently available scenarios for low-emission and net zero transport.
While for staying below 1.5° C, the basic approach to reducing transport emissions remains unchanged from what has been suggested in the past, the set, intensity and pace of actions as to shift fundamentally. Without first drastically reducing traffic volume and shifting transport demand to low-emission modes, reaching net zero transport will not be feasible: the amount of additional electricity required to fully electrify the sector with renewable energy is otherwise just too huge.
After portraying key instruments for achieving net zero emissions in land transport, aviation, and shipping, this paper identifies key barriers for net zero transport. Based on this analysis, the authors recommend the following to be able to move transport to net zero:
1. Adapt Decarbonisation Strategies to Different Transport Sub-sectors
2. Prioritise and Significantly Increase Investment in Zero-/low-carbon Infrastructure
3. Massively Invest in the Development and Roll out of Zero-/low-emission Technologies
4. Focus on a Just Transition to Overcome Social and Political Barriers
5. Increase International Support and Cooperation
This paper discusses options to increase mitigation ambition in crediting mechanisms that serve the Paris Agreement (PA), such as the Article 6.4 mechanism. Under the Clean Development Mechanism and other crediting mechanisms, baselines have been specified in the form of greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity factors and linked to business-as-usual developments. This means that with increasing production of goods and services through carbon market activities, absolute emissions may increase or fall only slowly. At a global level, such an approach widens the "emissions gap". To enable continued use of emissions intensity baselines in crediting mechanisms while being in line with the PA’s goal to pursue efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5˚C, we propose to apply an "ambition coefficient" to emissions intensities of technologies when establishing the baseline. This coefficient would decrease to reflect increasing ambition over time, and reach zero when a country needs to reach net zero emissions. Due to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, the coefficient would fall more quickly for developed than for developing countries. The latter would be able to generate emission reduction credits well beyond 2050, while for the former, crediting would stop around 2035 or before. An ambition coefficient approach would generate certainty for carbon market investors and preserve trust in international carbon markets that operate in line with the agreed, long-term ambition of the international climate regime.
Vernacular architecture's use of passive building techniques has been developed in response to the prevailing climatic conditions of the past. Today, buildings are designed with complete indifference to the climate and materials. Energy consumption in buildings is mainly connected to space cooling, supply of hot water, lighting, cooking and, use of appliances. Space cooling and lighting are directly influenced by the design of the building. Energy codes should be concerned with "sufficiency" as well as "efficiency". A more economic and ecological approach to building design is needed.
To achieve the EU's energy efficiency targets, both the rate of building energy renovation and its depth, i.e., the amount of energy savings post renovation need to be improved. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are key to make energy efficiency measures transparent for the building market and to promote the energy efficiency of buildings through renovation. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is seen as a pre-condition to meet the Renovation Wave objectives and to reach a highly energy efficient and decarbonized building stock by 2050. One focus of the current revision of the EPBD is therefore the improvement of EPCs. QualDeEPC - High-quality Energy Performance Assessment and Certification in Europe Accelerating Deep Energy Renovation, funded under the EU's Horizon 2020 programme, is a project that aims to improve EPCs. Following an EU-wide review of existing EPC schemes, and extensive stakeholder discussions in the seven partner countries, QualDeEPC found that EPCs and EPC schemes need to enhance particularly in the following three ways:
1. Establish a close link between EPCs and deep energy renovation
2. Improve the quality of EPC schemes, i.e., both the EPCs and their data, and the processes of assessment, certification, verification
3. Improve cross-EU convergence of EPC schemes.
A sectoral perspective can help the Global Stocktake (GST) to effectively achieve its objective to inform Parties' in enhancing subsequent NDCs and in enhancing international cooperation. Specifically, granular and actionable sectoral lessons, grounded in country-driven assessments, should be identified and elaborated. To be effective, conversations on sectoral transformations need to synthesise key challenges and opportunities identified in the national analyses and link them to international enablers; focus on systemic interdependencies, involve diverse actors, and be thoroughly prepared including by pre-scoping points of convergences and divergence across transformations. We specifically recommend that:
the co-facilitators of the Technical Dialogue use their (limited) mandate to facilitate an effective conversationon sectoral transformations e.g. by organising dedicated informal seminars in between formal negotiation sessions;
key systemic transformations necessary toachieve net-zero by mid-century should be spelled out and included in the final decision or political declaration of the GST; and
the political outcome of the GST should mandate follow-up processes at the regional level and encourage national-level conversations to translate the collective messages from GST into actionable and sector-specific policy recommendations.
Das Wohnen in Deutschland wird schon seit einigen Jahren durch zwei bedeutende Entwicklungstendenzen bestimmt: Zum einen sinkt die durchschnittliche Haushaltsgröße, zum anderen vergrößert sich die mittlere Pro-Kopf-Wohnfläche. Infolgedessen steigt die Wohnraumnachfrage deutlich an, was besonders im urbanen Raum zu höheren Mieten und ungleichen Verteilungsprozessen des Wohnungsbestandes führt. Bislang ist dieser zunehmenden Nachfrage nach Wohnraum vielerorts mit einer Ausweitung der Neubautätigkeit begegnet worden, was jedoch mit einem schnelleren Verbrauch wertvoller und begrenzter Bodenressourcen verbunden ist. Ein Konzept, das erst seit Kurzem als mögliche Antwort auf die aktuellen sozialen und ökologischen Herausforderungen des Wohnens diskutiert wird, ist das sogenannte suffiziente Wohnen. Dabei geht es um die grundlegende Frage, wie viel Wohnfläche es braucht, um die jeweiligen Bedürfnisse eines Haushaltes angemessen befriedigen zu können und wie durch eine bessere Nutzung des vorhandenen Baubestandes auf eine Änderung dieser Bedürfnisse reagiert werden kann. Suffiziente Wohnkonzepte zielen somit sowohl auf die Berücksichtigung individueller Wohnraumbedarfe als auch auf die Vermeidung weiterer Flächenversiegelung.
Diese Masterarbeit möchte das Potential des suffizienten Wohnens im Kontext der aktuellen gesellschaftlichen, ökologischen und wohnungspolitischen Herausforderungen hervorheben. In diesem Zusammenhang spielt die Betrachtung sich verändernder Wohnraumbedarfe im Lebensverlauf von Personen eine zentrale Rolle, da es an bestimmten Wendepunkten häufig zu einer subjektiven Unter- oder Überversorgung mit Wohnfläche kommt. Mittels einer hierarchisch-agglomerativen Clusteranalyse und der repräsentativen LebensRäume - Bevölkerungsumfrage des BBSR werden insgesamt acht Wohntypen identifiziert, die sich je nach Lebensverlaufsphase und Wohnsituation unterscheiden. Dabei wird neben relevanten Umbrüchen in der Wohnbiographie von Personen auch die herausragende Bedeutung von Wohneigentum für die durchschnittlichen Pro-Kopf-Wohnflächen in den einzelnen Clustern deutlich. In Bezug auf die Förderung des suffizienten Wohnens in Deutschland lassen sich zwei zentrale Analyseergebnisse formulieren. Zum einen eröffnen der Auszug der Kinder, die Verrentung sowie die Verwitwung wichtige Möglichkeitsräume für die Veränderung von Wohnsituationen. Zum anderen gilt es, den Einfluss des Wohneigentums als Chance zu begreifen und durch Veränderungen der Bestandsimmobilie eine suffizientere Art des Wohnens zu ermöglichen.
Sufficiency measures are potentially decisive for the decarbonisation of energy systems but rarely considered in energy policy and modelling. Just as efficiency and renewable energies, the diffusion of demand-side solutions to climate change also relies on policy-making. Our extensive literature review of European and national sufficiency policies fills a gap in existing databases. We present almost 300 policy instruments clustered into relevant categories and publish them as "Energy Sufficiency Policy Database". This paper provides a description of the data clustering, the set-up of the database and an analysis of the policy instruments. A key insight is that sufficiency policy includes much more than bans of products or information tools leaving the responsibility to individuals. It is a comprehensive instrument mix of all policy types, not only enabling sufficiency action, but also reducing currently existing barriers. A policy database can serve as a good starting point for policy recommendations and modelling, further research is needed on barriers and demand-reduction potentials of sufficiency policy instruments.
The gap between the internationally agreed climate objectives and tangible emissions reductions looms large. We explore how the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties (COP), could develop to promote more effective climate policy. We argue that promoting implementation of climate action could benefit from focusing more on individual sectoral systems, particularly for mitigation. We consider five key governance functions of international institutions to discuss how the COP and the sessions it convenes could advance implementation of the Paris Agreement: guidance and signal, rules and standards, transparency and accountability, means of implementation, and knowledge and learning. In addition, we consider the role of the COP and its sessions as mega-events of global climate policy. We identify opportunities for promoting sectoral climate action across all five governance functions and for both the COP as a formal body and the COP sessions as conducive events. Harnessing these opportunities would require stronger involvement of national ministries in addition to the ministries of foreign affairs and environment that traditionally run the COP process, as well as stronger involvement of non-Party stakeholders within formal COP processes.
Energy Efficiency First (EEF) is an established principle for European Union (EU) energy policy design. It highlights the exploitation of demand-side resources and prioritizes cost-effective options from the demand-side over other options from a societal cost-benefit perspective. However, the involvement of multiple decision-makers makes it difficult to implement. Therefore, we propose a flexible decision-tree framework for applying the EEF principle based on a review of relevant areas and examples. In summary, this paper contributes to applying the EEF principle by defining and distinguishing different types of cases - (1) policy-making, and (2) system planning and investment - identifying the most common elements, and proposing a decision-tree framework that can be flexibly constructed based on the elements for different cases. Finally, we exemplify the application of this framework with two example cases: (1) planning for demand-response in the power sector, and (2) planning for a district heating system.
The Fit for 55 package stipulates a fair, competitive and green transition by 2030 and beyond. As part of this, increasing attention is given to the decarbonisation of the building stock: only 1 % of buildings in Europe are retrofitted each year, a number which must double if the EU is to meet its 2050 targets. Significant energy efficiency investments are needed, whilst the planned expansion of the EU-ETS to the building sector in 2026 will likely pass the carbon cost onto the consumer. This will increase the cost burden placed on low-income households, exacerbating energy poverty, if these two strategies are not counterbalanced by adequate policies and support mechanisms.
The European Private Rented Sector (PRS) is often side-lined by policymakers when implementing energy efficiency policies to tackle energy poverty. As many as 1 in 10 Europeans spend 40 % or more of their income on housing costs, with those in the PRS struggling with energy-related problems, such as poor energy efficiency and maintenance, to a much greater degree than the general population. Understanding these challenges and creating targeted policies is of critical scientific and policy importance.
To date, a pan-European policy on how to address energy poverty and energy efficiency improvements in the PRS is lacking; current European Union instruments to address such issues (including the Fit for 55, and the Clean Energy Package that preceded it) lack a dedicated approach towards the complex structural issues embedded in the European PRS. What is more, there is a limited understanding of the character of energy poverty in such residential dwellings, as well as policies to address energy injustices. We therefore examine current and historical disparities in energy poverty between the EU's PRS tenants and the general population by analysing a variety of quantitative indicators which reflect different dimensions of energy poverty. We then take stock of the policy landscape, identifying energy efficiency policies tailored to alleviate energy poverty in the PRS and common challenges. We subsequently interrogate possible solutions, drawing on existing good practice policies. In so doing, we aim to reduce the sector's political invisibility by addressing the lack of disaggregated, targeted data and dismantling barriers that currently lead to the PRS being disproportionately affected by energy poverty.
More and more cities are setting themselves ambitious climate protection targets, including CO2 neutrality. Schools are important institutions of cities and therefore they have to play a central role in achieving this goal.
With the investment backlog building up and pressure from the Friday for Future movement increasing, the Wuppertal Institute and Büro Ö-quadrat have initiated the project Schools4Future, aiming to support secondary schools to become climate-neutral. In cooperation with secondary school students and teachers, the project team evaluated the existing situation of the participating schools and developed GHG-balances and feasible climate protection concepts. For this purpose, an Excel-based carbon footprint (CF) assessment tool for schools has been developed which is freely available. The tool covers all important emission areas, including heating energy, electricity use, travel to and from schools, school trips, the school canteen and paper consumption. The students were found capable to conduct the CF assessment with the guidance of the teacher, information materials and support of the researchers. So far, six pilot schools have completed their CF assessment with emissions ranging between 335 and 944 kg CO2 per person.
In this paper we present the tool and compare the CF assessment of some schools. We further elaborate on how the tool and project has increased the climate awareness and self-efficacy of students and even stimulated measures by the school board.
This report develops an evaluation framework that policymakers can use to identify whether offsets can add value and uphold environmental integrity of a compliance scheme. It uses a scoring framework on factors to: (1) identify which sectors have hard-to-abate emissions that can justify demanding offsets as cost-containment measures for ambitious climate policies; and (2) identify mitigation activities that are otherwise inaccessible, fosters sustainable development, and the extent to which it enables transformative sectoral action to be eligible to supply offsets. This evaluation framework identifies the optimal conditions that make factors successful in either having sectors demand offsets, or specific mitigation activities supply offsets. Sectoral emissions that are hard-to-abate are those that are technically unavoidable due to a lack and maturity of technologies, and therefore should be allowed to have cost-containment measures - such as offsets - to avoid adverse economic ramifications such as carbon leakage. Mitigation activities that can supply offsets are those that are currently inaccessible to local actor’s due to lack of access to technology, finance or capabilities. Allowing these mitigation activities to be eligible to supply offsets allows to pilot such activities and realize mitigation outcomes outside the original scope of the compliance scheme. This report has chosen selected sectors and mitigation activities to illustrate how this framework can be applied at the global level. It recognizes that country-specific factors can change the assessment of whether the offset approach will add value and uphold environmental integrity to proposed compliance schemes of a country. The report further proposes practical steps policymakers can do to undertake an evaluation at the national level.
Offsetting enables countries and companies to meet part of their climate change mitigation obligations by using mitigation outcomes generated elsewhere - in lieu of own emission reductions. This report explores the future role of offset approaches and how they could be successfully integrated into a post-2020 climate regime by focusing both the supply and demand side. For this purpose, the report develops a conceptual approach that derives a normative vision of what should be considered a successful offset use in a top-down manner to then link this vision to specific factors on the ground in sectors and jurisdictions where offsets will be generated and used. It explores how these factors influence the successful operationalisation of the offset approach and how they can inform its design. In addition, the report also explores six conceptual design aspects to providing recommendations on how to take these factors into account during the design of the offset approach. Based on these findings, the authors derive overarching policy recommendations on the integration of offsets into carbon pricing schemes.
The objective of this report is to use historical analysis to identify conditions that determine when offsets add value to compliance schemes while upholding environmental integrity. The indicators of success include: increased acceptance of introducing compliance schemes; raising ambition in subsequent compliance periods; the possibility to drive emission reductions outside the compliance sectors; promoting investments in sustainable development; and avoiding perverse incentives that undermine the stringency of the compliance scheme or compliance actors’ efforts in reducing their own emissions. Through undertaking in-depth case study analyzes on the effects of offsets in the European Union, Alberta, Australia, Colombia and Japan, the report identifies common conditions that explain why offsets were successful (or not) in achieving individual indicators. The report further identifies two common conditions that can help explain when offsets achieve all five indicators of success. The first is that policymakers need to be willing to design the compliance scheme to set and maintain a strong compliance price signal that justifies the need for incorporating cost containment measures, such as offsets, to avert negative political and economic ramifications. Relatedly, the second condition requires institutions, processes and infrastructure that govern both the compliance scheme and offsets to be well developed so that they can ensure offsets uphold the principles of environmental integrity, achieve sustainable development benefits, and act as a reliable cost containment measure to high compliance prices. The findings also highlight how difficult it is to achieve both conditions, as both domestic and international political economy factors determine whether policymakers and voters are willing to introduce and maintain compliance schemes that deliver effective action on climate.
The transformation of society into sustainable structures is one of the most important tasks for the future. That cities have a decisive role to play in this transformation process has been known at least since Rio 1992. They have enormous pressure to act for change: They are at the same time problem and solution for sustainable development. Currently there is another significant development for cities - the need and external pressure to be "smart", often understood merely as applying the latest digital technologies to become more efficient. The Smart City and the Sustainable City can work hand in hand or hinder each other, depending on their interpretation. In this study we focus on five Smart Cities in Western Germany to get a closer look at how they shape their processes and whether the underlying motivation is to become a technologically Smart City, focus on sustainable development, or both. With the help of the innovation biography research method, we show how cities shape the dynamic process towards forming a Smart City, the role sustainable urban development plays in the process, who the actors involved are, and the important role improved knowledge management then plays for the diffusion of the Smart Sustainable City within the region. It becomes clear how important communication and narratives are both in the process within each City towards forming a Smart Sustainable City and for the first step of diffusion, the adaptation of other cities within the region. This study is intended to serve both as a basis for cross-regional consideration and dialogue for the transfer of successful processes.
Seit den Protesten rund um den Bau des Bahnprojekts Stuttgart 21 werden Politik und Verwaltung auf kommunaler Ebene mit beständig stärker werdenden Beteiligungswünschen der Bürgerinnen und Bürger konfrontiert. Aber auch in der internationalen Partizipationsforschung taucht der Begriff der Bürgerbeteiligung in den letzten zehn bis 15 Jahren immer beharrlicher auf. In direkter Reaktion hierauf befasst sich die Stadt Heidelberg, als eine der ersten Kommunen deutschlandweit, seit dem Jahr 2010 intensiv mit der Beteiligung ihrer Bürgerinnen und Bürger am politischen Entscheidungsfindungsprozess. Die deutschsprachige Forschung allerdings konzentriert sich lediglich auf die inhaltliche Ausgestaltung von Bürgerbeteiligung anhand einer Vielzahl an Handbüchern, Checklisten und Leitlinien für die kommunale Praxis. Wissenschaftliche Überlegungen zu deren Wirksamkeit werden so gut wie gar nicht angestellt. Die vorliegende Dissertation geht aufgrund dessen anhand einer quantitativen Datenanalyse der Fragestellung nach, welchen Grad an Effektivität Bürgerbeteiligung in der Stadt Heidelberg innehat. Der Autor entwickelt hierfür zuerst eine an Benjamin Barbers (1994) starker Demokratie orientierte normative Definition von Bürgerbeteiligung. Anschließend werden, bezugnehmend auf die Publikationen von Archon Fung (2003) sowie Lyn Carson und Phillip Hart (2005), Beurteilungsdimensionen effektiver Bürgerbeteiligung (Empowerment, Efficacy, Inclusion und Quality) entworfen. Darauf aufbauend konstruiert der Autor ein empirisches Messmodell, welches im letzten Teil der Arbeit anhand von Primär- und Sekundärdaten auf die Stadt Heidelberg angewandt wird. Als Ergebnis der Arbeit zeigt sich unter anderem, dass die Effektivität von Partizipationsverfahren von vielen unterschiedlichen Einflussfaktoren und Parametern abhängig ist, die nicht alle einer Messung zugeführt werden können. Zudem wird deutlich, dass Kommunen vorrangig bei den Beurteilungsdimensionen Inclusion und Quality ansetzen müssen, um die Wirksamkeit von Bürgerbeteiligung zu erhöhen. Beispielsweise durch den Partizipationsprozess begleitende Maßnahmen wie eine aleatorische Teilnehmerauswahl oder die Zahlung von Aufwandsentschädigungen. Der Autor kommt abschließend zu der Überzeugung, dass die Kombination aus normativen und quantitativen Untersuchungen das Verständnis von Bürgerbeteiligung auf kommunaler Ebene erheblich verbessern wird.
Welche Faktoren bedingen Implementationserfolg, auch und gerade über die rechtliche Umsetzung hinaus? Diese Frage wird von der EU-Implementationsforschung bislang nicht zufriedenstellend beantwortet. Fähigkeiten und Kapazitäten sowie Motivationen scheinen aber eine Rolle zu spielen. Die Implementation von EU-Informationsinstrumenten zur Energieeffizienz in Deutschland stellt für die Untersuchung dieser Frage einen idealen Fall dar: Ein gleichzeitig organisatorisch hochkomplexes Feld mit erwartbar geringen Implementationsfähigkeiten trifft auf eine politisch eher nicht-konfrontative Umsetzungsaufgabe mit vermutet guter Motivation. Die Ergebnisse aus den Fallstudien zu Gebäudeenergieausweisen, Energielabels auf Produkten und Energieaudits für große Unternehmen zeigten klar den hohen Erklärungswert des Faktors "Motivation", wohingegen "Fähigkeiten" kein eigenständiger Faktor sind. Mangelnde Fähigkeiten wurden von den Implementierern sehr geschickt adressiert und beseitigt, wenn das notwendig oder wünschenswert war. Dabei wurden alle Fälle von Wirtschaftsinteressen dominiert, aber auch von Europäisierungsmodi im Sinne von hierarchischem Druck, der als mindestens gleichwertiger Faktor neben dem Faktor Motivation steht.
In Germany, the number of renewable energy prosumers has increased rapidly since 2000. However, the development of prosumers has faced and will continue to face various economic, social, and technological challenges, which have triggered the emergence of a number of innovative business models (BM). This paper enriches the empirical basis for prosumer-oriented BMs by investigating two BM innovations in Germany (P2P electricity trading and aggregation of small-size prosumers) drawing on business model and socio-technical transition theories. A mix of qualitative data collection methods, including document analysis and semi-structured expert interviews, was applied. We found that while both BMs can potentially address the challenges associated with renewable energy prosumer development in Germany, small-scale prosumers’ participation in both BMs has been limited so far. We identified various internal and external drivers and barriers for scaling up these BMs for prosumer development in Germany. Despite these barriers, both aggregation and centralized P2P targeting prosumers may potentially be also taken up by incumbent market actors such as utilities. Decentralized P2P on the other hand still faces significant internal and external barriers for upscaling. Based on the analysis, the paper provides policy recommendations with respect to the identified drivers and barriers. From a theoretical perspective, our findings provide further evidence to challenge the dichotomous understanding of niche actors and incumbents, the latter of which are often theorized to be resistant to radical innovations.
Impact chains are used in many different fields of research to depict the various impacts of an activity and to visualize the system in which this activity is embedded. Research has not yet conceptualized impact chains specifically for energy sufficiency policies. We develop such a concept based on current evaluation approaches and extend these by adding qualitative elements such as success factors and barriers. Furthermore, we offer two case studies in which we test this concept with the responsible climate action managers. We also describe options for integrating these impact chains into different types of energy models, which are key tools in policy consulting.
When dealing with the Great Transformation towards a sustainable world (WBGU 2011), one defining factor is the stark contradiction in the availability of knowledge: While there is almost unlimited knowledge on many technical and economic aspects of the sustainability transformation, while in some way all the tools are available and we, in theory, know exactly how to use them, there is a lack of action at all levels. If we assume that in principle a majority of decision-makers has understood the necessity to act, this ultimately points to a lack of knowledge on how major transformations can be triggered. To use a common distinction, we have solid knowledge of the systems at play, we know the targets society should be heading for, and these targets have been globally and politically agreed to, but our knowledge on transformations, while growing, is obviously lacking. While this is true for all forms of knowledge to some extent, especially transformation knowledge requires more than just disciplinary or interdisciplinary research because it depends on transdisciplinary approaches that integrate the knowledge of practitioners from politics, administration, civil society and business.
Die Dekarbonisierung der Mietwohnungsbestände ist zwingende Voraussetzung für die Einhaltung deutscher Klimaschutzziele. Hierzu ist eine schnelle und deutliche Verbesserung der Energieeffizienz unabdinglich. Aber: funktioniert der Markt für Energieeffizienz bei Mietwohnungen? Eine empirische Untersuchung auf dem Wuppertaler Mietwohnungsmarkt gibt Antworten darauf. Um die Sanierungsrate signifikant zu steigern, etwa durch eine höhere Zahlungsbereitschaft für Energieeffizienz, braucht es sowohl für Vermieter als auch für Mieter verbesserte Rahmenbedingungen.
Ziel dieses Teilvorhabens innerhalb des FlexGeber-Projektes war die Initiierung und Begleitung eines Prozesses zur Identifikation und (idealerweise späteren) Realisierung von Effizienz-, Erneuerbaren- und Flexibilitätspotenzialen in den Industriebetrieben Taifun-Tofu GmbH (Lebensmittel) und Hermann Peter KG (Baustoffe).
Dazu haben die Forschenden jeweils in einem Workshop relevante Akteure zusammengebracht und Wissen zur Bestimmung und Bewertung von Flexibilitäten aus technischer, rechtlich-politischer sowie strukturell-organisatorischer Sicht erarbeitet und vermittelt. Gemeinsam klärten sie, welche Informationen in welchem Format für Unternehmen erforderlich und relevant sind, um Flexibilitätsoptionen identifizieren und umsetzen zu können.
Insgesamt gliedert sich die methodische Vorgehensweise in vier zentrale Arbeitsschritte: Vor-Ort-Begehungen bei den Reallaboren, Identifikation technischer Hotspots, Akteursworkshop sowie abschließende Auswertung. Der vorliegende Teilbericht dokumentiert diesen Prozess und fokussiert auf die Identifikation von möglichen Effizienz-, Erneuerbaren- und Flexibilitätsoptionen und der Erfassung von Hemmnissen, die einer Umsetzung von Maßnahmen zur Erschließung der Potenziale bei den Praxispartnern entgegenstehen.
Da die Workshops vornehmlich auf die Unternehmen Taifun-Tofu und Hermann Peter ausgerichtet waren, fokussiert dieser Bericht auf Hemmnisse, die diese Unternehmen bzw. Unternehmen dieser Branchen betreffen. Darüber hinaus ist ein Kapitel zu Hemmnissen, die sich aus dem Demonstrationsvorhaben des Fraunhofer ISE-Campus (Ausbau des Kältenetzes und Installation von Kältespeichern) ableiten, ist in diesem Bericht enthalten.
Um einen angemessenen Beitrag zu einer Begrenzung des weltweiten Temperaturanstiegs auf 1,5 Grad Celsius zu leisten, müsste Deutschland und damit auch der Gebäudesektor schon bis 2035 treibhausgasneutral sein. Greenpeace hat daher das Wuppertal Institut beauftragt, ein Sechs-Punkte-Sofortprogramm für erneuerbare Wärme und effiziente Gebäude zu erarbeiten, mit dem dieses Ziel erreichbar wird. Das Sofortprogramm sieht vor, dass in drei zentralen Bereichen jeweils eine ordnungsrechtliche Maßnahme mit einer spezifischen, dazu passenden finanziellen Fördermaßnahme kombiniert wird:
1) Ausstiegsgesetz für fossile Heizungen und Förderung für elektrische Wärmepumpen und Solarthermie. 2) Pflicht und Förderung für die energetische Sanierung ineffizienter Gebäude mit ökologischen Kriterien. 3) Gesetz mit Zielen sowie förderlichen Bestimmungen und dazu passende Förderung für Erneuerbare-Wärmenetze: Ausbau und Umstieg auf grüne Wärmeerzeugung.
So erhöht das Sofortprogramm die energetische Sanierungsrate auf drei bis vier Prozent pro Jahr und führt dazu, dass schon 2035 fast zwei Drittel der Gebäude mit Wärmepumpen und etwa ein Viertel mit Nah- und Fernwärme aus erneuerbaren Energien beheizt werden und ein Drittel zusätzlich mit thermischen Solaranlagen ausgestattet wird.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected human mobility via lockdowns, social distancing rules, home quarantines, and the full or partial suspension of transportation. Evidence-based policy recommendations are urgently needed to ensure that transport systems have resilience to future pandemic outbreaks, particularly within Global South megacities where demand for public transport is high and reduced access can exacerbate socio-economic inequalities. This study focuses on Metro Manila - a characteristic megacity that experienced one of the most stringent lockdowns worldwide. It analyzes aggregated cell phone and GPS data from Google and Apple that provide a comprehensive representation of mobility behavior before and during the lockdown. While significant decreases are observed for all transport modes, public transport experienced the largest drop (-74.5 %, on average). The study demonstrates that: (i) those most reliant on public transport were disproportionately affected by lockdowns; (ii) public transport was unable to fulfil its role as public service; and, (iii) this drove a paradigm shift towards active mobility. Moving forwards, in the short-term policymakers must promote active mobility and prioritize public transport to reduce unequal access to transport. Longer-term, policymakers must leverage the increased active transport to encourage modal shift via infrastructure investment, and better utilize big data to support decision-making.
In warm and hot climates, ceiling fans and/or air conditioners (ACs) are used to maintain thermal comfort. Ceiling fans provide air movement near the skin, which enhances the evaporation of sweat, reduces heat stress, and enhances thermal comfort. This is also called the cooling effect. However, AC usage behaviour and the effects of elevated air speed through the use of ceiling fans on indoor operative temperature during AC usage are not widely studied. This study investigated the optimum AC (cooling) set point temperature and air velocity necessary for maintaining thermal comfort while achieving energy conservation, in mixed-mode buildings in India, through field studies by using used custom-built Internet of Things (IOT) devices. In the current study, the results indicate a 79% probability that comfort conditions can be maintained by achieving a temperature drop of 3K. If this drop can be achieved, as much as possible, through passive measures, the duration of AC operation and its energy consumption are reduced, at least by 67.5 and 58.4%, respectively. During the air-conditioned period, there is a possibility that the cooing effect is reduced because of increase in operative temperature due to ceiling fan operation. Therefore, the optimum solution is to maintain the highest AC set point and minimum fan speed setting that are acceptable.
An important instrument to enhance the market uptake of energy-efficient new buildings and the energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings in the European Union (EU) are the Energy Performance Certificates (EPC). However, their implementation and use has varied between EU Member States. The European Commission has therefore provided funding to a number of Horizon2020 projects to develop next-generation EPC schemes.
One of these is the QualDeEPC project, aiming to both improve quality and cross-EU convergence of EPC schemes, and particularly the link between EPCs and deep renovation. The objective of the project is to improve the practical implementation of the assessment, issuance, design, and use of EPCs as well as their renovation recommendations, in the participating countries and beyond.
This paper presents the policy proposals and concepts for tools that the QualDeEPC project has developed as priorities for enhanced EPC schemes:
- Improving the recommendations for renovation, which are provided on the EPCs, towards deep energy renovation
- An online tool for comparing EPC recommendations to deep energy renovation recommendations
- Creating Deep Renovation Network Platforms (One-stop Shops plus networking and joint communication of supply-side actors)
- Regular mandatory EPC assessor training (on assessment and renovation recommendations) required for certification/accreditation and registry
- Achieving a high user-friendliness of the EPC
- Voluntary/mandatory advertising guidelines for EPCs
- Improving compliance with the mandatory use of EPCs in real estate advertisements
The paper will focus on the aspects related to improving the impact of EPCs for stimulating deep renovation. It will also present lessons learnt from the discussion with stakeholders at national and European workshops and from the testing of the proposals and tools in around 100 buildings, as well as from the first steps of their country-specific adaptation.
Transformation zur "Grünsten Industrieregion der Welt" - aufgezeigt für die Metropole Ruhr : Studie
(2021)
Industrieregionen stehen vor besonderen Herausforderungen für eine nachhaltige und klimagerechte Entwicklung, sie müssen zu "grünen Industrieregionen" werden. Doch was macht eine "grüne Industrieregion" überhaupt aus? Die vorliegende Studie des Wuppertal Instituts verdeutlicht, worauf es besonders ankommt, wie Fortschritte gemessen werden können und welche Maßnahmen die erforderliche Transformation beschleunigen können. Das Autorenteam schätzt die Vorreiterpotenziale der Metropole Ruhr für sieben Indikatoren ein, die besonders deutlich bei der Umweltwirtschaft und der Entwicklung der Grün- und Erholungsflächen herausstechen.
This chapter reconstructs the main actors, objectives and the pertinent contextual factors that co-determined the German coal phase-out. The German decision to phase out coal no later than 2038 was prepared by intense negotiations under the German "coal commission". It was tasked with finding an end date for coal-fired electricity generation and proposing ways and means to support coal workers and the affected regions. This latter objective was the dominant one, supported by a coalition of trade unions, industry, state-level governments as well as major political parties fearing a surge of far-right populism. Meanwhile, meeting the German climate targets was a key condition in the mandate of the coal commission. Yet, the German targets date back to 2010 and are not aligned with the more ambitious objectives enshrined in the Paris Agreement. This explains why the German coal phase-out schedule is so late and so expensive.
The challenges and also potentials of the energy transition are tremendous in Germany, as well as in Japan. Sometimes, structures of the old energy world need "creative destruction" to clear the way for innovations for a decarbonized, low-risk energy system. In these times of disruptive changes, a constructive and sometimes controversial dialog within leading industrial nation as Japan and Germany over the energy transition is even more important. The German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) released a summarizing report for the first project phase 2016-2018. It includes jointly formulated recommendations for politics as well as a controversial dialogue part.
The Council jointly states and recommends that:
Ambitious long-term targets and strategies for a low-carbon energy system must be defined and ambitiously implemented; Germany and Japan as high technology countries need to take the leadership.
Both countries will have to restructure their energy systems substantially until 2050 while maintaining their competitiveness and securing energy supply.
Highest priority is given to the forced implementation of efficiency technologies and renewable energies, despite different views on nuclear energy.
In both countries all relevant stakeholders - but above all the decision-makers on all levels of energy policy - need to increase their efforts for a successful implementation of the energy transition.
Design of the electricity market needs more incentives for flexibility options and for the extensive expansion of variable power generation, alongside with strategies for cost reduction for electricity from photovoltaic and wind energy.
The implementation gap of the energy efficiency needs to be closed by an innovative energy policy package to promote the principle of "Energy Efficiency First".
Synergies and co-benefits of an enhanced energy and resource efficiency policy need to be realized.
Co-existence of central infrastructure and the growing diversity of the activities for decentralization (citizens funding, energy cooperatives, establishment of public utility companies) should be supported.
Scientific cooperation can be intensified by a joint working group for scenarios and by the establishment of an academic exchange program.
The German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) was established in 2016 by experts from research institutions, energy policy think tanks, and practitioners in Germany and Japan.
The objectives and main activities of the Council and the supporting secretariats are to identify and analyze current and future issues regarding policy frameworks, markets, infrastructure, and technological developments in the energy transition, and to hold Council meetings to exchange ideas and propose better policies and strategies. In its second project phase (2018-2020), the GJETC had six members from academia on the Japanese side, and eight members on the German side, with one Co-Chair from each country.
From October 2018 to March 2020, the GJETC worked on and debated six topics:
1) Digitalization and the energy transition. 2) Hydrogen society. 3) Review of German and Japanese long-term energy scenarios and their evaluation mechanism. 4) Buildings, energy efficiency, heating/cooling. 5) Integration costs of renewable energies. 6) Transport and sector coupling.
The outputs and the recommendations of the second phase of the GJETC are summarized in this report.
Bewegende Energie - das charakterisiert den beruflichen und akademischen Lebensweg von Peter Hennicke. Seine bis heute andauernde Arbeit zur Energiewende hat vieles in Bewegung gebracht. Er hat den Begriff "Energiewende" zwar nicht erfunden, aber maßgeblich mitgeprägt. Weil ihn dieses Ziel so erfüllt und sein Engagement so voller positiver Energie ist, begeistert und bewegt er die Menschen, die mit ihm zusammenwirken, und häufig auch diejenigen, die seinen Ideen zunächst skeptisch oder kritisch gegenüberstehen.
Die Autorinnen und Autoren dieses Buches stellen wesentliche Ideen und wissenschaftliche Konzepte von Peter Hennicke entlang ihrer beruflichen und wissenschaftlichen Aktivitäten vor. Damit gelingt es ihnen, sowohl 40 Jahre Energiewende und Transformation zur Nachhaltigkeit nachzuzeichnen als auch Impulse und eine Agenda für die zweite Phase der Energiewende zu setzen.
The Glasgow climate conference marked a symbolic juncture, lying half-way between the adoption of the UNFCCC in 1992 and the year 2050 in which according to the IPCC special report on the 1.5°C limit net zero CO2 emissions need to be reached, globally, in order to maintain a good chance of achieving the 1.5°C limit. This article undertakes an assessment of what the UNFCCC and in particular the Paris Agreement and its implementation process have actually achieved so far up to and including the results of the Glasgow conference. The article discusses efforts at ambition raising both within and outside the formal diplomatic process, the finalization of the implementation rules of the Paris Agreement, as well as progress on gender responsiveness, climate finance, adaptation and loss and damage. In summary, the Paris Agreement and its implementation can be considered a success as it is having a discernible impact on the behavior of parties as well as on non-party actors. However, significant further efforts will be required to actually achieve the objectives of the Agreement.
Das vorliegende Papier zeigt, welche Weichen die Politik stellen muss, um den Gebäudebestand bis 2045 klimaneutral zu machen. Im Fokus stehen höhere Effizienzanforderungen für Bestands- und Neubauten, ein schnellerer Ausstieg aus Gas- und Ölheizungen, gleichzeitig aber auch höhere Anreize und bessere Unterstützung für Gebäudebesitzende sowie warmmietenneutrale Sanierungen, um Mietende vor einer Überlastung zu schützen.
Dabei müssen bestehende Gebäude so renoviert werden, dass sie ähnlich wie Neubauten kaum noch Energie verbrauchen. Gleichzeitig müssen Heizenergie und Stromversorgung komplett auf erneuerbare Energien umgestellt werden. Zudem muss durch intelligentere Nutzungskonzepte der Anstieg der Gebäudeflächen gebremst werden. Die kommende Legislaturperiode ist somit entscheidend, damit Klimaneutralität im Gebäudesektor bis spätestens 2045 erreicht werden kann.
Dieser Zukunftsimpuls schlägt daher ein 14 Maßnahmen umfassendes und konsistentes Politikpaket vor. Neben den oben genannten Maßnahmen des Förderns und Forderns gehören dazu insbesondere klare Vorgaben für eine bessere energetische Sanierung und ein deutliches Ziel für den Ausstieg aus fossilen Gas- und Ölheizungen, die allen Beteiligten Sicherheit geben. Individuelle Sanierungsfahrpläne für alle heute noch nicht effizienten Gebäude bis spätestens 2028 und kommunale Wärmepläne helfen den Gebäudebesitzenden bei der technischen Entwicklung ihrer Gebäude und der Investitionsplanung. Häufig sind es die nicht-monetären Hemmnisse, die maßgeblich für die geringe Sanierungsrate sind. One-Stop-Shops verringern die Hemmschwelle Maßnahmen umzusetzen. Darüber hinaus wirkt Quartiersmanagement unterstützend und hilft Kräfte zu bündeln.
Making school-based GHG-emissions tangible by student-led carbon footprint assessment program
(2021)
Schools play an important role in achieving climate protection goals, because they lay the foundation of knowledge for a responsible next generation. Therefore, schools as institutions have a special role model function. Enabling schools to become aware of their own carbon footprint (CF) is an important prerequisite for being able to tap the substantial CO2 reduction potential. Aiming at the direct involvement of students in the assessment process, a new assessment tool was developed within the Schools4Future project that gives students the opportunity to determine their own school's CF. With this instrument the CO2 emissions caused by mobility, heating and electricity consumption as well as for food in the school canteen and for consumables (paper) can be recorded. It also takes into account existing renewable energy sources. Through the development of the tool, not only a monitoring instrument was established but also a concrete starting point from which students could take actions to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. This paper presents the tool and its methods used to calculate the CF and compares it with existing approaches. A comparative case study of four pilot schools in Germany demonstrates the practicability of the tool and reveals fundamental differences between the GHG emissions.
2019 haben das Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, die Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, das Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie und das Ecological Research Network das Netzwerk Reallabore der Nachhaltigkeit gegründet. Die Kommunikations- und Kooperationsplattform will zu einer transformativen Nachhaltigkeitsforschung beitragen.
To address climate change, the decarbonisation of Germany's existing building stock urgently needs to be prioritised. However, the rate and depth of refurbishment has lagged behind official targets for years. This is a particular problem in the rental sector, where the costs and benefits of energy efficiency measures tend to be unevenly distributed between landlords and tenants (the so-called "landlord-tenant dilemma"). Within the context of the current policy landscape, investments in energy efficiency consequently make most sense for landlords if the upfront costs can be refinanced via increased rental income or reduced vacant periods. This paper seeks to investigate the validity of this statement at city level by using a large dataset from one of Germany’s main internet property platforms to examine how the willingness of tenants to pay for energy efficiency varies across residential locations in the city of Wuppertal.
The small-scale spatial analysis highlights the existence of a price premium for energy efficiency in the rental market for apartments; however, this premium is generally small (especially in comparison to other property enhancements, especially visible improvements) or even non-existent in some residential areas. Consequently, investing in energy efficiency is rarely an attractive option for landlords. Therefore, strong policy action, aligned with social and urban development policy objectives, is necessary to establish an effective incentive structure in the market and make investing in energy efficiency more attractive for both landlords and tenants.
The ambition to reach climate-neutral energy systems requires profound energy transitions. Various scenario studies exist which present different options to reach that goal. In this paper, key strategies for the transition to climate neutrality in Germany are identified through a meta-analysis of published studies, including scenarios which achieve at least a 95 % greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2050 compared to 1990. It has been found that a reduction in energy demand, an expansion of domestic wind and solar energy, increased use of biomass as well as the importation of synthetic energy carriers are key strategies in the scenarios, with nuclear energy playing no role, and carbon capture and storage playing a very limited role. Demand-side solutions that reduce the energy demand have a very high potential to diminish the significant challenges of other strategies, which are all facing certain limitations regarding their sustainable potential. The level and and type of demand reductions differ significantly within the scenarios, especially regarding the options of reducing energy service demand.
Resilient, sustainable and ready for the future : guidelines for urban development of tomorrow
(2021)
Cities and municipalities have had to endure a great deal in recent years, including a global coronavirus pandemic, fire disasters in the US and devastating floods like those in Germany. These are also consequences of anthropogenic climate change, and cities have to be better prepared for such events in future. In particular, the cata-strophic flooding Germany experienced in July 2021 demonstrated how ill-equipped municipalities are for this type of incident. In this paper, we look at how cities can become more resilient, sustainable and ready for the future.
Städte und Kommunen mussten in den vergangenen Jahren einiges aushalten: eine weltweite Corona-Pandemie, Feuerkatastrophen wie in den USA sowie Hochwasser-Katastrophen wie in Deutschland. Das sind auch Folgen des menschen-gemachten Klimawandels, auf die Städte sich in Zukunft besser vorbereiten müssen. Denn gerade die Hochwasser-Katastrophe im Juli 2021 hat gezeigt, wie wenig Kommunen auf solche Ereignisse eingerichtet sind. Dieses Impulspapier zeigt, wie Städte resilienter, nachhaltiger und zukunftsfähiger werden können.
Der Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) legte nach 2017 zum zweiten Mal seinen "Bericht zur Lage der Umwelt in der Metropole Ruhr" vor. Die aktuelle Analyse, die das Wuppertal Institut erstellte, beschreibt die Umwelt- und Lebenssituation im Ruhrgebiet anhand von 20 ausgewählten Indikatoren. Das Fazit der Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler: Es wurde bereits viel erreicht, jedoch nehmen der globale Klimawandel und seine Auswirkungen exponentiell an Tempo zu und betreffen alle Bereiche des menschlichen Lebens. Extreme Trockenperioden, Hitzewellen oder anhaltende Starkregenereignisse mit Überflutungen in bisher nicht gekannten Ausmaßen stellen auch das Ruhrgebiet vor neue und akute Herausforderungen.
In dem vorliegenden Beitrag analysieren Maike Venjakob und Oliver Wagner die Verteilungswirkungen steigender Energiekosten auf private Haushalte. Sie betrachten dafür die Kosten für Strom, Heizenergie und Kraftstoffe. Sie vergleichen auch die Auswirkungen des CO2-Preises und verschiedene Maßnahmen für eine soziale Ausgestaltung, wie beispielsweise eine Pro-Kopf-Pauschale (auch Klimadividende, Klimabonus oder Energiewendebonus genannt), die in gleicher Höhe an alle Bürger*innen ausgezahlt wird. Ganz wesentlich wird sich die tatsächliche Belastung daran bemessen, inwieweit in den nächsten Jahren klimafreundliche Alternativen, beispielsweise in der Mobilität oder bei der Wärmeversorgung, geschaffen werden. Im Rahmen einer Kurzanalyse wird deshalb beleuchtet, mit welchen zusätzlichen Belastungsfaktoren für private Haushalte durch die Einführung der CO2-Bepreisung von Heizenergie und Kraftstoffen in den kommenden Jahren zu rechnen sein wird und welche Ausgleichsmechanismen soziale Härten zielgenau verhindern können.
More and more companies are announcing their intention to become climate-neutral and numerous companies already offer climate-neutral products or services: From climate-neutral parcel delivery to air travel. But what exactly do the companies' net-zero targets mean? Is the target set ambitious? And what role does offsetting play, i.e., purchasing carbon credits that are accounted against the company's own climate target? The approaches behind the proclaimed targets are often difficult to understand. Against this background, this Zukunftsimpuls provides ten recommendations for the definition and implementation of neutrality targets. Among other things, the authors advocate the use of a robust database as the basis for net-zero targets, emphasize the importance of transparent communication, and highlight the role that offsetting should play. Purchased carbon credits should make as limited a contribution as possible for meeting climate targets and should only be used to offset emissions that cannot be reduced or avoided. More generally, net-zero targets should not be made the sole criterion for ambitious climate strategies. Rather, they are a building block of a much more comprehensive strategy of corporate climate action.
Ambition coefficients : aligning baselines for international carbon markets with net zero pathways
(2021)
Green hydrogen will play a key role in building a climate-neutral energy-intensive industry, as key technologies for defossilising the production of steel and basic chemicals depend on it. Thus, policy-making needs to support the creation of a market for green hydrogen and its use in industry. However, it is unclear how appropriate policies should be designed, and a number of challenges need to be addressed. Based on an analysis of the ongoing German debate on hydrogen policies, this paper analyses how policy-making for green hydrogen development may support industry defossilisation. For the assessment of policy instruments, a simplified multi-criteria analysis (MCA) is used with an innovative approach that derives criteria from specific challenges. Four challenges and seven relevant policy instruments are identified. The results of the MCA reveal the potential of each of the selected instruments to address the challenges. The paper furthermore outlines how instruments might be combined in a policy package that supports industry defossilisation, creates synergies and avoids trade-offs. The paper's impact may reach beyond the German case, as the challenges are not specific to the country. The results are relevant for policy-makers in other countries with energy-intensive industries aiming to set the course towards a hydrogen future.
Urban development faces numerous challenges in the 21st century and a central task is the sustainable and liveable design of the city. Can the concept of a Smart City be a tool to making cities more liveable and sustainable? To find out, we chose a biographical method to analyse the steps towards a successful Smart City and to better understand the structures behind it. We combine the innovation biography method with a process model from sustainability governance research, namely Steurer's sustainability governance model and apply them to Vienna's Smart City, especially the preparation of the Vienna Smart City framework strategy (Steurer & Trattnigg, 2010). On the one hand, this article shows that a transfer of the innovation biography method to urban research can generate deeper insights on urban development processes in general. On the other hand, the approach chosen can show that Vienna integrates the sustainable urban design into the process of Smart City design. So the smart and sustainable city design, often called for in theoretical contributions, is practised in Vienna. Due to its reconstructive character, the biographical method has revealed that it is possible to govern sustainability by using Smart City as an umbrella strategy, as long as one manages it in an integrated and holistic way, recognises trends and is able to acquire and use research funds effectively and efficiently.
The knowledge gained from the new method for urban and Smart City research is twofold. Firstly, the transfer of the method previously developed in the human sciences and subsequently for organisations, institutions and products and services also works in urban research. Second, the innovation biography provides in-depth insights into the process towards the Smart City and the stakeholders involved. The use of the biographical method highlights the relevance of good governance in terms of interdisciplinary cooperation on the one hand and high political commitment on the other through the micro-level perspective and is also sensitive enough to highlight the importance of an appropriate narrative in and for the process towards the Smart City.
Immer mehr Unternehmen verkünden, klimaneutral sein zu wollen und zahlreiche Firmen bieten bereits klimaneutrale Produkte oder Dienstleistungen an: Von der klimaneutralen Paketzustellung bis zur Flugreise. Doch was bedeuten die Neutralitätsziele der Unternehmen genau? Ist das gesetzte Ziel ambitioniert? Und welche Rolle spielt Offsetting, also der Ankauf von Klimaschutzzertifikaten und deren Anrechnung auf das eigene Klimaschutzziel? Die hinter den verkündeten Zielen stehenden Ansätze sind häufig nur schwer nachvollziehbar. Vor diesem Hintergrund gibt der vorliegende Zukunftsimpuls zehn Empfehlungen für die Festlegung und Umsetzung von Neutralitätszielen. Die Autorinnen und Autoren sprechen sich dabei unter anderem für die Nutzung einer robusten Datenbasis als Grundlage für Neutralitätsziele aus, betonen die Bedeutung einer transparenten Kommunikation und zeigen auf, welche Rolle Offsetting spielen sollte. So sollten angekaufte Klimaschutz-Zertifikate einen möglichst begrenzten Beitrag zur Zielerfüllung leisen und ausschließlich zum Ausgleich von Emissionen genutzt werden, die nicht reduziert oder vermieden werden können. Insgesamt sollten Neutralitätsziele nicht zum alleinigen Kriterium für ambitionierten Klimaschutz von Unternehmen gemacht werden, sie stellen vielmehr ein Baustein einer weitaus umfassenderen unternehmerischen Klimaschutzstrategie dar.
Practices and research on measuring traditionally urban sustainability abound, therefore the challenge now is related to how the urban carbon issues are included into current measuring methods, thus there is a need to develop methods for measuring urban low-carbon sustainability. In this paper, a simple method, which is based on low-carbon sustainability index, is developed. The overall urban low-carbon sustainability index is the weighted sum of 11 single indices, and each single index is defined as the indicator assessing the development level against the baseline. The baseline is often the criteria or the minimum requirement of low-carbon sustainability. Case studies in four Chinese cities have put this method into practice, and the results show that all four selected cities fail to pass the testing of sensible low-carbon sustainability rule and they are all in weakly low-carbon sustainable development. Although the four cities have made great progress in their capacity building on pollution control and their capacities on wastewater treatment, main pollutants' removal and household and hazardous wastes treatment are enough to meet the needs of local development, they are all facing the great challenges on using of sustainable energy, offsetting of CO2 emissions and adoptions of nature-based solutions. The method developed by this research is a useful tool for decision makers identifying whether the local development is not on a low-carbon sustainable path.
The unprecedented challenge of reaching carbon neutrality before mid-century and a large share of it within 2030 in order to keep under the 1.5 or 2 °C carbon budgets, requires broad and deep changes in production and consumption patterns which, together with a shift to renewables and reinforced efficiency, need to be addressed through energy sufficiency. However, inadequate representations and obstacles to characterising and identifying sufficiency potentials often lead to an underrepresentation of sufficiency in models, scenarios and policies.
One way to tackle this issue is to work on the development of sufficiency assumptions at a concrete level where various implications such as social consequences, environmental co-benefits, conditions for implementation can be discussed. This approach has been developed as the backbone of a collaborative project, gathering partners in 20 European countries at present, aiming for the integration of harmonised national scenarios into an ambitious net-zero European vision.
The approach combines a qualitative discussion on the role of energy sufficiency in a "systemic" merit order for global sustainability, and a quantitative discussion of the level of sufficiency to be set to contribute to meeting 100 % renewables supply and net-zero emissions goals by 2050 at the latest. The latter is based on the use of a dashboard, which serves as a common descriptive framework for all national scenario trajectories and their comparison, with a view to harmonising and strengthening them through an iterative process.
A set of key sufficiency-related indicators have been selected to be included in the dashboard, while various interrelated infrastructural, economic, environmental, social or legal factors or drivers have been identified and mapped. This paves the way for strengthening assumptions through the elaboration of "sufficiency corridors" defining a convergent, acceptable and sustainable level of energy services in Europe. The process will eventually inform the potential for sufficiency policies through a better identification of leverages, impacts and co-benefits.
On the pathway to climate neutrality, EU member states are obliged to submit national energy and climate plans (NECPs) with planned policies and measures for decarbonization until 2030 and long-term strategies (LTSs) for further decarbonization until 2050. We analysed the 27 NECPs and 15 LTSs submitted by October 2020 using an interrater method. This paper focuses on energy sufficiency policies and measures in the transport sector.
We found a total of 236 sufficiency policy measures with more than half of them (53 %) in the transport/mobility sector. Additionally, we found 41 measures that address two or more sectors (cross-sectoral measures). From the explicit sufficiency measures within the transport sector, 82 % aim at modal shift. A reduction of transport volumes is much less addressed. Countries plan to use mainly fiscal and economic instruments. Those are in many cases investments in infrastructure of low-carbon transport modes and taxation instruments. Plans on decarbonisation measures are also frequently mentioned. The majority of cross-sectoral measures are carbon taxes or tax reforms, also economic instruments.
On the one hand it is encouraging that Member States strongly emphasize the transport sector in their NECPs and LTSs - at least quantitatively and concerning sufficiency measures - because this sector has been the worst-performing in climate mitigation so far. On the other hand, the measures described seem not sufficient to reach ambitious climate targets, and we doubt that the presented set of policy instruments will get the transport sector on track to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the necessary extent.
Consumption by private households in various areas of demand - housing, mobility, nutrition, services and products - contributes to around 10 % of total emissions in Germany. Of this, higher-income households are responsible for a disproportionate share. At the same time, many households often lack the knowledge, time, or motivation to deal with their own energy-relevant and climate-impacting behaviours. In this context, energy advice services play an important role for raising awareness, activating consumers and imparting knowledge about available options for action. However, conventional energy advice services are mostly limited to the topics of building and appliance energy efficiency - especially for middle- and high-income households - without considering private consumption behaviour and the related social practices as a whole. In practice, there has been little differentiation to date in addressing target groups in a way that takes into account different lifestyles and realities and the underlying values and motivations in a pluralistic society. The present paper presents a methodological approach to develop targeted energy advice approaches in urban environments that are oriented towards the motivations of different types of households with medium and high incomes. It proposes a three-step approach consisting of 1) a microdata-based population analysis to identify and categorize target subgroups, 2) an inventory of existing advice offers with regard to their coverage and approach and 3) a gap analysis based on the results of the preceding steps. Applied to a large city in Germany, the analysis finds that gaps are rarely found with regard to communicated facts but rather the way in which information is conveyed. Accordingly, recommendations relate to more effectively use windows of opportunity and framing of measures to match target group motivations.
The widely recognised Energiewende, ("energy transition") in Germany has lost its original momentum. We therefore address the question of how the transition process to a new energy system can be reignited. To do so, we developed the "5Ds approach", which lays the groundwork for a process analysis and the identification of important catalysts and barriers. Focusing on the five major fields required for the energy transition, we analyse the effects of: (1) Decarbonisation: How can efficiency and renewable energies be expanded successfully? (2) Digitalisation: Which digital solutions facilitate this conversion and would be suitable as sustainable business models? (3) Decentralisation: How can potential decentralised energy and efficiency opportunities be developed? (4) Democratisation: How can participation be strengthened in order to foster acceptance (and prevent "yellow vest" protests, etc.)? (5) Diversification of service: Which services can make significant contributions in the context of flexible power generation, demand-side management, storage and grids? Our paper comes to the conclusion that German policy efforts in the "5D" fields have been implemented very differently. Particularly with regard to democratisation, the opportunities for genuine participation among the different social actors must be further strengthened to get the Energiewende back on track. New market models are needed to meet the challenges of the energy transition and to increase the performance of "5D" through economic incentives.
2020 was meant to be the year of climate ambition. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the Glasgow conference was postponed to November 2021, and climate policy generally appeared to have been put on the backburner. But towards the end of the year prospects seemed to brighten with a series of zero-emission pledges and the election of Joe Biden as US President. This article analyses what the year of the pandemic achieved in terms of combating climate change. This article first summarizes the virtual events that were organised to substitute for the physical UNFCCC conferences and what progress was or was not made on the outstanding items of the "Paris rulebook", implementation of the Gender Action Plan, and other items. Subsequently, the article surveys the status of NDC updates and to what extent recovery programmes have been used to advance climate action. Finally, the article takes a closer look at the current dynamics among non-Party actors. In summary, while formal negotiations essentially stopped in the year of the pandemic, the conservation did not. However, implementation is still lagging far behind the ambitious targets that have been set. While implementation is mostly the domain of national policy, the international process has a number of options at its disposal to foster climate action.
This paper argues that, although Japan's and Germany's energy transition paths differ in detail, a trend towards decentralisation is clearly evident in both countries. Based on comprehensive screening, own stocktaking and the results of a stakeholder dialogue, this paper highlights the motivation for different local actors to enter the energy market in both countries. Although there are challenges to success in a market dominated by large energy companies, this paper argues that the benefits to local communities outweigh the efforts. Overall, it is shown that democratisation and the decentralisation of the energy system are suitable to facilitate a successful transformation process in both countries.
Many cities all over the world highlight the need to transform their urban mobility systems into more sustainable ones, to confront pressing issues such as air and noise pollution, and to deliver on climate change mitigation action. While the support of innovations is high on the agenda of both national and local authorities, consciously phasing-out unsustainable technologies and practices is often neglected. However, this other side of the policy coin, "exnovation", is a crucial element for the mobility transition. We developed a framework to facilitate a more comprehensive assessment of urban mobility transition policies, systematically integrating exnovation policies. It links exnovation functions as identified in transition studies with insights from urban mobility studies and empirical findings from eight city case studies around the world. The findings suggest that most cities use some kinds of exnovation policies to address selective urban mobility issues, e.g., phasing-out diesel buses, restricting the use of polluting motor vehicles in some parts of the city, etc. Still, we found no evidence for a systematic exnovation approach alongside the innovation policies. Our framework specifies exnovation functions for the urban mobility transition by lining out policy levers and concrete measure examples. We hope that the framework inspires future in-depth research, but also political action to advance the urban mobility transition.
Minderungspfade
(2021)
Der Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Wuppertal hat in seinem 100-Tage-Programm das Ziel ausgegeben, die Stadt bis 2035 auf den Weg Richtung Klimaneutralität zu bringen. Das Wuppertal Institut hat in einer Sondierungsstudie die zentralen Handlungsfelder zusammengestellt und hebt hervor, welche Herausforderungen damit verbunden sind. Deutlich wird: Wuppertal alleine kann das nicht schaffen. Es braucht dazu veränderte Rahmenbedingungen auch auf Landes- und Bundesebene, die dieses ambitionierte Ziel unterstützen. Doch bis dahin kann auch die Stadt selbst einiges anstoßen.
The aim of this study is to contribute to a learning process about innovative and successful approaches to overcoming problems and challenges of urban environmental protection. To this end, a detailed overview of the importance of environmental challenges, political priorities and successful solutions in selected countries and cities is given. Based on this, the study analyzes specific success factors and discusses the extent to which these can be transferred and replicated to other cities. Finally, recommendations are made for cities, countries and the international community on how environmental protection at the urban level can be further strengthened. The role of German cities and institutions will also be discussed. The case studies analyzed include Belo Horizonte in Brazil, Moscow in Russia, Kochi in India, Beijing in China, Cape Town in South Africa and Jakarta in Indonesia. These cities were selected because they have already implemented successful policies, measures and other initiatives in the past. For each city, the study analyzes relevant policy documents in order to present the respective challenges and political priorities. The analysis aims to understand the effectiveness of the plans and instruments taking into account the national political environment. Despite the cross-sectoral approach, the analysis of each case study focuses on specific sectors in order to produce well-founded results. The success factors that are worked out based on this sectoral analysis are placed in a holistic context in order to be able to make generalizable statements about success factors.
Energy sufficiency is one of the three energy sustainability strategies, next to energy efficiency and renewable energies. We analyse to what extent European governments follow this strategy, by conducting a systematic document analysis of all available European National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTSs). We collect and categorise a total of 230 sufficiency-related policy measures, finding large differences between countries. We find most sufficiency policies in the transport sector, when classifying also modal shift policies to change the service quality of transport as sufficiency policies. Types of sufficiency policy instruments vary considerably from sector to sector, for instance the focus on financial incentives and fiscal instruments in the mobility sector, information in the building sector, and financial incentive/tax instruments in cross-sectoral application. Regulatory instruments currently play a minor role for sufficiency policy in the national energy and climate plans of EU member states. Similar to energy efficiency in recent decades, sufficiency still largely referred to as micro-level individual behaviour change or necessary exogenous trends that will need to take place. It is not treated yet as a genuine field of policy action to provide the necessary framework for enabling societal change.
On the one hand, a large number of companies have committed to achieve net zero emissions and many of them foresee to offset some remaining emissions with carbon credits, suggesting a surge of future demand. Yet, the supply side of the voluntary carbon market is struggling to align its business model with the new legal architecture of the Paris Agreement. This article juxtaposes these two perspectives. It provides an overview of the plans of 482 major companies with some form of neutrality/net zero pledge and traces the struggle on the supply side of the voluntary carbon market to come up with a viable business model that ensures environmental integrity and contributes to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Our analysis finds that if carbon credits are used to offset remaining emissions against neutrality objectives, these credits need to be accounted against the host countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to ensure environmental integrity. Yet, operationalizing this approach is challenging and will require innovative solutions and political support.
Key policy insights:
There is a growing mismatch between the faith placed in carbon credits by private sector companies and the continued quest for a common position of the main suppliers of the voluntary carbon market.
The voluntary carbon market has not yet found a way to align itself with the new legal architecture of the Paris Agreement in a credible and legitimate way.
Public policy support at the national and international level will be needed to operationalize a robust approach for the market’s future activities.
Einzel- und Kleineigentümer aktivieren: energetische Sanierung - was motiviert Eigenheimbesitzer?
(2021)
Einzel- und Kleineigentümer aktivieren : strategische Empfehlungen zur Erhöhung der Sanierungsrate
(2021)
Im Folgenden wird die Klimaschutzwirkung der aktuellen Flottenverbrauchsnorm der Europäischen Kommission für Deutschland diskutiert und in den Kontext der im Jahr 2020 signifikant angestiegenen Zahl von verkauften Pkw mit Elektromotor gesetzt.
Dabei wird die aktuelle Entwicklung der Pkw-Flotte in Deutschland mit mehreren Szenarien verglichen. Erstens wird eine mögliche Verschärfung aktuell gültigen Rechts im Sinne eines European Green Deal angedacht. Zweitens wird dieser eher technische Zugang verglichen mit der Möglichkeit, durch Vermeidung und Verlagerung auf Fahrten mit dem Pkw zu verzichten. Drittens wird die Rolle von Plug-In-Hybriden diskutiert.
Auf dieser Basis werden Politikempfehlungen ausgesprochen, wie die Flottenverbrauchsnorm weiterentwickelt werden kann, um die Klimaschutzambition zu erhöhen.
Die vom Wuppertal Institut für Fridays for Future durchgeführten Analysen legen nahe, dass das Erreichen von CO2-Neutralität bis 2035 aus technischer und ökonomischer Sicht zwar extrem anspruchsvoll wäre, grundsätzlich aber möglich ist. Diese Zielsetzung wäre in allen Sektoren mit großen Herausforderungen verbunden und würde beispiellose politische Anstrengungen erfordern.
Nie gab es mehr zu tun. Unsere Wirtschaft braucht nicht nur technische, sondern auch soziale und kulturelle Innovationen. Etablierte Wirtschaftsförderung beschränkt sich meist auf klassische gewerbliche Unternehmen und strebt nach Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Wachstum. Das Konzept der Wirtschaftsförderung 4.0 geht darüber hinaus und betrachtet die gesamte Wirtschaft einer Stadt oder Region. Es ergänzt die klassischen Strategien und zielt darauf ab, lokale und regionale Wirtschaftsstrukturen zu stärken. Auch private und öffentliche Haushalte, Vereine und soziale Initiativen werden dabei berücksichtigt.
Wirtschaftsförderung 4.0 initiiert so neue Wertschöpfung vor Ort, eröffnet lokale Investitionsmöglichkeiten, bindet regionale Kaufkraft, entfaltet neue Wirtschaftsideen, fördert Kooperationen und stärkt lokale Vielfalt. Zudem fördert sie Ressourcengerechtigkeit und Klimaschutz. Das Buch stellt diese innovative Wirtschaftsförderung vor, die die regionale und lokale Wirtschaft stabilisiert und Regionen dadurch widerstandsfähiger gegen globale Krisen macht.
Transformative Innovationen : die Suche nach den wichtigsten Hebeln der Großen Transformation
(2021)
Der hier vorliegende Zukunftsimpuls soll den Grundgedanken der Transformativen Innovationen und ihre Notwendigkeit beschreiben sowie erste Kandidaten für solche Transformativen Innovationen aus diversen Arbeitsbereichen des Wuppertal Instituts vorstellen. Er dient vor allem als Einladung, gemeinsam mit dem Wuppertal Institut über solche Innovationen zu diskutieren, die irgendwo zwischen den großen Utopien und kleinen Nischenaktivitäten liegen. Denn es braucht nicht immer den ganz großen Wurf, um Veränderungen in Gang zu setzen.
Die kommende Bundesregierung muss aus ambitionierten Zielen eine erfolgreiche Ressourcen- und Klimapolitik machen und dabei alle Bürgerinnen und Bürger mitnehmen - so das Fazit des Zukunftsimpulses des Wuppertal Instituts zur Bundestagswahl 2021. Es zeigt, welche Maßnahmen notwendig sind, um die Transformation in eine klimafreundliche und ressourcenleichte Zukunft jetzt konsequent einzuleiten.
Nicht erst seit dem Klimaabkommen von Paris, welches im Kern eine Begrenzung der menschengemachten globalen Erwärmung auf deutlich unter 2 °C gegenüber vorindustriellen Werten vorsieht, ist offensichtlich, dass eine umfassende Transformation der meisten Wirtschaftssektoren erforderlich ist, um die gesteckten Ziele zu erreichen. Die Transformation erfolgt dabei zum einen durch Steigerung der Energieeffizienz und zum anderen durch eine Dekarbonisierung der bestehenden Prozesse, bei denen heute noch ein hoher Anteil fossiler Energien eingesetzt wird - dies kann gelingen durch eine weitreichende Sektorkopplung, Flexibilisierung und Elektrifizierung bei vollständiger Nutzung Erneuerbarer Energien.
Letzteres stellt auch die Energieversorgung in Rheinland-Pfalz vor einen Paradigmenwechsel: Die schrittweise Transformation eines von konventionellen Energieträgern geprägten Versorgungsystems zu einem durch Erneuerbare Energien dominierten System. Als eines der ersten Bundesländer hat sich Rheinland-Pfalz bereits im Jahr 2014 ein eigenes Klimaschutzgesetz gegeben sowie erstmals im Jahr 2015 ein Landesklimaschutzkonzept (LKSK) erarbeitet, welches energiepolitische Leitplanken für den angestoßenen Transformationsprozess setzt. Die vorliegende Studie im Auftrag des Ministeriums für Umwelt, Energie, Ernährung und Forsten Rheinland-Pfalz beleuchtet die Auswirkungen eines weiteren Ausbaus der Erneuerbaren Energien in Rheinland-Pfalz und der damit verbundenen Flexibilisierung und Dekarbonisierung unterschiedlicher Anwendungsfelder, insbesondere in der Industrie aber auch im ÖPNV und zentraler Wärmeversorgung.
Das Konzept der "Wirtschaftsförderung 4.0" (Wf4.0) zielt darauf ab, die lokalen und regionalen Wirtschaftsstrukturen zu stärken. Wf4.0 initiert neue Wertschöpfung vor Ort, eröffnet lokale Investitionsmöglichkeiten, bindet regionale Kaufkraft, entfalten neue Wirtschaftsideen und stärkt lokale Vielfalt. Sie stärkt die Tauschwirtschaft für Ressourcen, Produkte oder Räume und fördert den Gemeinsinn. Mithin erhöht Wf4.0 die Widerstandsfähigkeit gegenüber globalen Wirtschaftskrisen.
Wirtschaftsförderung 4.0 wirkt sich damit positiv aus auf den Stadtwohlstand und erhöht die Attraktivität für eine Stadt der kurzen Wege, der Diversität und des guten Lebens. Zugleich erhöht eine Stabilisierung der regionalen und lokalen Wirtschaft die Widerstandsfähigkeit der lokalen Ebene gegen weltweite Krisen.
Die "Wirtschaftsförderung 4.0" ergänzt die klassischen Strategien der etablierten Wirtschaftsförderung. Nach und nach hat sich das Handlungsspektrum um die Bereiche Bestandspflege, Clustermanagement und Kreativwirtschaft erweitert. Zahlreiche Maßnahmen der Wf4.0 sind hier bereits verankert. So etwa die Förderung von Nachhaltigen Unternehmen. In dem Projekt wurde untersucht, inwiefern sich der gegenwärtige Leistungskatalog der Wirtschaftsförderung sinnvoll erweitern lässt.
Course change: navigating urban passenger transport toward sustainability through modal shift
(2022)
Staying within the 2 °C (preferably 1.5 °C) limit requires fast and fundamental system changes, also in urban passenger transport. Shifting car traffic to environmentally friendly transport modes is one central strategy to make urban transport more sustainable and climate friendly. However, in most cities car use remains high. Therefore, this paper analyzes what course change is needed regarding direction, scale and speed of change for urban sustainability and climate protection reasons. The paper analyzes the role of modal shift as a strategy in itself and in relation to land-use (avoid) and efficiency (improve) measures. The paper draws on insights from European frontrunning cities and explorative forecasting scenarios calculated with the sophisticated integrated land-use transport model "Ruhr Region 2050". The paper suggests that a significant reduction of urban car use is needed (direction) that roughly equals a fast halving of car use (scale), which has proven feasible under the current socio-political conditions by annual reduction rates of 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points of the trip-based modal share of car use (speed). Significantly reducing car use requires comprehensive and high-intensive measures that go far beyond usual practices. Modal shift measures need to play a crucial role in integrated approaches with land-use (avoid) and efficiency (improve) measures because they have the potential to significantly reduce car use and CO2 emissions and because they can produce comparatively fast effects - which makes modal shift measures first aid approaches to achieve a fast "bending of the curve" of excessive car use and growing CO2 emissions.
The article introduces and exemplifies the approach of evidence-based narratives (EBN). The methodology is a product of co-design between policy-making and science, generating robust intelligence for evidence-based policy-making in the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission (DG RTD) under the condition of high uncertainty and fragmented evidence. The EBN transdisciplinary approach tackles practical problems of future-oriented policy-making, in this case in the area of programming for research and innovation addressing the Grand Societal Challenge related to climate change and natural resources. Between 2013 and 2018, the EU-funded RECREATE project developed 20 EBNs in a co-development process between scientists and policy-makers. All EBNs are supported with evidence about the underlying innovation system applying the technological innovation systems (TIS) framework. Each TIS analysis features the innovation, its current state of market diffusion and a description of the innovation investment case. Indicators include potential future market sizes, effects on employment and environmental and social benefits. Based on the innovation and TIS function analyses, the EBNs offer policy recommendations. The article ends with a critical discussion of the EBN approach.
Transport is a key economic sector in Europe, it influences the opportunities of production and consumption. By improving access to markets, goods and services, employment, housing, health care, and education, transportation projects can increase economic productivity and development. The ability to be mobile is also a prerequisite for inclusion. At the same time, transport induces a range of negative effects, most notably the emission of greenhouse gases. At the urban level, motorised transport significantly contributes to air pollution.
Since 2013, the European Commission has increased EU funding for projects: The "Urban Mobility Package" provided EUR 13 billion for investments into sustainable urban mobility between 2014 and 2020. This has allowed cities across Europe to put in place a range of initiatives. European funding programmes and financing institutions such as the European Investment Bank increasingly insist on a contribution to more sustainable mobility systems in their financing commitments.
The impact, however, is mixed. The European Court of Auditors warned that EU cities must shift more traffic to sustainable transport modes. They found that EU-funded projects were not always based on sound urban mobility strategies and were not as effective as intended.
In many EU member states, the transfer of EU funds to cities is contingent on the existence of a SUMP. A statistical analysis of the modal split of 396 cities in the European Union revealed that the implementation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans positively correlates with a reduction of the share of the private car in the cities. Such plans include strategies and activities to pursue sustainable mobility.
This report analyses transport and mobility in Bratislava with a view to providing a clear picture about its current sustainability state. It points to both good practice and areas of improvement. In so doing, it provides recommendations how mobility in the city can be developed increasingly sustainable. Bratislava is the capital and largest city of Slovakia. In 2016, the population of the city was 426,000 inhabitants, the Bratislava region was home to 642,000 inhabitants.
The Paris Agreement combines collective goals with individual countries' contributions. This hybrid approach does not guarantee that the individual contributions add up to what is required to meet the collective goals. The Paris Agreement therefore established the Global Stocktake. Its task is to "assess collective progress" towards achieving the long-term goals of the agreement as of 2023 and every five years thereafter. Corresponding to this role, this report addresses three questions: What should an effective Global Stocktake look like? What information and data are needed? Is it possible to execute an effective Global Stocktake within the mandate of the Paris Agreement?
Das Klimaabkommen von Paris ist ein Abkommen der Vereinten Nationen. Mit Artikel 4.1 wurde die Treibhausgasneutralität zum Ziel aller globalen Klimapolitik gemacht. Die Begriffe Klimaneutralität und Treibhausgasneutralität werden vom Klimasekretariat der Vereinten Nationen in der öffentlichen Kommunikation synonym verwendet. Die Europäische Kommission hat sich bisher im Zuge der Umsetzung ebenfalls für die synonyme Verwendung entschieden. In Deutschland ist es anders - da herrscht begriffliches Chaos.
Die Grenzen des Verkehrswachstums sind erreicht. Klimaschutz und Lebensqualität sind wichtiger als hochgerüstete Autoflotten, die für Millionen Menschen ohne Auto Belastungen und Mobilitätsnachteile bedeuten. Notwendig ist eine radikale sozial-ökologische Transformation des Verkehrssystems: Ausbau und Förderung des Umweltverbundes aus ÖPNV, Schiene, Sharing-Systemen, Rad- und Fußverkehr - das sind bekannte Strategieelemente, die aber durch die herrschende Privilegierung des Autos ausgebremst werden.
Dabei hat das Leitbild der autogerechten Stadt längst ausgedient. Entfesselte Automobilität frisst immer mehr Natur und Lebensqualität. Ziel muss es sein, nachhaltige Mobilität zu sichern, Verkehrsgerechtigkeit zu schaffen und die Hälfte der Autoflotte überflüssig zu machen. Und die Zukunft ist bereits unterwegs. Längst planen viele Städte eine menschengerechtere Mobilität: in Paris, Kopenhagen, Freiburg und anderswo.
Unterstützt durch eine engagiertere Verkehrspolitik von Bund und EU, kann aus der kommunalen Verkehrsbewegung eine nachhaltige Mobilität für alle in Stadt und Land werden. Neue grüne Geschäftsfelder und gute Arbeit für moderne Mobilitätsdienstleistungen sind dabei Kernelemente. Mit den riesigen Maßnahmenprogrammen wegen der Corona-Pandemie und für den Klimaschutz kann ein gestaltender Staat die Chancen der Verkehrswende erschließen. Für dieses Gemeinschaftswerk können Wählermehrheiten gewonnen werden.
This article develops a sectoral approach to the analysis of global climate governance. This approach advances the assessment of global climate governance by focusing on complexes of intergovernmental and transnational institutions co-governing key socio-technical sectoral systems. The actual and potential contribution of these sectoral institutional complexes to advancing decarbonization can be assessed according to five key governance functions: (1) providing guidance and signal to actors, (2) setting rules to facilitate collective action, (3) enhancing transparency and accountability, (4) offering support (finance, technology, capacity-building), and (5) promoting knowledge and learning. On this basis, we can assess the potential of international cooperation to address the challenges specific sectoral systems face in the climate transition as well as the extent to which existing sectoral institutional complexes deliver on this potential. This provides a solid starting point for developing options for filling identified gaps and enhancing the effectiveness of global climate governance.
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a concept of a policy instrument particularly pushed by policy circles to contribute to a circular economy. The preliminary design of the DPP is supposed to have product-related information compiled mainly by manufactures and, thus, to provide the basis for more circular products. Given the lack of scientific debate on the DPP, this study seeks to work out design options of the DPP and how these options might benefit stakeholders in a product's value chain. In so doing, we introduce the concept of the DPP and, then, describe the existing regime of regulated and voluntary product information tools focusing on the role of stakeholders. These initial results are reflected in an actor-centered analysis on potential advantages gained through the DPP. Data is generated through desk research and a stakeholder workshop. In particular, by having explored the role the DPP for different actors, we find substantial demand for further research on a variety of issues, for instance, on how to reduce red tape and increase incentives for manufacturers to deliver certain information and on how or through what data collection tool (e.g., database) relevant data can be compiled and how such data is provided to which stakeholder group. We call upon other researchers to close the research gaps explored in this paper also to provide better policy direction on the DPP.
Die Stadt Mannheim kann spätestens bis zum Jahr 2050 vollständig klimaneutral werden und damit einen maßgeblichen Beitrag zur Umsetzung der Ziele des Pariser Klimaabkommens auf kommunaler Ebene leisten. Das ist das zentrale Ergebnis der vorliegenden "Energierahmenstudie Mannheim", die das Energieunternehmen MVV in Abstimmung mit der Stadt beim Wuppertal Institut in Auftrag gegeben hat. Die Studie untersucht und beschreibt die Handlungsmöglichkeiten und Umsetzungsvoraussetzungen in den Bereichen Strom, Wärme, Verkehr und Industrie.
A sectoral perspective on international climate governance : key findings and research priorities
(2021)
This concluding article derives six major findings from the contributions to this special issue. First, the barriers and challenges to decarbonisation vary significantly across sectoral systems. Second, and similarly, the need and potential for the five functions of international governance institutions to contribute to effective climate protection also vary widely. Third, while the pattern is uneven, there is a general undersupply of international climate governance. Fourth, the sectoral analyses confirm that the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement play an important overarching role but remain limited in advancing effective sectoral governance. Fifth, while non-environmental institutions may present important barriers to decarbonisation, more synergistic effects are possible. Sixth, our sectoral approach provides a sound basis on which to identify sector-specific policy options. The paper then offers reflections on the merits and limitations of the sectoral approach, before identifying avenues for future research to further advance the agenda.
Governance policies for a "just transition" : a case study in the Rhineland lignite mining district
(2022)
This paper develops policy measures for a "just transition" based on a case study conducted in Germany's Rhineland lignite mining district. Semi-structured guided interviews served as the methodological approach. Expert interviews were conducted with representatives of citizen initiatives, trade unions and the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The results reveal the need for policy measures in different areas: First, employees working for subcontractors of the lignite industry have a high risk of losing their jobs because there are virtually no support policies for them. Second, there needs to be more input by civic initiatives regarding the process of structural change. And last, land needs to be prevented from becoming a scarce resource in the Rhineland area due to current mining legislation. We use an actor-centred institutionalist framework to derive governance approaches in line with the needs of various stakeholders.
This paper examines the Global Climate Action Agenda (GCAA) and discusses options to improve sub- and non-state involvement in post-2020 climate governance. A framework that stimulates sub- and non-state action is a necessary complement to national governmental action, as the latter falls short of achieving low-carbon and climate-resilient development as envisaged in the Paris Agreement. Applying design principles for an ideal-type orchestration framework, we review literature and gather expert judgements to assess whether the GCAA has been collaborative, comprehensive, evaluative and catalytic. Results show that there has been greater coordination among orchestrators, for instance in the organization of events. However, mobilization efforts remain event-driven and too little effort is invested in understanding the progress of sub- and non-state action. Data collection has improved, although more sophisticated indicators are needed to evaluate climate and sustainable development impacts. Finally, the GCAA has recorded more action, but relatively little by actors in developing countries. As the world seeks to recover from the COVID-19 crisis and enters a new decade of climate action, the GCAA could make a vital contribution in challenging times by helping governments keep and enhance climate commitments; strengthening capacity for sub- and non-state action; enabling accountability; and realizing sustainable development.
Managing energy use by municipalities should be an important part of local energy and climate policy. The ISO 50001 standard constitutes an internationally recognized catalogue of requirements for systematic energy management. Currently, this standard is mostly implemented by companies. Our study presents an approach where consultants supported 28 European municipalities in establishing energy management systems. A majority (71%) of these municipalities had achieved ISO 50001 certification by the end of our study. We also conducted two surveys to learn more about motivations and challenges when it comes to establishing municipal energy management systems. We found that organizational challenges and resource constraints were the most important topics in this regard. Based on the experiences in our study we present lessons learned regarding supporting municipalities in establishing energy management systems.
Unser Papier entwickelt Maßnahmen für eine "Just transition"-Governance als Grundlage einer Politischen Ökonomie im Strukturwandel. Für eine Fallstudie im Rheinischen Braunkohlerevier wurden sechs Experteninterviews mit Bürgerinitiativen, Gewerkschaften und Vertretern des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen den Bedarf an politischen Maßnahmen in verschiedenen Bereichen auf: Während für die Traditionsfirmen der Braunkohleindustrie und deren Beschäftigten eine Vielzahl von Förderpolitiken entwickelt wurde und wird, erhalten Beschäftigte von Subunternehmen kaum Unterstützung im Strukturwandel. Letztere sind daher einem hohen Risiko ausgesetzt, durch den Ausstieg aus der Kohleförderung ihren Arbeitsplatz zu verlieren. Die Interviews zeigten auch, dass im Rheinischen Braunkohlerevier aufgrund des geltenden Bergbaugesetzes Flächen zu einer knappen Ressource werden könnten. Der Akteurszentrierte Institutionalismus wird genutzt, um Maßnahmen abzuleiten, die den Bedürfnissen der verschiedenen Interessengruppen entsprechen. Abschließend werden Bezüge sowohl zum Transition Management als auch zur Politischen Ökonomie hergestellt.
More than 150 municipal utilities (so-called Stadtwerke) were established in Germany from the beginning of the millennium, bringing the total number of Stadtwerke currently established within the country to approximately 900. With responsibility for more than half of the supply of electricity, gas and heat in Germany, these Stadtwerke play a central role in the transformation of the energy sector, or Energiewende. In addition, due to their local and regional ties, Stadtwerke have a particular role to play in energy politics, the economy and across society. This article focuses on the motives behind, and grounds for, the current wave of newly established Stadtwerke. Further, it discusses the factors that were critical to the successful formation of new Stadtwerke in recent years. The results of our survey indicate that the establishment of municipal Stadtwerke is a suitable measure to implement the energy transition at the local level, whereby the concept of public value has a high level of importance for the local decision-makers. Collaboration and cooperation, as well as a resilience-oriented strategy, are important success factors for new Stadtwerke.
Die Transformation des Wirtschaftens, wie sie der Green New Deal vorsieht, steht vor einem vierfachen Risiko: Dies bezieht sich auf die Transformationstiefe, den wissenschaftlichen und politischen Androzentrismus, die Gender-Mainstreaming-Gebote und die nötige Effektivität und Akzeptabilität der Transformation. Die hier dargelegte These ist, dass es unverzichtbar ist, im Transformations-Konzept selbst die strukturellen Ursachen von Ungleichheiten geschlechtergerechtigkeitswirksam zu adressieren. Wie am Beispiel der Verkehrswende gezeigt wird, ist dies die Voraussetzung dafür, ökonomisch-sozial-ökologische Zusammenhänge zu erkennen und die Klima-, Ressourcen- und ökonomischen Krisen entsprechend politisieren zu können.
Industrialized countries have committed to providing "new and additional" funding to developing countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, lack of a common definition of "new and additional" undermines the climate process. This article aims to contribute to the discussion on the principle of additionality by assessing possible definitions. The article first contextualizes the guiding principles that led to the endorsement of "new and additional" finance within the history of international climate negotiations. Second, we survey definitions of "new and additional" put forward by industrialized countries as well as further proposed definitions put forward by scholars. Third, we assess the respective strengths and weaknesses of these definitions.
Our analysis shows that there is no singular formula that would resolve the problem of how to define additionality. Definitions that would be politically acceptable to developed countries are subject to gaming while definitions that are technically robust are politically difficult. We conclude that a combination of using innovative sources and defining specific future levels of development assistance ex ante may offer the best prospects for resolving the climate finance conundrum.
Climate change is a transformation challenge. It requires the transformation of a patchwork of independent socio-technical systems. These complex systems have their own specific challenges and path dependencies. Lukas Hermwille introduces a perspective on socio-technical complexity to the study of global climate governance and asks what governance arrangements on the international level, in particular the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement, can offer to facilitate and foster the required transformational change. His work shows the importance of the discursive power of global climate governance, shifting the expectations and visions of the future of key actors and, as a corollary, changing their investment decisions of today towards a more sustainable future.
Die Autoren fassen die Entwicklung Urbaner Produktion und der damit verbundenen ökologischen Beeinträchtigungen zusammen. Vor dem Hintergrund einschlägiger Forschung werden Methoden der Quantifizierung ökologischer Wirkungen Urbaner Produktion mit ihren globalisierten Lieferketten dargestellt. Der Artikel schließt mit einer Darstellung möglicher Perspektiven faktenbasierter, partizipativer Planung Urbaner Produktion.
Electric mobility is beginning to enter East African cities. This paper aims to investigate what policy-level solutions and stakeholder constellations are established in the context of electric mobility (e-mobility) in Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Kisumu and Nairobi and in which ways they attempt to tackle the implementation of electric mobility solutions. The study employs two key methods including content analysis of policy and programmatic documents and interviews based on a purposive sampling approach with stakeholders involved in mobility transitions. The study findings point out that in spite of the growing number of policies (specifically in Rwanda and Kenya) and on-the-ground developments, a set of financial and technical barriers persists. These include high upfront investment costs in vehicles and infrastructure, as well as perceived lack of competitiveness with fossil fuel vehicles that constrain the uptake of e-mobility initiatives. The study further indicates that transport operators and their representative associations are less recognized as major players in the transition, far behind new e-mobility players (start-ups) and public authorities. This study concludes by identifying current gaps that need to be tackled by policymakers and stakeholders in order to implement inclusive electric mobility in East African cities, considering modalities that include transport providers and address their financial constraints.
Durch den "European Green Deal" und den "Circular Economy Action Plan" der Europäischen Union (EU) hat die EU-Produktpolitik 2019 und 2020 neue Impulse erhalten. In beiden Strategiepapieren der Europäischen Kommission wird ein elektronischer bzw. digitaler Produktpass als wesentliches Instrument für eine klimaschonende und ressourceneffiziente Wirtschaft genannt. Dieser soll unter anderem Informationen über Herkunft, Zusammensetzung, Reparatur- und Demontagemöglichkeiten eines Produktes sowie über die Handhabung am Ende seiner Lebensdauer liefern.
Auch auf nationaler Ebene wird das Thema "digitaler Produktpass" diskutiert und insbesondere in der Umweltpolitischen Digitalagenda des Bundesumweltministeriums als zentrale Maßnahme genannt.
Auch wenn das Thema derzeit stärker in den Mittelpunkt rückt, ist ein breit anwendbarer digitaler Produktpass in der Praxis bislang nicht etabliert. Erste Teilansätze bestehen, die allerdings bislang oftmals nicht durch verpflichtende Standarddatensätze oder zentrale Datenbanken institutionalisiert sind. Entsprechend sind auf politischer Ebene auch noch keine konkreten und umfassenden Konzepte vorhanden, wie ein solcher umfassender Produktpass in Zukunft ausgestaltet und implementiert werden soll. An diesem Punkt setzt diese Kurzstudie an. Sie greift hierbei auch Erfahrungen aus bestehenden Projekten und Initiativen auf, bei denen bereits Erkenntnisse hinsichtlich der (Teil-)Umsetzung von unterschiedlichen Konzepten rund um das Thema Produktpass gewonnen werden konnten. Diese Kurzstudie hat entsprechend das Ziel, den aktuellen Diskussionsstand zum Thema "digitaler Produktpass" kompakt darzustellen und Handlungsoptionen für eine mögliche Umsetzung zu skizzieren. Dabei hat sie nicht den Anspruch und die Möglichkeit ein umfassendes Konzept zu erarbeiten, sondern soll erste Ansätze und Optionen vermitteln, um weitere Diskussionen und Forschungsansätze anzuregen. Insbesondere soll die Kurzstudie Impulse für anschließende Initiativen auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene liefern.
The expansion of photovoltaics in German cities has so far fallen short of expectations. The concept of "tenant electricity" ("Mieterstrom" in German), in which tenants of a building are supplied with solar power produced on site, offers great potential here. A study on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy estimated the number of tenant households with good conditions for solar tenant electricity at 3.8 million. At the same time, the federal tenant electricity promotion scheme has been in place since 2017, but only about 1% of the annual budget has been claimed. The aim of this study is to identify the barriers for and drivers of diffusion of the tenant electricity model. To this end, a qualitative document analysis and a range of semi-structured expert interviews have been conducted. The theoretical framework used to guide the analysis is the multi-level perspective. The main barrier found for tenant electricity diffusion is the legal framework on the regime level, which also leads to high transaction costs of implementing tenant electricity. A social barrier is the inertia of some residents to actively concern themselves with their electricity supply and switch to a tenant electricity contract. Among its drivers are long-term trends such as the increasing electricity demand in urban areas, technical developments like blockchain technology and the increasing deployment of smart meters, and the EU Renewable Energy Directive. As long as the restrictive legal framework prevails, the further diffusion of tenant electricity will remain limited.
The ongoing warming of the Earth's atmosphere is projected to cause a northward shift of species' distributions, as they track their climatic optimum. In the rapidly warming Arctic, this has already led to an increase of shrubs in tundra ecosystems. While this northern expansion of woody biomass has been studied relatively extensively over the last decade, little research has been devoted to shrub growth responses at the southern margins of Northern Hemisphere shrubs. Here, we studied shoot length growth, its responses to climate over the period 2010-2017, and differences in leaf C and N content of the evergreen dwarf shrub Empetrum nigrum, as well as the vegetation composition and soil parameters at four sites located along a gradient of increasing dune age on the island Spiekeroog, northern Germany. The sites are located in the tri-national UNESCO world heritage site, the Wadden Sea. E. nigrum has a predominantly circum-arctic-boreal distribution and its southern distribution margin in European lowlands runs through northern Germany, where it is retreating northwards. We found a negative response to autumn (surface) temperatures and previous summer surface temperatures and/or a positive response to summer precipitation of E. nigrum growth, except at the oldest dune with the strongest E. nigrum dominance. Growth rates and plant species diversity declined with dune age. Our results suggest that E. nigrum growth is drought sensitive at its European southern range margin. We hypothesize that this sensitivity may form the basis for its northward retreat, which is supported by recent observations of E. nigrum dieback in Germany after the extreme drought in 2018 and model projections.
This article aims to analyse the potential for international climate governance to promote the decarbonisation of land transport. It first summarises challenges and barriers that impede the transformation of the sector. On this basis, the article discusses how international governance could potentially assist with overcoming these barriers and mobilising potentials. Subsequently, the article analyses to what extent existing international governance institutions deliver on the potential identified. The analysis finds that while there is a large number of international institutions trying to promote the decarbonisation of land transport, none of them emerge saliently as hubs or core institutions. There is a substantial amount of activity to generate and disseminate knowledge and learning, but the potential for providing guidance and signal, setting rules, providing transparency/accountability and means of implementation could be further exploited. The article concludes with suggestions on how international governance may be strengthened.
In order to calculate the financial return of energy efficiency measures, a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a proven tool for investors. Generally, however, most CBAs for investors have a narrow focus, which is - simply speaking - on investment costs compared with energy cost savings over the life span of the investment. This only provides part of the full picture. Ideally, a comprehensive or extended CBA would take additional benefits as well as additional costs into account. The objective of this paper is to reflect upon integrating into a CBA two important cost components: transaction costs and energy efficiency services - and how they interact. Even though this concept has not been carried out to the knowledge of the authors, we even go a step further to try to apply this idea. In so doing, we carried out a meta-analysis on relevant literature and existing data and interviewed a limited number of energy experts with comprehensive experience in carrying out energy services. Even though data is hardly available, we succeeded in constructing three real-world cases and applied an extended CBA making use of information gathered on transaction costs and energy services costs. We were able to show that, despite these additional cost components, the energy efficiency measures are economically viable. Quantitative data was not available on how energy services reduce transaction costs; more information on this aspect could render our results even more positive. Even though empirical and conceptual research must intensify efforts to design an even more comprehensive CBA, these first-of-its-kind findings can counterargue those that believe energy efficiency is not worth it (in monetary terms) due to transaction costs or energy services costs. In fact, this is good news for energy efficiency and for those that seek to make use of our findings to argue in favor of taking up energy efficiency investments in businesses.
Als Herausforderung der Verkehrswende werden häufig die möglicherweise wegfallenden Arbeitsplätze diskutiert. Denn die Beschäftigung der Automobilindustrie in Deutschland gilt als wichtiges Argument für einen sozialverträglichen Strukturwandel. Aber auch die Wirtschaftszweige des Umweltverbunds bieten viele Arbeitsplätze.
Vor diesem Hintergrund untersucht die vorliegende Studie des Wuppertal Instituts und des Instituts Arbeit und Technik der Westfälischen Hochschule die Beschäftigtenzahlen in Teilmärkten der Fahrradwirtschaft sowie deren Umsatzentwicklung.
Im vergangenen Jahr waren die Zuwachszahlen im Bereich der Elektromobilität in Deutschland höher als jemals zuvor. Das enorme Wachstum ist vor allem der EU-Verordnung zur Flottenemissionsnorm zu verdanken. Die Elektromobilität hat damit einen wichtigen Schritt gemacht und gezeigt, dass sie das Potenzial hat, den Verbrennungsmotor bald zu verdrängen. Doch allein ein sehr hoher Marktanteil an Elektroautos genügt nicht, um die mittelfristigen deutschen Klimaschutzziele zu erreichen. Dies ist eine der zentralen Aussagen der Autoren des vorliegenden Impulspapiers. Sie empfehlen, dass die Europäische Union Herstellern weiterhin ambitionierte Zielvorgaben für emissionsarme Pkw machen sollte, damit schon im Jahr 2030 annähernd alle neu zugelassenen Pkw elektrisch angetrieben werden. Autos mit Hybridantrieb sind auf diesem Weg maximal eine wichtige Übergangstechnologie. Zentrale Voraussetzung ist zudem, dass die derzeitigen Ladevorgänge erleichtert werden, damit der Umstieg auf Fahrzeuge mit alternativem Antriebskonzept deutlich attraktiver wird.
Welche Perspektiven haben zukunftsfähige und krisenfeste Städte nach der Corona-Pandemie? Antworten darauf skizzieren die Autorinnen und Autoren in dem vorliegenden Diskussionspapier. Ihre zentrale These: Städte der Zukunft müssen und werden "näher", "öffentlicher" und "agiler" sein. Dies erläutern sie anhand dieser drei Dimensionen und konkretisieren es anhand zahlreicher Beispiele.
Cities are becoming digital and are aiming to be sustainable. How they are combining the two is not always apparent from the outside. What we need is a look from inside. In recent years, cities have increasingly called themselves Smart City. This can mean different things, but generally includes a look towards new digital technologies and claim that a Smart City has various advantages for its citizens, roughly in line with the demands of sustainable development. A city can be seen as smart in a narrow sense, technology wise, sustainable or smart and sustainable. Current city rankings, which often evaluate and classify cities in terms of the target dimensions 2smart" and "sustainable", certify that some cities are both. In its most established academic definitions, the Smart City also serves both to improve the quality of life of its citizens and to promote sustainable development. Some cities have obviously managed to combine the two. The question that arises is as follows: What are the underlying processes towards a sustainable Smart City and are cities really using smart tools to make themselves sustainable in the sense of the 2015 United Nations Sustainability Goal 11? This question is to be answered by a method that has not yet been applied in research on cities and smart cities: the innovation biography. Based on evolutionary economics, the innovation biography approaches the process towards a Smart City as an innovation process. It will highlight which actors are involved, how knowledge is shared among them, what form citizen participation processes take and whether the use of digital and smart services within a Smart City leads to a more sustainable city. Such a process-oriented method should show, among other things, to what extent and when sustainability-relevant motives play a role and which actors and citizens are involved in the process at all.
Expenditure-based indicators of energy poverty : an analysis of income and expenditure elasticities
(2021)
Energy poverty is high up on national and European Union policy agendas. A number of possible indicators to measure the issue have been identified in the literature, but comparable data with European coverage is scarce. The EU Commission thus proposes four independent indicators on the "EU Energy Poverty Observatory" based on self-reported items from the pan-European surveys on income and living conditions (SILC) and household budgets (HBS). It is of increasing public interest to analyse social impacts of energy policies, and quantify energy poverty indicators also from modelling. This paper first shortly outlines how the expenditure-based indicators using HBS micro data may be directly linked to existing macroeconomic models through their defining variables (energy expenditure and income). As endogenous modelling based on micro data is difficult, the link may be country-specific elasticities. The main contribution of the paper is a systematic in-depth sensitivity analysis of the two indicators to changes in income and energy expenditure following varying patterns in the underlying distributions of the micro data. The results may be used by future soft links to models. The results display sometimes counterintuitive effects. We find that whether these indicators increase/decrease after a change of income or energy expenditure largely depends on the specific country-wise income and energy expenditure distribution between households on a micro-level. Due to their definition, the examined indicators are especially sensitive, when income changes alter the indicator threshold values, which in these cases are the median values in underlying distributions. We discuss these findings and relate them to several indicator shortcomings and potential remedies through changes in indicator definition.
Non-residential buildings in the European Union consume more than one third of the building sector's total. Many non-residential buildings are owned by municipalities. This paper reports about an energy saving competition that was carried out in 91 municipal buildings in eight EU member states in 2019. For each public building an energy team was formed. The energy teams' activities encompassed motivating changes in the energy use behaviour of employees and small investments. Two challenges added an element of gamification to the energy saving competition. To assess the success of the energy saving competition, an energy performance baseline was calculated using energy consumption data of each public building from previous years. Energy consumption in the competition year was monitored on a monthly base. After the competition the top energy savers from each country were determined by the percentage-based reduction of energy consumption compared to the baseline. On average, the buildings had an electricity and heat consumption in 2019 that was about 8 % and 7 %, respectively, lower than the baseline. As an additional data source for the evaluation, a survey among energy team members was conducted at the beginning and after the energy competition. Support from superiors, employee interest and motivation and behaviour change as assessed by energy team members show a positive, if weak or moderate, correlation with changes in electricity consumption, but not with changes in heat consumption.
Die Wirtschaftsleistung von Deutschland ist durch die Corona-Pandemie stark beeinträchtigt. Um die Wirtschaft zu beleben, einigten sich die Regierungsparteien am 3. Juni 2020 in ihrem Koalitionsausschuss auf ein "Konjunktur- und Krisenbewältigungspaket" sowie ein "Zukunftspaket" in Höhe von insgesamt 130 Milliarden Euro. Für 2020 und 2021 sind fast 60 Maßnahmen vorgesehen, die von steuerlichen Vergünstigungen bei der Mehrwertsteuer bis hin zu konkreten Investitionen in Zukunftstechnologien reichen. Mit Blick auf den Klimaschutz beinhaltet das Maßnahmenpaket der Großen Koalition zwar gute Ansätze und viele wichtige Impulse, die allerdings zu verpuffen drohen, wenn sie nicht durch eine konsequente und nachhaltig ausgerichtete Klimapolitik flankiert werden. Zudem fehlen für den Klimaschutz wichtige Bereiche, wie Investitionen in die Kreislaufwirtschaft. Außerdem werden Maßnahmen zur Steigerung der Energieeffizienz nur unzureichend berücksichtigt. Gerade in diesen Bereichen hätten sich konjunkturbelebende Effekte und Klimaschutz in idealer Form ergänzen können, kritisiert das Wuppertal Institut. Dieses Diskussionspapier reagiert auf die vorliegenden Vorschläge und fasst zusammen, welche Maßnahmen im Rahmen der jetzt anstehenden Umsetzungsphase nachgebessert werden sollten und wo Ergänzungen notwendig sind.
Given that over 50% of Myanmar's urban inhabitants and nearly 75% of the rural population lack access to adequate electricity, the country's development agenda includes electrification as a key policy goal. The government's National Electrification Project (NEP) aims to reach 100% household electrification by 2030. To achieve this ambitious target, the government of Myanmar has established a set of strategic electrification priorities. The primary focus is to electrify the country through extension of the national grid and construction of large power plants based on fossil fuels and renewable energy.
For decades, decentralised energy solutions have played a niche role in Myanmar's electrification journey. Local developers have constructed thousands of nominal "mini-grids", powered by a range of sources, including water, diesel, and solar. With the support of local communities, these initiatives provide positive stimuli for the social and economic development of villages across the country. To achieve its electrification goals, the NEP includes a segment to promote the development of new mini-grids through a set of subsidies and private sector cooperation initiatives. These target remote regions, which are difficult to electrify through extension of the main grid.
This report takes an in-depth look at decentralised electrification through community-based mini-grids with a focus on renewable energy. The aim is to provide insights into the potential role of sustainable electrification and to identify both enabling and limiting factors related to the institutional and policy landscape (macro), as well as the local conditions (micro). It also aims to explore whether the cooperative model is a suitable organisational framework for the operation of mini-grids in Myanmar. The results of the study will help to inform policymakers and supporters of decentralised electrification about the potential role for cooperatives and provide ways to improve the operating environment for sustainable, community-based mini-grids.
Kommunaler Klimaschutz ist eine Gemeinschaftsaufgabe für Städte und Gemeinden und in den Kommunalverwaltungen eine Querschnittsaufgabe. Zur Bewältigung dieser Aufgabe müssen für die Kompetenzen weiter aufgebaut sowie Zusammenhänge verdeutlicht werden müssen.
Verwaltungshandeln kann bei entsprechender Ausrichtung besonders wirkungsvoll sein und zivilgesellschaftliche sowie kommunalpolitische Anforderungen an eine aktive Klimaschutzgemeinde durch eine fachlich fundierte und fantasievolle Gestaltung mit Leben füllen.
This paper explores how the European Commission promotes the concept of Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) among European cities. Despite the strong uptake of the SUMP concept, mobility-related problems persist in European municipalities. Linking theoretical approaches to understand the diffusion of policies with empirical findings from working with cities in the SUMP context, this article explores channels of policy diffusion and investigates shortcomings related to the respective approaches. Studies on the diffusion, the transfer and the convergence of policies identify formal hierarchy, coercion, competition, learning and networking, and the diffusion of international norms as channels for policy transfer. The findings which are presented in this paper are twofold: First, the paper finds evidence that the Commission takes different roles and uses all mechanisms in parallel, albeit with different intensity. It concludes that the approaches to explain policy diffusion are not competing or mutually exclusive but are applied by the same actor to address different aspects of a policy field, or to reach out to different actors. Second, the article provides first evidence of factors that limit the mechanisms' abilities to directly influence urban mobility systems and mobility behaviour.
Die Grundstoffindustrie steht derzeit vor großen Herausforderungen. Die Unternehmen müssen die akuten dramatischen Folgen der Coronakrise bewältigen, aber auch bereits in den nächsten Jahren in neue klimafreundliche Technologien investieren, um das Ziel einer klimaneutralen Wirtschaft im Jahr 2050 zu erreichen. Im Fachforum Energieintensive Grundstoffindustrie beim Grünen Wirtschaftsdialog diskutierten Akteure aus Wirtschaft, Politik und Wissenschaft, welche politischen Instrumente die Transformation der Industrie unterstützen und die notwendigen Investitionen ermöglichen können. Vom Wuppertal Institut wurde für das Fachforum ein Scoping Paper erstellt, welches den Stand der aktuellen Fachdiskussion zu zentralen Politikinstrumenten zusammenfasst und die wichtigsten offenen Ausgestaltungsfragen diskutiert. Das Papier wurde im Austausch mit den Akteuren im Fachforum entwickelt und in mehreren Sitzungen des Forums vorgestellt und diskutiert. Inhaltlicher Schwerpunkt sind Instrumente für faire internationale Wettbewerbsbedingungen, Carbon Contracts for Difference, und Ansätze für Energiepreisreformen.
Design options for the new international market mechanism under article 6.4 of the Paris agreement
(2020)
In this project commissioned by the German Environment Agency, important aspects of the mechanism under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement were examined in more detail. This mechanism is to succeed the CDM under the Kyoto Protocol from 2021 onwards, but it will contain decisive improvements, especially with regard to a robust accounting of emission reductions and better integration into the national climate policy of the host country. The report is addressed to the international experts, in particular to the delegates to the climate conference and observers, and is therefore written in English. A German summary is included. The following topics are covered:
How does the mechanism achieve an overall reduction of global emissions?
Are there opportunities to use benchmarks to establish baselines?
Can contributions to increasing ambition be made by using Art. 6.4?
What contribution can the voluntary market make to increasing ambition in the future?
Introduction of incentives for the participation of private companies under Art. 6.4 of the PA.
The role of the Art. 6.4 mechanism on the way to a net zero emission world.
The project provides a contribution to the general discussion in the EU as well as to the Article 6 - Negotiations under the UNFCCC. It is a contribution that presents backgrounds and interrelationships for individual questions concerning the design of the new market mechanisms under Article 6 and can thus contribute to a more informed decision-making process.Since there are, however, several different ways of designing a mechanism that can avoid double counting and provide incentives for increasing ambition, this project is only one of several current contributions to the international discussion.
Prepaid-Strom per Smartphone
(2020)
Prepaid-Stromzähler sind in Deutschland noch selten, bieten jedoch zukünftig einen interessanten Markt. Vor allem kleinere Anbieter, aber auch erste Regionalversorger kombinieren die Megatrends Digitalisierung und Energiewende und kreieren daraus neue Dienstleistungen. Zusammen mit IT-Firmen entwickeln sie daraus neue Geschäftsideen, die auch hinsichtlich sozialer Aspekte hohen Anforderungen genügen. Der Rollout von Smart Metering-Lösungen eröffnet zukünftig noch größere Chancen, durch Echtzeit-Datenerfassung den Energieverbrauch und damit auch Einsparpotenziale transparent zu machen. Hochaufgelöste Daten ermöglichen innovative Dienstleistungen und bringen die Kundenbeziehung auf eine neue Ebene.
Innerhalb des Projekts TFE-NRW bewertete das Wuppertal Institut den Forschungsbedarf für Energiewende-Technologien in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Ziel war es herauszufinden, welche Technologien und Forschungsbereiche im Rahmen der Energieforschung für Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) einen besonders hohen Stellenwert in Relation zur Bewertung für Deutschland haben könnten und für die eine besondere Unterstützung innerhalb der Energieforschung gerechtfertigt erscheint. Dabei sollten die speziellen Anforderungen des Bundeslandes berücksichtigt werden.
Betrachtet wurden 31 Technologiefelder aus den Bereichen erneuerbare Energien, konventionelle Kraftwerke, Infrastruktur, Technologien für die Sektorenkopplung (Power-to-X, P2X), energie- und ressourceneffiziente Gebäude, Energie- und Ressourceneffizienz in der Industrie und integrative Aspekte, die mithilfe eines Kriterienrasters qualitativ bewertet wurden.
The impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and the global response to it will co-determine the future of climate policy. The recovery packages responding to the impacts of the pandemic may either help to chart a new sustainable course, or they will further cement existing high-emission pathways and thwart the achievement of the Paris Agreement objectives. This article discusses how international climate governance may help align the recovery packages with the climate agenda. For this purpose, the article investigates five key governance functions through which international institutions may contribute: send guidance and signals, establish rules and standards, provide transparency and accountability, organize the provision of means of implementation, and promote collective learning. Reflecting on these functions, the article finds that the process under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), together with other international institutions, could promote sustainable recovery in several ways.
Die in Paris Ende 2015 beschlossene Vereinbarung gibt das Ziel vor, die Erderwärmung bis 2100 auf deutlich unter 2 Grad Celsius zu begrenzen, möglichst aber auf unter 1,5 Grad Celsius. Die vorliegende Studie setzt sich mit der Frage von Fridays for Future Deutschland auseinander, welche Dimension von Veränderungen im deutschen Energiesystem erforderlich wären, um einen angemessenen Beitrag für das Erreichen der 1,5-Grad-Grenze leisten zu können. Nach Abschätzung des Weltklimarates, dem Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), lassen sich mit dieser Temperaturgrenze die Risiken und Auswirkungen des Klimawandels gegenüber einer stärkeren Erderwärmung erheblich verringern.
Die Autorinnen und Autoren haben dabei den Budgetansatz des Sachverständigenrats für Umweltfragen (SRU) der Bundesregierung zugrunde gelegt. Um das 1,5-Grad-Ziel mit einer Wahrscheinlichkeit von 50 Prozent zu erreichen, ist das Restbudget an damit verträglichen Treibhausgasemissionen eng begrenzt. Für Deutschland bleibt gemäß des Sachverständigenrats für Umweltfragen ab dem Jahr 2020 noch ein Restbudget von 4,2 Gigatonnen CO2. Dabei geht der Sachverständigenrat von der Annahme aus, dass auf globaler Ebene jedem Menschen für die Zukunft ein gleiches Pro-Kopf-Emissionsrecht zugestanden werden soll. Mit dieser Klimaschutzvorgabe geht er deutlich weiter als die aktuellen politischen Vorgaben der Europäischen Union und der Bundesregierung, die diese für sich aus den Pariser Klimaschutzvereinbarungen ableiten.
Die vom SRU formulierte Zielmarke lässt sich einhalten, wenn das Energiesystem (Energiewirtschaft, Industrie, Verkehr und Gebäudewärme) bis zum Jahr 2035 CO2-neutral aufgestellt wird und die Emissionen insbesondere in den nächsten Jahren bereits überproportional stark gesenkt werden können.
Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die technische und in gewissem Maße auch die ökonomische Machbarkeit einer Transformation zur CO2-Neutralität bis 2035. Ob sich dieses Ziel jedoch tatsächlich realisieren lässt, hängt auch maßgeblich von der gesellschaftlichen Bereitschaft und einem massiven politischen Fokus auf die notwendige Transformation ab. Die Studie gibt somit Aufschluss darüber, inwiefern es grundlegende technologische und wirtschaftliche Hindernisse für die CO2-Neutralität 2035 gibt; nicht jedoch ob die Umsetzung realpolitisch tatsächlich gelingen kann bzw. was dafür im Einzelnen getan werden muss. Neben den technischen und ökonomischen Herausforderungen einer Transformation hin zu CO2-Neutralität bestehen zentrale Herausforderungen auch in institutioneller und kultureller Hinsicht, zum Beispiel bei Themen wie der Akzeptanz für einen starken Ausbau von Erneuerbaren-Energien-Anlagen und von Energieinfrastrukturen oder hinsichtlich der Notwendigkeit eines deutlich veränderten Verkehrsverhaltens.
This SUITS policy brief aims to highlight how the transformational process of the nine local authorities involved in SUITS into learning organizations made these cities far better prepared to cope with the challenges due to the pandemic than they would otherwise have been. Due to the higher levels of organizational resilience and the awareness of individuals' importance during such external crises, the nine local authorities were not just trying to react to the unforeseen challenges, but were able to act with a clear pathway and to use their experiences to facilitate their learning from recent years. Of course, the pandemic could not have been foreseen, but as SUITS local authorities are becoming learning organizations, they are enhancing their organizational capacity. In so doing, they have been learning a required resilience to reduce the "complexity and confusion - of what to do best" in the beginning of the crisis and to cope with the challenges. This advantage was of enormous relevance for the local authorities.
Driving forces of changing environmental pressures from consumption in the European food system
(2020)
The paper provides an integrated assessment of environmental and socio-economic effects arising from final consumption of food products by European households. Direct and indirect effects accumulated along the global supply chain are assessed by applying environmentally extended input-output analysis (EE-IOA). EXIOBASE 3.4 database is used as a source of detailed information on environmental pressures and world input-output transactions of intermediate and final goods and services. An original methodology to produce detailed allocation matrices to link IO data with household expenditure data is presented and applied. The results show a relative decoupling between environmental pressures and consumption over time and shows that European food consumption generates relatively less environmental pressures outside Europe (due to imports) than average European consumption. A methodological framework is defined to analyze the main driving forces by means of a structural decomposition analysis (SDA). The results of the SDA highlight that while technological developments and changes in the mix of consumed food products result in reductions in environmental pressures, this is offset by growth in consumption. The results highlight the importance of directing specific research and policy efforts towards food consumption to support the transition to a more sustainable food system in line with the objectives of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy.
Vor zehn Jahren, schon bald nach dem Beginn der Finanzkrise, setzte weltweit die Erkenntnis ein, dass die eingebrochenen privaten Investitionen mit staatlichen Konjunkturprogrammen kompensiert werden müssten. Die Regierungen der Welt wendeten sich überraschend schnell von den bisher dominanten laissez-faire Ansätzen ab. Weltweit schlug die Stunde von Staatsinterventionen. Unter dem Titel "Green New Deal" und später "Green Growth" katapultierte sich die ökologische Modernisierung der Wirtschaft quasi über Nacht aus der umweltpolitischen Nische heraus in den konjunkturpolitischen Mainstream. Zwar gab und gibt es immer noch Regierungen und internationale Institutionen, die diese ökologische Wende der Konjunkturpolitik nicht nachvollziehen, allerdings dürften sich diese spätestens seit dem Jahr 2009 in der Minderheit befinden. Die Forschung kam mit dem Tempo der Entwicklungen kaum hinterher. Dennoch lassen sich aus den vergangenen zehn Jahren seit der Finanzkrise von 2008 wichtige Erkenntnisse und Faustregeln z. B. für den European Green Deal aber auch für die angekündigten nationalstaatlichen Konjunkturprogramme nach der Coronakrise ableiten. Der Text begründet die These von einer ökologischen Wende der Konjunkturpolitik. Im Anschluss leitet er daraus wichtige Lektionen für den sich anbahnenden European Green Deal als eine wirtschaftspolitische Antwort auf die Coronakrise ab.
In order to achieve the UNFCCC Paris Agreement goals, climate policies worldwide require considerable ratcheting-up. Policy sequencing provides a framework for analysing policy process dynamics that facilitate ratcheting-up. We apply a sequencing perspective to two key EU climate and energy policies, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), to comparatively test the empirical relevance of sequencing for single policies - in addition to sequencing across policies, which has been the focus of sequencing theory so far - and to uncover specific mechanisms. Our results confirm that sequencing, based on triggering positive and controlling negative feedback, is relevant both within and across policies. Policy choices that may facilitate ratcheting-up include tools to control costs, the possibility to centralise and harmonise in a multi-level governance context, options for compensation of reluctant actors, and the encouragement of learning processes.
Decarbonizing transportation in emerging economies will be one of the key challenges in global climate change mitigation efforts. In this paper, pathways are developed towards achieving a 1.5° degree scenario for land-transport for four emerging economies (Brazil, India, Kenya and Vietnam). The aim is to highlight the key opportunities and challenges for low-carbon transport in countries with rapidly growing mobility demand. The main focus of this paper is to reconcile actual and required emission reduction targets and develop plausible pathways to achieve these targets. The paper also identifies potential strategies and measures for these countries to follow these pathways. The analysis considers the contributions of "avoid" (cutting travel growth), "shift" (to lower CO2 modes) and "improve" (vehicle and fuel CO2 characteristics) interventions to decarbonisation scenarios. These scenarios aim to inform renewed Nationally Determined Contributions and shed light on the feasibility of deep decarbonisation pathways that would be in line with the Paris Agreement. Results from this study show that achieving 1.5DS would require dramatic changes in travel patterns, technology and fuels, and major intensification of current policy approaches. Decarbonization solutions will need to include greater use and investment of efficient modes, major shifts toward near-zero carbon fuels such as clean electricity, systems integration, modal shift and urban planning solutions. Although the socio-economic situations and national transport systems differ between the selected countries, some fairly similar strategies appear likely to be core to the mitigation effort, such as rapid growth in light- and heavy-duty vehicle electrification and investments in public transit systems.
Das im Auftrag des Umweltschutzamts Kiel entwickelte Zero-Waste-Konzept zeigt anhand eines umfangreichen Handlungsplans, wie Kiel zur "Zero Waste City" werden kann. Das Konzept ist die Basis für eine Zertifizierung als "Zero Waste City" - eine Auszeichnung, die der europäische Verein Zero Waste Europe vergibt. Nachdem im Jahr 2007 die italienische Gemeinde Capannori zur ersten "Zero Waste City" in Europa erklärt wurde, haben sich knapp 400 europäische Gemeinden dieser Bewegung angeschlossen.
Für das Kieler Zero-Waste-Konzept stellten die Forschenden insgesamt 20 konkrete Ziele auf, die helfen, Abfall zu reduzieren, die Wiederverwendung von Produkten zu steigern und die Abfalltrennung zu verbessern. Kiels ambitioniertes Ziel: Die Stadt will die Maßnahmen, die innerhalb des Zero-Waste-Konzepts ermittelt wurden, zwischen 2025 und 2050 umsetzen und bis 2035 die Gesamtabfallmenge pro Kopf und Jahr durchschnittlich um 15 Prozent senken, die Haus- und Geschäftsabfälle - also Restabfälle - bis zum Jahr 2035 halbieren und langfristig auf 50 Kilogramm pro Kopf und Jahr reduzieren.
Biofuels and electrification are potential ways to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport sector, although not without limitations or associated problems. This paper describes a life-cycle analysis (LCA) of the Brazilian urban passenger transport system. The LCA considers various scenarios of a wholesale conversion of car and urban bus fleets to 100% electric or biofuel (bioethanol and biodiesel) use by 2050 compared to a business as usual (BAU) scenario. The LCA includes the following phases of vehicles and their life: fuel use and manufacturing (including electricity generation and land-use emissions), vehicle and battery manufacturing and end of life. The results are presented in terms of CO2, nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, electricity consumption and the land required to grow the requisite biofuel feedstocks. Biofuels result in similar or higher CO2 and air pollutant emissions than BAU, while electrification resulted in significantly lower emissions of all types. Possible limitations found include the amount of electricity consumed by electric vehicles in the electrification scenarios.
Since urban processes need models of possible futures (referred to as travelling concepts) to drive their development, this study investigates whether planned-from-scratch smart city Kashiwa-no-ha International Campus Town Initiative can produce such an image with its smart governance approach, that is combined with an urban living lab. Using geographical governance research in relation to urban development processes as a framework, this master's thesis derives its own definition of the fuzzy concept of smart governance within the smart city vision based on a socio-geographical understanding of space, here referred to as Smart Urban Governance. Additionally, a set of indicators for the operationalisation of Smart Urban Governance is designed and applied to the case study. Methodologically, the thesis pursues a qualitative approach and, in this context, carries out a descriptive and normative governance analysis of Kashiwa-no-ha on the basis of the existing literature and empirical surveys conducted by the author.
In summary, the strong role of academia in the urban planning context of community-building in Kashiwa-no-ha is exemplary and has led to a collaborative code of conduct between the traditional actors, mediated by a public-private-academic partnership, as well as to co-innovation between the city, developers, and citizens in form of a public-private-people partnership. Although the flagship project successfully addresses a large number of the Smart Urban Governance indicators defined in this context, there is potential for improvement, for example, in terms of participation, transparency, inclusion, and public spaces. Since Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City is still in an implementation phase until 2030, the thesis concludes with a forecast and a recommendation for action based on a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis.
Die Studie zeigt interdependente Geschlechteraspekte von Klimapolitik sowie Wirkweisen und Chancen zur Verbesserung von Geschlechtergerechtigkeit auf. In ihr leitet ein interdisziplinäres Forschungsteam Grundsätze zur Einbeziehung von Geschlechtergerechtigkeit in Klimaschutz und -anpassung ab, analysiert bestehende Programme auf ihre Genderrelevanz hin und gibt konkrete Politikempfehlungen z. B. zum Klimaschutzgesetz und Gender Aktionsplänen. Wichtige Erkenntnisse ergeben sich auch für Methoden, Daten und Forschungsbedarfe. Schließlich werden Empfehlungen zu Finanzierungs- und Förderaspekten sowie Wissensverbreitung und Kompetenzstärkung gegeben und ein an den Klimabereich angepasstes Instrument zur gleichstellungsorientierten Folgenabschätzung (Gender Impact Assessment) vorgestellt.
Integrated assessment models (IAMs) are commonly used by decision makers in order to derive climate policies. IAMs are currently based on climate-economics interactions, whereas the role of social system has been highlighted to be of prime importance on the implementation of climate policies. Beyond existing IAMs, we argue that it is therefore urgent to increase efforts in the integration of social processes within IAMs. For achieving such a challenge, we present some promising avenues of research based on the social branches of economics. We finally present the potential implications yielded by such social IAMs.
Much of the current literature on climate clubs sees mitigation costs creating free rider incentives as the main problem of climate policy. Climate clubs are supposed to solve this problem by creating additional incentives for mitigation. Looking more in detail, one sees that the situation differs from sector to sector. Some industry sectors indeed have substantial cost and competitiveness issues. In others such as electricity and transport, there are costs at micro level but balance for economy and society as a whole is rather positive. International climate policy in general and clubs in particular should therefore be tailored to sectoral specifics.
The new mechanism defined under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement is supposed to allow for international cooperation with regard to climate change mitigation and thereby enable an increase in overall mitigation. Nevertheless, the design of the mechanism under Article 6.4 should also make sure that it is not be in conflict with the long-term goal of net-zero GHG emissions but even better foster national pathways leading to this objective. Building this into the mechanism requires to shift the focus from short- and mid-term considerations to the long-term perspective in one way or another.
This discussion paper explores three different approaches that may help to foster the long-term objective of net-zero GHG emissions in the operationalization of Article 6.4, namely positive and negative lists, additionality with regard to a baseline consistent with both, NDCs and long-term targets, as well as adaptation of existing instruments and criteria from climate finance. The detailed discussion of the ap-proaches shows that the approaches should not be seen as mutually exclusive but rather as comple-mentary to each other. From the analyses, two storylines emerge how to combine aspects of the differ-ent approaches in a reasonable way to foster the long-term objective of net-zero GHG emissions under Article 6.4.
Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement explicitly acknowledges the need to incentivize and facilitate the participation of private entities in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), private sector actors had already the opportunity to participate in a new and fast-growing market. However, they faced numerous challenging investment barriers. The study provides an overview on key factors and barriers determining private sector participation in Article 6 mechanisms. It distinguishes between the three topics demand side factors, rules and standards for market mechanisms, and supply side factors and provides for each of them options to mitigate or overcome barriers.
In a short analysis, it further explores three of the identified options:
- Improving the design and support of national systems and capacities is an important pre-requisite for the private sector to be able to generate and sell ITMOs
- The up-scaling of mitigation activities e. g. through (sub-) sector level crediting, and policy crediting helps private sector actors to benefit from economies of scale
- Exploring the potential of digitization of measuring, reporting and verification (MRV), e. g. the use of sensors, internet of things, artificial intelligence and blockchain to make the project cycle more efficient and reduce transaction costs.
Overall, the report stresses the importance of host country readiness to provide the private sector with a robust and trusted environment that allows for the adoption of Article 6 mechanisms.
Stadt- und Verkehrsplanung ist über Jahrzehnte dem Paradigma autogerechter Städte gefolgt. Damit bilden die gebaute Infrastruktur und die bestehenden Regeln noch das überkommene Leitbild der autogerechten Stadt ab. Dies macht das Auto heute immer noch so attraktiv - und diese Attraktivität zu verändern, ist eine schwierige Aufgabe. Zudem ändern sich Planungsprozesse in der öffentlichen Verwaltung nur langsam. Komplexe Verfahren, Personalengpässe und begrenzte Finanzmittel erschweren eine schnelle Umsetzung zusätzlich.
Diese Hemmnisse aufzubrechen erfordert Überzeugungskraft, Beharrlichkeit und die Fähigkeit, die Menschen in der Stadt von den Vorteilen der Verkehrswende zu überzeugen.
Wie dies gelingen kann, möchte dieser Praxisleitfaden zeigen - mit einer Auswahl von konkreten Maßnahmen, die Kommunen selbst umsetzen können, um die Verkehrswende voranzubringen. Nach einer Darstellung von allgemeinen Strategien und Erfolgsfaktoren geht der Leitfaden in zehn thematischen Kapiteln auf wichtige Handlungsfelder der kommunalen Verkehrswende ein. Er behandelt die Förderung von Radverkehr und ÖPNV ebenso wie übergreifende Konzepte, z. B. eine integrierte Verkehrsplanung oder Maßnahmen des Mobilitätsmanagements. In jedem Beitrag werden erfolgreiche Praxisbeispiele aus größeren oder kleineren Kommunen und Regionen dargestellt, um interkommunales Lernen zu ermöglichen und einen Ausblick auf die Möglichkeiten der Verkehrswende zu geben.
Energy service companies (ESCOs) play crucial role in building energy efficiency retrofit sector. However limited access to green financing has prevented ESCOs in their expansions in China. This paper, based on a survey of 469 samples and on-site visiting to and interviewing relevant 50 actors of ESCOs, financial institutions and local housing authorities, identifies main barriers of accessing to green financing at both systemic policy level and operational meso and micro level in China, and analyzes good practices at local level that overcome the barriers. The paper concludes that, although there are barriers existing at the policy level in China, substantial attentions and priorities should be given to take actions for overcoming the barriers existed at the operational meso and micro level. The paper suggests that the good practices of capacity building for ESCOs and local financial sector, intensifying participation of intermediate organizations or facilitators and diversifying financial sources and funding mechanisms and models that emerge from the local level should be disseminated in China.
Kommunen und kommunale Unternehmen können ihre Vorbildfunktion in einer integrierten Stadt- und Verkehrsplanung nutzen, indem sie die Elektrifizierung ihrer Flotte an leichten Nutzfahrzeugen voranbringen. Das kann die Treibhausgasemissionen und Stickstoffdioxidemissionen mindern und einer nachhaltigen Verkehrsentwicklung dienen. Klimaschutz durch Minderung der Kohlendioxidemissionen und Gesundheitsschutz durch Minderung der Stickstoffdioxidemissionen sind zwei zentrale Gründe für eine Flottenwende - auch bei den leichten Nutzfahrzeugen.
Das Vorhaben analysiert 1.) die Argumente verschiedener Positionen im Wachstumsdiskurs und formuliert eine idealtypische "vorsorgeorientierte Postwachstumsposition". Er präsentiert zudem Ursachen von Wirtschaftswachstum und identifiziert gesellschaftliche Bereiche, deren Funktion vom Wirtschaftswachstum abhängen könnte. Darüber hinaus werden Reformvorschläge diskutiert, um diese Wachstumsabhängigkeit zu verringern. Das Vorhaben untersucht 2.) die Relevanz der Postwachstumsdebatte für Ressourcenpolitik und eine entsprechende Instrumentierung. Außerdem werden 3.) konstitutive Kernelemente einer nachhaltigen (Postwachstums-)Gesellschaft bestimmt. Das Vorhaben setzt damit Impulse zur gesellschaftlichen Debatte über die Ausgestaltung und Instrumentierung von Transformationspfaden für "gesellschaftliches Wohlergehen innerhalb planetarer Grenzen".
Fully decarbonising global power supply is essential to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. A wide range of inter- and transnational governance institutions exist that work towards the transformation of the power sector. But are these governance efforts sufficient to address the challenges? To address this question the article first identifies governance needs on the basis of systemic sector-specific transformation challenges and discusses the potential for international governance to address them. Second, the paper surveys existing inter- and transnational institutions and assess to what extent they exploit the potential of international governance. The analysis shows that many of the governance needs are already being satisfied to some extent, particularly with respect to the deployment of renewable energy. It also shows that a significant blind spot remains: the phase-out of fossil fuels for electricity generation. The detailed analysis enables us to identify options for enhancing the governance landscape.
While the Paris Agreement (PA) has enshrined ambitious long-term objectives, the current actions of the Parties to the Agreement fall far short of these goals. The Global Stocktake (GST), established in Art. 14 of the PA, may help narrow this gap between ambition and action: its purpose is to review the implementation of the PA and to assess the collective progress of the international community towards Paris goals. While some general modalities on how to conduct the GST have been adopted, the details are still to be determined.
The objective of this report is to analyze existing international regimes as regards their review processes, the contribution of these review processes to various governance functions and, finally, to derive lessons for the GST. Processes analyzed include:
the design of the upcoming Global Stocktake itself,
the Talanoa Dialogue (TD) which is the direct precursor of the GST,
the Agenda 2030 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), which features a regular stocktaking process focused on progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
the review processes of the UN human rights system (UNHRS) and
the review processes and assessment panels of the Montreal Protocol (MP).
The analysis of each review process is organised in four section: (1) political background and context, (2) technical and organisational details of the processes, (3) interface between the political and technical processes, and (4) how the review processes contribute to achieving the objectives of the respective regime, particularly governance functions of the regime (guidance and signal, transparency and accountability, and knowledge and learning).
Biomass-fueled combined heat and power systems (CHPs) can potentially offer environmental benefits compared to conventional separate production technologies. This study presents the first environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of a novel high-efficiency bio-based power (HBP) technology, which combines biomass gasification with a 199 kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) to produce heat and electricity. The aim is to identify the main sources of environmental impacts and to assess the potential environmental performance compared to benchmark technologies. The use of various biomass fuels and alternative allocation methods were scrutinized. The LCA results reveal that most of the environmental impacts of the energy supplied with the HBP technology are caused by the production of the biomass fuel. This contribution is higher for pelletized than for chipped biomass. Overall, HBP technology shows better environmental performance than heat from natural gas and electricity from the German/European grid. When comparing the HBP technology with the biomass-fueled ORC technology, the former offers significant benefits in terms of particulate matter (about 22 times lower), photochemical ozone formation (11 times lower), acidification (8 times lower) and terrestrial eutrophication (about 26 times lower). The environmental performance was not affected by the allocation parameter (exergy or economic) used. However, the tested substitution approaches showed to be inadequate to model multiple environmental impacts of CHP plants under the investigated context and goal.
The energy system of Jordan is facing a rise in energy demand while at the same time having quite limited own conventional energy resources. Especially because of their high import dependency, Jordan is starting to change its energy system and puts a higher focus on renewable energy (like wind and solar) and energy efficiency.
In this short paper the authors discuss the transformation of energy companies in Germany and highlight the possibilities of energy efficiency services. Furthermore, they examinate the transferability to Jordan, based on the results of a questionnaire among Jordan energy experts. Due to the low level of research knowledge in the specific field, this is an exploratory research approach. The role, challenges and opportunities of Jordan's state-owned National Electric Power Company NEPCO have been highlighted.
Last year's conference of the global climate change regime took place from 2 until 15 December 2019 in Madrid, Spain. Despite marking a new record for overtime in the history of the UNFCCC, the conference did not only fail to meet the increasing public demand for swift and strong climate action, it also failed on its formal mandate to finalise the Paris rulebook. A record number of issues were left unresolved and shelved for the next session. COP25 thereby highlighted how much work still lies ahead both domestically and internationally if 2020 is to see a step-up in climate action that is consistent with the long-term goal of the Paris Agreement.
Creating statistics for China's building energy consumption using an adapted energy balance sheet
(2019)
China's regular energy statistics does not include the building sector, and data on building energy demand is included in other types of energy consumption in the Energy Balance Sheet (EBS). Therefore data on building energy demand is not collected based on statistics, but rather calculated or estimated by various approaches in China. This study aims at developing and testing China's building energy statistics by applying an adapted EBS. The advantage of the adapted EBS is that statistical data is from the regular statistical system and no additional statistical efforts are needed. The research result shows that the adapted EBS can be included in China regular energy statistical system and can be standardized in a transparent way. Testing of the adapted EBS shows that China's building energy demand has shown an annual increase of 7.6% since 2001, and a lower contribution to the total energy demand as compared to the developed world. There is also a close link to lifestyle and living standard while industrial energy demand is mainly driven by economy and decoupling of building energy demand with increasing of building floor area, this is due to a considerable improvement of building energy efficiency. The adapted EBS creates a method for China conducting statistics of building energy consumption at the sector level in a uniform way and serves as the basis for any sound building energy efficiency policy decisions.
Urbane Räume sehen sich verschiedenen ökologischen, sozialen und ökonomischen Herausforderungen gegenüber, für deren Bewältigung es unter anderem neue bzw. veränderte Handlungs- und Planungsansätze bedarf. Der Klimawandel mit seinen räumlich wirksamen Folgewirkungen ist eine der zentralen ökologischen Herausforderungen des 21. Jahrhunderts. Städte sind dabei sowohl Verursacher des Klimawandels als auch Betroffene. Sie sind Wohnort, Heimat, Arbeits- und Produktionsstätte. Durch ihre hohe Bevölkerungsdichte und durch die Agglomeration ökonomischen Kapitals sind Städte aber auch stark durch Extremereignisse wie Starkniederschläge und Hitzeperioden gefährdet. Grüne Infrastrukturen können daher nicht nur eine Strategie sein, um sich gegen die Klimawandelfolgen anzupassen, sondern bieten gleichzeitig das Potenzial für neue Lebensräume, um so das Artensterben zu mindern bzw. zu stoppen. Die vorliegende Konzeptstudie widmet sich der Frage, wie Straßen im Sinne des genannten Zieldreiecks weiterentwickelt und gestaltet werden können, d.h. wie eine Transformation urbaner Quartiersstraßen hin zu "lebenswerten" Stadt- und Straßenräumen erfolgen kann.
On September 17, 2019, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager allowed the electricity company Eon to take over and break up RWE subsidiary Innogy under lenientconditions. But there are numerous experts who have a different opinion and argue that the EU Commission approval is a "decision of enormous importance" that will "fundamentally change the entire sector". The result of this decision is that this mega-deal creates two monolithic giants in the German energy sector with unprecedented market power. If one compares the situation with the purchase of the electricity supplier Nuon by Vattenfall in 2009, questions arise. Back then, the competition authorities forced Vattenfall to divest parts of Nuon's business in individual cities, which resulted in the supplier "lekker energie". Following this example, the competition authorities should have consistently forced Eon to sell parts of the business, such as larger distribution companies.
A transaction of this magnitude should always be viewed critically in competition law. The legitimate question therefore arises as to why the German and European competition authorities (the Federal Cartel Office, the Federal Network Agency, the Monopolies Commission and the European Competition Commission) faced this deal with barely audible criticism and why they did not react with far-reaching prohibition requirements. "Competition doubts are certainly justified". Because if the two largest German energy groups completely eliminate each other's competition and completely divide up their business areas among themselves, this will have far-reaching consequences for the energy sector. Especially against the background that the energy transition in Germany has so far been characterised by decentralised structures and civic participation (especially in the case of electricity generation from renewable energies). In this paper, the authors will demonstrate what this Eon/RWE deal means for competition and the energy transition.
Global climate
(2020)
The annual Climate Change Conference took place on 2-15 December in Katowice, Poland. It included the twenty-fourth Conference of the Parties (COP-24) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the fourteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP-14), the resumed first Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (MOP-1), and their subsidiary bodies. The conference had two main objectives: operationalizing the Paris Agreement by adopting detailed rules for its implementation and starting the process of strengthening the parties' climate protection contributions.
It has been widely recognized that there is an urgent need for more sustainable urban transport policy and planning. To understand ambitious policy approaches, "relatively successful" cities are regularly subject of analyses. This paper also focuses on relatively successful cities - by reviewing the application documents of the winner cities of the European Green Capital Award (EGCA). Award schemes not only aim to reward leading participants, but likewise aim to contribute to knowledge transfer and the dissemination of good practice examples to non-participants. So far award schemes and good practice approaches have received limited attention by research. This paper reviews and analyses the application forms of the EGCA winning cities to learn about ambitious policy approaches to sustainable and climate-friendly urban transport.
Gerechter Strukturwandel ist ein von den Gewerkschaften entwickeltes Konzept, das die Notwendigkeit einer ökologisch und sozial nachhaltigen Dekarbonisierung hervorhebt. Diese Masterarbeit wendet das Konzept auf den Braunkohleausstieg in Deutschland an. Der Erfolg des Übergangs hängt davon ab, ob er als gerecht empfunden wird. Den benachteiligten Gruppen im Strukturwandel muss eine Perspektive gegeben werden, um Akzeptanz für den Strukturwandel zu schaffen.
Im Rahmen der Masterarbeit werden politische Maßnahmen für eine Governance des "Gerechten Strukturwandels" entwickelt. Die Arbeit basiert auf einer Fallstudie, die von Mai bis Juli 2019 im rheinischen Braunkohlerevier durchgeführt wurde. Methodisch wurde die Anwendung von semi-strukturierten Interviews gewählt. Insgesamt wurden sechs Expertinnen und Experten-Interviews mit Bürgerinitiativen, Gewerkschaften und Vertreterinnen und Vertreter des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen ausgewertet.
Die Ergebnisse belegen die Notwendigkeit politischer Maßnahmen in verschiedenen Bereichen, zum Beispiel: Während Beschäftigten der etablierten Unternehmen der Braunkohleindustrie der Übergang durch eine Reihe von Politikmaßnahmen erleichtert wird, müssen Beschäftigte in Subunternehmen den Strukturwandel weitestgehend alleine bewältigen. Letztere sind einem hohen Risiko ausgesetzt, aufgrund des Braunkohleausstiegs ihre Arbeitsplätze zu verlieren. Weiterhin zeigten die Befragungen, dass Boden im rheinischen Braunkohlerevier zu einer knappen Ressource werden könnte. Infolge des Braunkohleabbaus in der Region befindet sich ein großer Teil des Bodens im Eigentum des Energieversorgers RWE, der das Land durch bergrechtliche Enteignung erhalten hat. Wenn das Land nicht an die Kommunen zurückgegeben wird, wird eine unabhängige wirtschaftliche Neuausrichtung der Region nach dem Kohleabbau wesentlich erschwert.
Aus dem Akteurzentrierten Institutionalismus werden Governance-Ansätze abgeleitet, die Lösungsansätze für diese Problemfelder bieten. Die Masterarbeit zeigt unter anderem, wie eine für die Partizipation notwendige Verteilung von Ressourcen einen Gerechten Strukturwandel befördern kann und warum ein integratives regionales Entwicklungskonzept des Landes NRW einer reinen wirtschaftlichen Förderung der Region vorgezogen werden sollte.
Klimaneutralität wird im Zuge des Pariser Klimaabkommens zur politischen Zielgröße. Die Nationalstaaten, die das Abkommen unterzeichnet haben, müssen regeln, wie sie das Ziel erreichen möchten. Das deutsche Klimaschutzgesetz unterscheidet dabei zwischen "klimaneutral" und "treibhausgasneutral". Das kann zu Missverständnissen führen, kann aber auch sinnvoll sein.
Mixed-method research to foster energy efficiency investments by small private landlords in Germany
(2020)
The decarbonisation of the building stock is an important element for the success of the German Energiewende (energy transition). Despite some progress having been made, the rate of energy renovation falls below the level required to meet political commitments. This gives rise to the question: what deters property owners from making energy efficiency investments and how can the policy framework foster such investments? To answer this question, the paper focuses on a widely neglected property owner group: small private landlords (SPL). Although they manage 37% of all residential rental properties in Germany, very little is known about their decision-making processes for energy efficiency investments. We applied a mixed-method design to identify factors that hindered and supported their investments. In an explorative study, we initially conducted 18 problem-centred interviews. Subsequently, we carried out a postal survey and analysed the questionnaires using a hierarchical linear regression model. The results show that energy renovation is a multi-dimensional decision-making process, which can only be adequately addressed by a comprehensive policy package. To develop such a package, the author recommends that the specific investment behaviour of SPL must be better targeted, their knowledge about energy efficiency investments must be improved through exchange and networking, a sense of responsibility for the neighbourhood must be fostered, and greater focus must be placed on improving local framework conditions
Climate researchers agree that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions significantly contribute to climate change, and that radical measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of no longer avoidable climate change are needed. The German Federal Government with its Climate Protection Plan 2050 reinforced its target to reduce Germany's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95 percent compared with 1990. The achievement of these targets requires nothing less than a fundamental transformation of spatial planning.
In the paper a methodology to scientifically assess the likely impacts of possible combinations of policies or strategies to achieve the energy transition, i.e. to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of urban mobility and transport is proposed and demonstrated, using the Ruhr Area, the largest conurbation in Germany, as an example.
The results of the policies examined so far can be summarised as follows: Push measures as high energy prices, speed limits or reduction of the number of lanes of main roads are more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions than pull measures as the promotion of cycling, walking, electric cars or public transport. Between policies or policy packages there can be positive or negative synergies, i.e. the impacts of measures can reinforce or weaken each other. The results show that even with ambitious policies the greenhouse gas emission targets of the national and state governments will not be achieved and that more radical policies are needed.
In the light of Germany's chosen path towards the energy transition, the regulatory framework has changed considerably. New players have succeeded in entering the market, and renewable energies have become increasingly competitive. Greater electrification of the transport and heating sectors will be needed in the future to achieve national climate targets. Against this background, Germany's big energy companies need to be sure that their sales will increase. However, they were unable to anticipate this development, and made strategic mistakes in the past. The development of sustainable business models in line with the energy transition failed to materialize. Now it is becoming increasingly clear that companies must create new business models to survive in the long term. These business models have to keep with the tradition, whilst meeting the needs of low-carbon power supplies. In this paper, we will examine the past and future challenges of the four energy companies and develop a proposal for evaluating sustainable business models. For this purpose, we use the multi-level perspective to categorize developments in the electricity market over the last 50 years, and then apply a multi-criteria analysis to derive five suitable business models from the results.
Der Eon/RWE-Deal : Marktbeherrschung und Shareholder Value-Politik mit behördlicher Zustimmung
(2019)
Am 17. September 2019 hat die EU-Wettbewerbs-Kommissarin Margrethe Vestager dem Stromkonzern Eon die Übernahme und Zerschlagung der RWE-Tochter Innogy unter leichten Auflagen erlaubt. Damit geht eine vollständige Geschäftsfeldaufteilung zwischen den beiden mächtigsten nationalen Energiekonzernen Eon und RWE einher. Während sich Eon auf die Bereiche Vertrieb und Verteilnetzbetrieb konzentrieren wird, übernimmt RWE die konventionellen Kraftwerke des bisherigen Konkurrenten sowie alle Anlagen der erneuerbaren Stromerzeugung. Auch alle vor rund zwei Jahren zunächst an Innogy abgegebenen Anlagen zur Stromerzeugung werden von RWE wieder zurückgeholt. Zudem erhält RWE eine 16,7-prozentige Beteiligung an Eon. Dazu gab das Bundeskartellamt (BKartA) bereits am 26.02.2019 bekannt, dass es diese Beteiligung für unbedenklich hält.
Die Freigabe der EU-Kommission vom September 2019 ist eine "Entscheidung von enormer Tragweite" die den "gesamten Sektor grundlegend verändern" wird. Denn durch diesen Mega-Deal entstehen im deutschen Energiesektor zwei monolithische Giganten mit bisher nie dagewesener Marktmacht.
This report on urban mobility performance measurement is aimed at enabling stake- holders of the city of Bucharest and the public to understand their current urban mobility situation through a point-based results framework. It shall provide the city of Bucharest with a yardstick to measure its performance and benchmark the progress against some of its counterparts. It measures the urban mobility and compares it with 13 other European cities: Berlin, London, Vienna, Brussels, Moscow, Rome, Zurich, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, Budapest and Madrid.
Similar to many other European cities, Bucharest employs a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) in order to continuously improve urban transport and mobility and to make it more sustainable. In this respect, the report should also be regarded as a document which supports the stakeholders in Bucharest in their efforts to develop transport and mobility in the city more sustainable.
The COMBI project aimed at quantifying the multiple non-energy benefits of energy efficiency in the EU-28 area and incorporate those multiple impacts into decision-support frameworks for policy-making. Therefore, all multiple impacts of energy efficiency are analysed from an overall societal view in the project. The COMBI policy recommendations resulting from the evaluation outcomes are presented in this report.
COMBI draws on a reference scenario until the year 2030 including existing policies. By modelling 21 sets of "energy efficiency improvement" (EEI) actions, a second efficiency scenario was modelled amounting to additional energy savings of around 8% p.a. in 2030, and that is comparable to the EUCO+33 to EUCO+35 scenario. All figures quantified by COMBI relate to additional values, i.e. additional impacts resulting from additional EEI actions beyond the reference scenario as a consequence of additional policies. The project quantified in total 31 individual impact indicators with appropriate state-of-the-art models.
Any energy efficiency impact evaluation can be done from different analytical perspectives, e.g. the investor/end-user perspective, program administrator perspective or the societal perspective. COMBI applies the "societal perspective", as this is most relevant for policy-making. COMBI draws on a reference scenario until the year 2030 including existing (partially already ambitious) policies. By modelling 21 sets of "energy efficiency improvement" (EEI) actions, a second efficiency scenario was modelled amounting to additional energy savings of around 8% p.a. in 2030, that is comparable to the EUCO+33 to EUCO+35 scenario. This D2.7 quantification report summarises the quantification approaches applied in the COMBI project and main project findings. It therefore draws on other COMBI reports that contain this information in greater detail in order to summarise quantifications.
The report is structured in three main sections: 1. The COMBI approach and methods, explaining key methodological approaches both for individual impact quantifications and for the aggregation of impacts 2. Quantification results, giving an overview on main figures of quantified indicators and 3. Insights from cross-impact analysis, which gives a comparison between monetised impacts and presents their use for Cost-Benefit calculations in the COMBI online tool.
Die Dekarbonisierung des deutschen Wohngebäudebestandes stellt einen wichtigen Baustein zum Gelingen der Energiewende dar. Politisches Ziel ist ein "nahezu klima-neutraler" Gebäudebestand bis 2050. Trotz Erfolgen in der Vergangenheit und eines umfangreichen Policy-Mix verbleibt die energetische Sanierungstätigkeit sowohl hinichtlich der Sanierungstiefe als auch der Sanierungsbreite unterhalb des politisch geforderten und ökologisch notwendigen Maßes. Die Arbeit widmet sich daher der Frage, unter welchen individuellen und quartiersbezogenen Rahmenbedingungen Immobilieneigentümer energetische Sanierungsmaßnahmen durchführen und wie die energetische Sanierungstätigkeit durch Multi-Level-Governance gesteigert werden kann. Die Analyse erfolgt fallstudienbasiert für die Eigentümergruppe der privaten Kleinvermieter, die rund 37 Prozent des deutschen Wohnungsbestandes bewirtschaften. Anhand eines mixed method-Ansatzes wird zunächst durch problemzentrierte Interviews ein Modell zur Beschreibung des Investitionsentscheidungsprozesses entwickelt, was anschließend durch eine schriftlich-postalische Befragung und ihre regressions-analytische Auswertung bewertet wird. Durch die Triangulation können förderliche und hemmende Einflussfaktoren identifiziert werden. Aufbauend auf den theoretischen Vorüberlegungen sowie den empirischen Ergebnissen werden anschließend politische Handlungsempfehlungen abgeleitet.
Comprehensive framework on asset management of transportation networks and resilience planning
(2018)
The need for sustainable energy management at the municipal level is growing, in order to meet EU climate goals. Multiple initiatives have been launched to support municipalities in energy planning and strategy development process. Despite available support, research shows mixed results about implementation of plans and strategies. This research paper analyses what targets municipalities set, how they monitor implementation of their sustainable energy action plans (SEAPs) and searches for the most important factors that have enabled or hindered the implementation of local SEAPs at Latvia. The article shows that, in some cases, there is evidence that SEAP development is a project-based activity, supported by external experts. From municipal personnel point of view, it is a project that ends with approved SEAP, but not a part of their future daily routine. Eventually implementation of the plan is difficult, because municipalities lack experience in daily management of energy data, distribution of responsibilities and implementation of procedures. Municipalities also tend to exclude important stakeholders in their SEAPs, like, private sector, household sector and transport sector, which lead to lower targets and lower achievements in GHG reduction.
In the context of the German-Korean Energy Policy Dialogue, integration of renewable power sources and smart grids have been identified as topics with high relevance. This study aims to support mutual learning and exploration of new fields for collaboration by identifying similarities and differences in the respective status quos, strategies and policies in both countries.
After a short introduction to the South Korean energy situation, Chapter 2 provides an overview of the South Korean power market, its situation regarding renewable power sources and the Korean definition of smart grids. Chapter 3 of this study highlights the major South Korean energy strategies and regulatory frameworks relevant to integration of renewable energies and smart grids. In Chapter 4, the status and perspectives of renewable energy sources integration and smart grids in South Korea are discussed, presenting various demonstrative examples, new business models and the current situation of technology deployment. Chapter 5 puts South Korea in the global context and compares it to Germany. Finally, Chapter 6 draws conclusions and presents recommendations on suitable areas for mutual learning.
While the Paris Agreement (PA) has enshrined ambitious long-term objectives, the current level of action of the Parties to the Agreement falls far short of this ambition, as is recognised in the very COP decision adopting the Agreement. The Global Stocktake (GST) established in Art. 14 of the PA is a key element to address this problem. Its purpose is to review the implementation of the PA and to assess the progress made towards the collectively agreed goals.
The aim of this report is to develop recommendations on how to maximise the potential impact of the GST. The report starts from a perspective of what the GST could ideally do, irrespective of decisions already taken under the UNFCCC and other political constraints. In the second step, the report takes these limitations into account and suggests ways for how to nonetheless work towards the desired outcome.
Diese Studie untersucht Notwendigkeiten und Möglichkeiten, Wasserstoff und Strom zu nutzen, um den Verkehrssektor in Deutschland perspektivisch zu dekarbonisieren. Basis der Untersuchung ist das Dekarbonisierungsszenario des Wuppertal Instituts von 2017, welches den Verkehrssektor Deutschlands unter der Maßgabe dekarbonisiert, dass Deutschland einen adäquaten Beitrag dazu leistet, den Klimawandel auf 1,5 °C mittlere Temperaturerhöhung gegenüber dem vorindustriellen Zeitalter zu begrenzen.
Das Dekarbonisierungsszenario nimmt eine ambitionierte Verkehrswende an, um dieses Politikziel zu erreichen. Es zeichnet sich durch eine besonders effiziente Mobilität aus, indem es umfangreiche Vermeidungs- und Verlagerungsmaßnahmen vorsieht und dadurch der Energieverbrauch besonders gering bleiben kann. Dennoch werden selbst in diesem Klimaschutzszenario signifikante Mengen erneuerbaren Stroms für den Verkehrssektor benötigt.
Es findet eine möglichst "direkte Elektrifizierung" statt, also ein Strombezug von batterie-elektrischen Pkw aus dem Netz, sowie über Oberleitungen für die Schiene und für große Lkw auf Bundesautobahnen. Es ist aber auch eine "indirekte Elektrifizierung" nötig, indem aus erneuerbarem Strom unter der Hinnahme von Wirkungsgradverlusten Wasserstoff (H2) und als Folgeprodukt auch synthetische Kraftstoffe hergestellt werden. Diese strombasierten Produkte werden im Dekarbonisierungsszenario für große Pkw und Lkw verwendet.
Die vorliegende Studie berechnet zusätzlich den H2- bzw. PtX-Bedarf des internationalen Flug- und Seeverkehrs. Sie bestimmt außerdem das Lastprofil für eine ungesteuerte Ladung von Elektro-Pkw im Zieljahr. Die Berechnungen verdeutlichen, dass die Dekarbonisierung des Verkehrssektors in Zukunft sehr viel stärker mit dem Stromsystem wechselwirkt. Für Klimaschutz im Verkehr bedarf es neben einer drastischen Energieverbrauchssenkung und einem beschleunigten Ausbau erneuerbarer Energien auch die Infrastruktur für Strom und strombasierte Produkte.
Theoretical advances suggest that international governance in general and the Paris Agreement in particular provide a strong signal guiding sociotechnical systems toward decarbonization. We assess this signal and its effects empirically, by examining the struggle of competing narratives as present in the communications of leading US fossil fuel industry associations and companies. The results are then discussed in the context of the national and international climate and energy policy debates in a study period from late 2014 until the announcement of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in June 2017. We find that the Paris Agreement has institutionalized a narrative paradigm that is surprisingly resilient. While the election of Donald Trump and his climate and energy policy led to a narrative shift in the coal industry, the oil and gas industry remained conspicuously silent in its immediate response and maintained its narrative strategies despite its alignment with the Paris Agreement.
This study focuses on smart grids and integration of renewable energy sources in Japan. It first elaborates on the current status of the Japanese power market, its electricity grid, and the trends taking place which result in the need for smart grids. It proceeds with strategic and legislative framework setting relevant for smart grids and renewables, and with current status of smart grids and renewables. Further, it focuses on relevant stakeholders, new business models, and public acceptance relevant for smart grids and renewables. It then puts the Japanese developments in international context and, where possible, compares it to Germany. Lastly, it derives recommendations and identifies where Japanese and German policymakers, regulators and private sector stakeholders might profit from closer collaboration.
In der öffentlichen Diskussion rücken die Konsequenzen der notwenigen Klimaschutzmaßnahmen sowie damit verbundene Kosten in den Fokus und entfalten ihre Sprengkraft. Ökologische, ökonomische und soziale Nachhaltigkeit werden zunehmend gegeneinander in Stellung gebracht. Häufig wird Klimaschutz gegen Wohlstand, wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Arbeitsplätze ausgespielt.
Mit der von der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung beim Wuppertal Institut in Auftrag gegebenen Studie entlarven die Autorinnen und Autoren "unheilige Allianzen", verbreitete Mythen und interessensgesteuerte Desinformation. Anhand von zehn konkreten Fragestellungen liefern sie eine faktenbasierte Analyse und zeigen, dass eine zukunftsorientierte Energie- und Klimapolitik im Einklang mit Wohlstand und sozialem Fortschritt sehr wohl möglich ist.
The concept of sufficiency - reducing energy uses beyond technical efficiency - is far-reaching and requires a reflection on human needs, energy services, urban structures, social norms, and the role of policies to support the shift towards lower-energy societies. In recent years, a growing body of literature has been published on energy sufficiency in various disciplines. However, there has been limited exchanges and cooperation among researchers so far, hindering the visibility and impact of this research. This paper presents an assessment of where sufficiency research stands, especially in the perspective of policy-making. It is the first overview paper issued in the context of the newly-founded ENOUGH network - International network for sufficiency research & policy, established in 2017. In the first part, we provide a condensed literature review on energy sufficiency, based on dozens of recent references collected through the network. Through four main themes (the nature of sufficiency, the challenges of modelling it, the barriers to its diffusion, and the approaches to foster it), we summarise the key issues and approaches. We then present what the scholars themselves see as the priorities for future research, promising sufficiency policy options, and key barriers that research should help overcome. We collected their views through a questionnaire completed by more than 40 knowledgeable authors and experts from various disciplines. We finally build on the previous parts to draw some recommendations on how sufficiency research could increase its impact, notably in relation to policy-making.
In vielen deutschen Städten sinken die verkehrsbedingten CO2-Emissionen kaum und vor allem die Belastungen durch Luftschadstoffe aus dem Straßenverkehr sind weiterhin sehr hoch. Deshalb beklagt die Deutsche Umwelthilfe inzwischen über 30 Städte in Deutschland, um durch Fahrverbote für Dieselfahrzeuge das Recht der Menschen auf saubere Atemluft durchzusetzen. Daher suchen die Kommunen zunehmend Wege, die verkehrsbedingten Emissionen zu senken. Dabei kommt kommunalen Flottenbetreibern eine besondere Rolle zu. Sie stehen besonders unter Handlungsdruck, weil durch ein Fahrverbot für Dieselfahrzeuge diese nur noch sehr eingeschränkt eingesetzt werden könnten.
"Politisches Engagement ist wichtiger als privater Konsumverzicht", meint Michael Kopatz. Moralische Appelle machen nur schlechte Stimmung, ändern aber nicht unsere Routine. Wie erfolgreich Protest sein kann, zeigt aktuell die Fridays for Future-Bewegung, die für neue, der Situation angemessene Strukturen kämpft, statt für persönliche Verhaltensänderungen. Kopatz fordert die Politik auf, ihrer Verantwortung gerecht zu werden und intelligente Standards und Limits zu setzen - damit "Öko" zur Routine wird und die erhobenen Zeigefinger verschwinden.
This Topic Guide aims to provide answers to the question: "How can transport products, services and works be delivered sustainably?". Public procurement accounts for about 19% of the European Union's GDP and thus is a powerful lever to support the transition of urban mobility. The purchasing power of municipalities and regions can create a critical demand for innovative and green goods, services and business models such as low emission vehicles or shared mobility solutions. Public procurement can increase their competitiveness and availability, and thus trigger the market penetration of innovative products and services. The Guide discusses the general concept of sustainable public procurement, the legislative environment in the EU and leads through the different stages of a procurement process for SUMP (Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning) measures in a stepwise approach. It also discusses different inherent principles of sustainable public procurement in the field of urban mobility such as life cycle costing and how these can be applied. In so doing, it points to relevant further guidance discussing specific issues and concepts.
The transformation of urban mobility systems causes financial costs for the procurement and operation of innovative products and services and for the adaptation of existing infrastructure. While public budgets are limited, investments in infrastructure and transport services compete against other spending priorities, and private investors often are reluctant to invest into sustainable transport projects. Thus, cities need to seek additional funding and financing options and to develop business models to attract private sector investments in the development of the urban transport system. Moreover, financing schemes should cover the entire SUMP (Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning) cycle, starting from planning, to project implementation and procurement up to the operation and maintenance of services and infrastructures.
This requires the blending of different revenue sources, including:
project related revenue sources such as public transport fares and the lease of advertising space in buses;
the extension of the local tax base, for example through the introduction of road user charges and parking fees or the use of value capture mechanisms;
National, bilateral, and European grants;
Debt financing through loans and other instruments such as issuing green bonds. Finally, a prudential engagement of the private sector in infrastructure development and service provision can reduce the direct burden on public budgets while enhancing service quality. The applicability of specific financing options critically depends on the national legislative environment. Many of the instruments and case examples presented here may not be transferred to other Member States due to the different distribution of responsibilities and powers between the political levels in the Member States. This report, however, can inspire the search for potential funding and financing sources and is therefore aimed not only at local and regional authorities but also at decisionmakers at the national level. Still, whether a specific instrument can be used in a Member State needs to be assessed on a case-by-case base.
This report explores the future role of the voluntary carbon market and its potential to contribute to raising the ambition of climate policy. For this purpose, desk research was complemented by interviews with voluntary carbon market representatives. The report finds that the current roles of the voluntary market are set to change fundamentally due to the Paris Agreement. For the future of the voluntary market as an investor, three roles were identified, each of which is associated with specific challenges: The market may maintain its current role of buyer of carbon neutrality credits, it may become a supporter of NDC implementation, or it may become a driver of ambition. With regard to the future role of private certification standards, the Paris Agreement may hold the possibility of using such standards in the context of compliance activities. Overall, the findings indicate that the voluntary market has some potential to contribute to ambition raising. Whether this potential will actually be unlocked depends on how the concept of ambition raising will be operationalized under the Paris Agreement and to what degree it can be integrated into the voluntary market's activities and business models.
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement establishes mechanisms for Parties to "pursue voluntary cooperation in the implementation of their nationally determined contributions to allow for higher ambition in their mitigation and adaptation actions [...]" (Article 6.1). I. e. the mechanisms are explicitly designed to foster higher ambition. However, without additional guidance and rules, the economic incentives of carbon markets may work against increasing host country ambition. For example, setting ambitious NDC targets may directly reduce the amount of mitigation outcomes that go beyond the NDC target and that a host country can transfer abroad. The report presents four options on how the risks can be ad-dressed and ambition can be increased: (1) Strengthening reporting, transparency and comparability; (2) Reconciling the design of the Article 6.4 mechanism with ambition raising of host countries; (3) Supporting the host country to raise ambition through the Article 6.4 mechanism; (4) Fostering the acquiring country to raise ambition through the Article 6.4 mechanism. These options are assessed and recommendations are provided on how they could be implemented.
Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement establishes a new mechanism for Parties to cooperate in achieving their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). One key innovation of the Article 6.4 mechanism is its objective to "deliver an overall mitigation in global emissions" (Art. 6.4(d)). This report develops recommendations on how to implement this objective. A key difficulty lies in the fact that even basics of how the mechanism is supposed to function have so far not been clarified by the Parties. The report therefore first sketches out what has so far been agreed and discussed on the mechanism’s activity cycle. Second, as the concept of overall mitigation has so far also not been clearly defined by Parties, the report derives a working definition from the language that was agreed in the Paris Agreement. In the next step, the report provides a survey of the options to achieve overall mitigation that have so far been discussed in the relevant literature and in the Article 6 negotiations. Many of these options were developed in the context of the Kyoto mechanisms. The report therefore discusses to what extent the options are also applicable under the Paris Agreement or whether adjustments need to be made. In the following, the options that are applicable under the Agreement are assessed on the basis of a number of criteria. The report concludes with a summary of the main findings and recommendations.
Ein CO2-Preis ist ein zentrales Instrument, um eine umfassende Dekarbonisierung der Wirtschaft zu ermöglichen und zu erleichtern. Sie kann durch verschiedene Instrumente umgesetzt werden, insbesondere in Form einer CO2-Steuer. Es ist jedoch wichtig, dass ein CO2-Preis allein - aufgrund der vielfältigen Hindernisse (einschließlich nicht ökonomischer Hemmnisse) - die sektoralen Ziele und Instrumente nicht ersetzen kann. Vielmehr muss er komplementär zu sektorspezifischen Klimaschutzinstrumenten eingeführt werden. Der Artikel gibt Auskunft darüber, wie ein CO2-Preis konkret und angemessen ausgestaltet werden kann.
Die vorliegende Broschüre fasst die Ergebnisse des dreijährigen Projektes "BMM HOCH DREI - Betriebliches Mobilitätsmanagement im Bergischen Städtedreieck (Remscheid-Solingen-Wuppertal)" für die Praxis zusammen. Die Broschüre stellt den Quartiersansatz vor, beschreibt den Prozess der Beratung und die Entwicklung von Maßnahmen. Als Ergebnis stellt sie die Potenziale für eine Verkehrsverlagerung und den notwendigen Handlungsbedarf für die Praxis dar.
Derzeit befindet sich der zweite Entwurf zum Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG) des Bundeswirtschaftsministeriums und Bundesbauressorts zur Vereinheitlichung des Energieeinsparrechts für Gebäude in den Ressorts in der Abstimmung. Doch der Entwurf fällt weit hinter dem aktuellen klimapolitischen Aufbruch der Großen Koalition zurück und die Vorgaben der Europäischen Union erfüllt er nicht.
Reaching the climate goals for the building sector requires to improve insulation and to increase air tightness of buildings in order to minimize heat loss. To achieve these goals and to prevent risks to the health of occupants and damages to the building fabric due to insufficient removal of pollutants and humidity, broad implementation of Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems is crucial.
Comparable and up to date figures on the market penetration of MVHR systems across the EU are hardly available. However, figures point to only a small share of residential buildings being currently equipped with such systems (cf. Riviere et al. 2009). For the German building stock the figure is estimated to be below 5% (Händel 2011). The paper presents insights into the reasons for the slow diffusion of HRV technologies in the German building stock. It builds on the results of a recently completed research project whose central aim was to identify actor-specific and structural barriers for the diffusion of efficient ventilation systems in apartment buildings and to examine how these barriers can be addressed.
The analysis is based on 40 semi-structured expert interviews with energy consultants, HVAC craftsmen, and housing companies, as well as guided in-depth interviews with private owners of apartment buildings or apartments that were evaluated by means of qualitative content analysis. Based on the collected data, seven barrier categories were identified, each containing a range of single barriers for the diffusion of efficient ventilation systems within the residential building stock.
Results of the analysis were quantitatively validated by means of online surveys and a household survey among 1,008 households. The paper points out interdependencies within the chain of effects leading up to the investment decision of building owners. Furthermore, based on good practice examples identified within the data collection process, it proposes different measures to address these barriers.
Urban energy systems have been commonly considered to be socio-technical systems within the boundaries of an urban area. However, recent literature challenges this notion in that it urges researchers to look at the wider interactions and influences of urban energy systems wherein the socio-technical sphere is expanded to political, environmental and economic realms as well. In addition to the inter-sectoral linkages, the diverse agents and multilevel governance trends of energy sustainability in the dynamic environment of cities make the urban energy landscape a complex one. There is a strong case then for establishing a new conceptualisation of urban energy systems that builds upon these contemporary understandings of such systems. We argue that the complex systems approach can be suitable for this. In this paper, we propose a pilot framework for understanding urban energy systems using complex systems theory as an integrating plane. We review the multiple streams of urban energy literature to identify the contemporary discussions and construct this framework that can serve as a common ontological understanding for the different scholarships studying urban energy systems. We conclude the paper by highlighting the ways in which the framework can serve some of the relevant communities.
The calm before the storm : an assessment of the 23rd Climate Change Conference (COP 23) in Bonn
(2018)
From 6 to 17 November, the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Bonn under the presidency of Fiji. Researchers of the Wuppertal Institute, who attended the conference, have now published an in-depth analysis of the key results of the conference.
The report starts by discussing developments regarding the implementation of the Paris Agreement, in particular the negotiations on the detailed "rulebook" for implementing the Agreement. Other key issues addressed at the conference were the support for countries of the Global South in dealing with the effects of climate change (adaptation and climate finance) and preparation of the first global review of climate action that will take place in December this year. In addition, the report discusses recent developments in the wider world that have an impact on the UNFCCC, in particular the rise of pioneer alliances at the intergovernmental and civil society level.
Although some progress was achieved regarding the rulebook for implementation of the Paris Agreement, no real breakthrough was made. Therefore, quite some diplomatic work and political leadership will be needed this year to make the adoption of the rulebook at COP24 in Katowice (Poland) possible. This will require quite some tailwind from civil society and the media.
The implementation of energy efficiency improvement actions not only yields energy and greenhouse gas emission savings, but also leads to other multiple impacts such as air pollution reductions and subsequent health and eco-system effects, resource impacts, economic effects on labour markets, aggregate demand and energy prices or on energy security. While many of these impacts have been studied in previous research, this work quantifies them in one consistent framework based on a common underlying bottom-up funded energy efficiency scenario across the EU. These scenario data are used to quantify multiple impacts by energy efficiency improvement action and for all EU28 member states using existing approaches and partially further developing methodologies. Where possible, impacts are integrated into cost-benefit analyses. We find that with a conservative estimate, multiple impacts sum up to a size of at least 50% of energy cost savings, with substantial impacts coming from e.g., air pollution, energy poverty reduction and economic impacts.
In 2016, the European Commission presented the Clean Energy for all Europeans Package , comprising legislative proposals to facilitate the clean energy transition within the EU, such as the revised EPBD 2010/31/EU and EED 2012/27/EU.Besides putting energy efficiency first and achieving global leadership in renewable energy, a third goal of the package was to provide a "fair deal to consumers" with "no one left behind"., While in some Member States the issue of energy poverty already was on the political agenda, enabling affordable access to basic energy services for all households and thus reducing energy poverty is now an explicit policy target of the revised EU Directives.
In order to assess and monitor the extent of the issue across the EU and address it by suitable measures, the concept of energy poverty needs to be defined, operationalised and measured. The paper aims to investigate the role of energy poverty indicators for policy making. To do so, it provides an overview on existing measurement approaches.Furthermore, the paper presents the development and current state of energy poverty across the EU using a set of four complementary indicators used by the EU Energy Poverty Observatory. These consensual and expenditure-based indicators are calculated using data from the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions and the Household Budget Survey.
In addition, the paper highlights peculiarities of results on the different indicators, describes persisting issues with regard to their calculation and interpretation against the background of the underlying data base.
Based on the results of this analysis, further necessities of data collection and research are pointed out.
Improvements in energy efficiency have numerous impacts additional to energy and greenhouse gas savings. This paper presents key findings and policy recommendations of the COMBI project ("Calculating and Operationalising the Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Europe").
This project aimed at quantifying the energy and non-energy impacts that a realisation of the EU energy efficiency potential would have in 2030. It covered the most relevant technical energy efficiency improvement actions in buildings, transport and industry.
Quantified impacts include reduced air pollution (and its effects on human health, eco-systems), improved social welfare (health, productivity), saved biotic and abiotic resources, effects on the energy system and energy security, and the economy (employment, GDP, public budgets and energy/EU-ETS prices). The paper shows that a more ambitious energy efficiency policy in Europe would lead to substantial impacts: overall, in 2030 alone, monetized multiple impacts (MI) would amount to 61 bn Euros per year in 2030, i.e. corresponding to approx. 50% of energy cost savings (131 bn Euros).
Consequently, the conservative CBA approach of COMBI yields that including MI quantifications to energy efficiency impact assessments would increase the benefit side by at least 50-70%. As this analysis excludes numerous impacts that could either not be quantified or monetized or where any double-counting potential exists, actual benefits may be much larger.
Based on these findings, the paper formulates several recommendations for EU policy making:
(1) the inclusion of MI into the assessment of policy instruments and scenarios,
(2) the need of reliable MI quantifications for policy design and target setting,
(3) the use of MI for encouraging inter-departmental and cross-sectoral cooperation in policy making to pursue common goals, and
(4) the importance of MI evaluations for their communication and promotion to decision-makers, stakeholders, investors and the general public.
What role do transaction costs play in energy efficiency improvements and how can they be reduced?
(2019)
Ex-ante policy evaluation requires a detailed understanding of how the subjects addressed by the policy react to its implementation. In the context of energy efficiency, policy measures typically aim at influencing investment decisions towards more efficient options.
As has been discussed widely in the context of the "energy efficiency gap", investments in energy efficiency improvements are frequently not conducted even though they seem cost-effective from a simple cost-benefit perspective, where transaction costs have been identified as one important barrier.
While transaction costs have been discussed widely from a conceptional perspective, empirical studies quantifying transaction costs and measures to reduce them are rare. This paper presents approaches, results and insights from a recently completed research project funded by the German Federal Energy Efficiency Center (BfEE), addressing transaction costs in various energy efficiency measures and the role of energy efficiency services to overcome the barrier.
We analyse a set of 11 energy efficiency investments covering private households, public institutions and the industry sector. We gather data on direct investment costs and energy cost savings and provide a detailed analysis of the various barriers and transaction costs associated with the implementation. We then analyse the costs of existing energy efficiency services using data provided by the BfEE. We compare the different cost elements and analyze the potential of energy efficiency services to reduce transaction costs.
We find that the role of transaction costs differs substantially between households, public institutions and companies and that the impact of energy efficiency services on transaction costs needs to be evaluated using different methodological approaches. We conclude that while data availability on disaggregated transaction costs is a major challenge, energy services can reduce transaction costs considerably.
Dieses Wuppertal Paper dient dazu, a) die mögliche Klimaschutzwirkung eines CO2-Preises zu analysieren, allein und im Gesamtpaket von Instrumenten zum Klimaschutz, b) die Möglichkeiten der Mittelverwendung zu analysieren und zu bewerten, c) dadurch den Dschungel der Argumente und Motivationen in den bestehenden Vorschlägen zu lichten und d) aus der Analyse ein Modell zu skizzieren, das den Anforderungen von Klimaschutz und sozialer Gerechtigkeit sowie Erhalt der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit am besten gerecht wird und damit der Bundesregierung als Anregung bei der Entscheidung über Einführung und Ausgestaltung eines CO2-Preises dienen kann.
In dem Papier werden diese Fragen anhand von neun Thesen mit einem abschließenden Fazit ergründet. Daraus wird deutlich:
Ein CO2-Preis kann sektorale Ziele und Instrumente nicht ersetzen. Seine volle Wirkung kann er nur entfalten, wenn er komplementär zu sektorspezifischen Klimaschutzinstrumenten eingeführt wird. Nur wenn für diese Instrumente ein guter Teil der Einnahmen aus der CO2-Steuer eingesetzt wird, sind die Klimaziele erreichbar. Die Ziele werden dadurch mit weitaus geringerem CO2-Preis bei gleichzeitig höheren Kostenentlastungen für Verbraucherinnen und Verbraucher, Unternehmen und sogar die öffentlichen Haushalte erreichbar, als wenn die Politik allein auf einen CO2-Preis setzen würde.
In spite of differences in energy policies and supply, Japan and Germany have to master similar challenges: To reorganize the energy supply system towards - in the long term - being reliable, affordable, low in risks and resource use, and climate-neutral. At the same time, the ecological modernization should maintain or even strengthen international competitiveness. To better address these challenges, a bi-national expert council has been established between the two high-tech countries in 2016 - the GJETC.
The aim of the GJETC is to show that despite different starting points, a national energy transition can be more successful, if both countries learn from their strengths and also weaknesses, to avoid the latter. If the implementation of an energy transition in the two countries is socially and economically sound and advances technology innovation and deployment, it may not only double success, but can also serve as blue prints for other countries, especially due to learning from similarities and differences. For example: Why is per capita energy consumption higher in transport in Germany, but energy intensity higher in Japan's building sector? How can variable renewable energies be integrated in an efficient energy system at lowest costs?
The Council meets twice a year, holds stakeholder dialogues and outreach events, and prepares policy papers on strategic topics of mutual interest. Four comprehensive studies, each in cooperation of a German and a Japanese research institute, have been the basis for 15 joint key recommendations during the 1st phase. The 2nd phase to 2020 will study the role of hydrogen and digitalisation for the energy transition, as well as other topics. The paper presents the findings and recommendations of the GJETC of the first phase 2016-18 as well as first results of the second phase. It also reviews the setup of the GJETC and the way it works, to assess if and how it can serve as a role model of bilateral cooperation on the energy transition.
Europe needs a new vision of progress. An energy transition has this potential. It can give the "European idea" a future-oriented content. The goal for 2050 is clear: a Europe without fossil and nuclear energy! This is not a utopia. Studies, resolutions of the EU and some member states prove that this vision is feasible and has many advantages: more jobs, more security of supply, fewer premature deaths due to air pollution, reduction of resource conflicts, falling energy costs. New green lead markets for renewable energies and resource efficiency are emerging. A European energy transition requires an alliance, ideally fuelled by neighbours France and Germany. Many are hoping for Germany as a driver of nuclear and coal phase-out. But deciding on "revolutionary goals" is not enough: finally implementing them is what Germany and Europe are waiting for. This report shows which concrete steps can advance this vision of progress.
Estimating the sufficiency potential in buildings : the space between underdimensioned and oversized
(2019)
The emission reduction potential of energy efficiency and energy supply in buildings is estimated in various energy and climate action plans, scenarios, and potential analyses. But the third pillar of sustainability - sufficiency - is neglected in most studies.The increasing demand of space per person in the residential sector is a trend in most European countries. Its implication on energy use, demand for resources like land, building material, equipment, and waste production is enormous. Next to the ecological impact, the distribution of space has social and societal effects. Thus, sufficiency policies in the building sector complementing efficiency and energy policy are needed for a sustainable development of the European building stock.
But how can a sufficiency potential in the building sector be estimated? How much space and equipment is needed for a decent living and how much is too much? The paper proposes four areas of sufficiency in buildings: space, design and construction, equipment, and use. It presents a set of indicators, a quantitative estimate of energy savings from reduced per capita floor area, and visualises the sufficiency potential in European countries in an experimental approach. The final discussion focuses on the question: What does this mean for policy making?
Additionality revisited : guarding the integrity of market mechanisms under the Paris agreement
(2019)
The Paris Agreement requires mitigation contributions from all Parties. Therefore, the determination of additionality of activities under the market mechanisms of its Article 6 will need to be revisited. This paper provides recommendations on how to operationalize additionality under Article 6. We first review generic definitions of additionality and current approaches for testing of additionality before discussing under which conditions additionality testing of specific activities or policies is still necessary under the new context of the Paris Agreement, that is, in order to prevent increases of global emissions. We argue that the possibility of "hot air" generation under nationally-determined contributions (NDCs) requires an independent check of the NDC's ambition. If the NDC of the transferring country does contain "hot air", or if the transferred emission reductions are not covered by the NDC, a dedicated additionality test should be required. While additionality tests of projects and programmes could continue to be done through investment analysis, for policy instruments new approaches are required. They should be differentiated according to type of policy instrument. For regulation, we suggest calculating the resulting pay-back period for technology users. If the regulation generates investments exceeding a payback period threshold, it could be deemed additional. Similarly, carbon pricing policies that generate a carbon price exceeding a threshold could qualify; for trading schemes an absence of over-allocation needs to be shown. The threshold should be differentiated according to country categories and rise over time.
The Global Stocktake (GST) takes a central role within the architecture of the Paris Agreement, with many hoping that it will become a catalyst for increased mitigation ambition. This paper outlines four governance functions for an ideal GST: pacemaker, ensurer of accountability, driver of ambition and provider of guidance and signal. The GST can set the pace of progress by stimulating and synchronizing policy processes across governance levels. It can ensure accountability of Parties through transparency and public information sharing. Ambition can be enhanced through benchmarks for action and transformative learning. By reiterating and refining the long term visions, it can echo and amplify the guidance and signal provided by the Paris Agreement. The paper further outlines preconditions for the effective performance of these functions. Process-related conditions include: a public appraisal of inputs; a facilitative format that can develop specific recommendations; high-level endorsement to amplify the message and effectively inform national climate policy agendas; and an appropriate schedule, especially with respect to the transparency framework. Underlying information provided by Parties complemented with other (scientific) sources needs to enable benchmark setting for collective climate action, to allow for transparent assessments of the state of emissions and progress of a low-carbon transformation. The information also needs to be politically relevant and concrete enough to trigger enhancement of ambition. We conclude that meeting these conditions would enable an ideal GST and maximize its catalytic effect.
"400,000 new homes per year are needed in German cities." This figure has been cited repeatedly in political discussions, media, and statements of different groups for a couple of years now. Living space is needed to mitigate the (further) inordinate increase of rents in some cities and regions and to ease finding appropriate flats at affordable prices for low- and medium-income households. But how to activate investors and the real estate market?
Having the triangle of sustainability in mind with its ecologic, social and economic cornerstones the discussion - metaphorically spoken - currently pulls the three corners: Which should have the highest priority?
The economically driven most favourable solution is lowering the requirements for new buildings such as the energy performance to make building cheaper. The social perspective prefers an increase of public social housing investments regardless of efficiency standards. And the ecological side argues that a high performance is needed to reach energy and climate targets in the buildings sector.
Starting at this point of discussion, firstly, the paper reflects the assumptions behind the numbers of new homes needed against a sufficiency background.
Secondly, it presents current changes in German building policies: a new legislation for energy supply and efficiency is currently in preparation.
It discusses the potential to integrate sufficiency aspects in building policies, focussing specifically on the new regulation, financial incentives, and energy advice.
The paper analyses if and to what extent it is likely to balance the three cornerstones of sustainability by integrating sufficiency aspects into efficiency policies. Household experiences with prepayment meters are used as an example to illustrate the potential for tapping efficiency and sufficiency potentials in low-income households considering social, economic, and ecological aspects. Based on the identified (in)consistencies, thirdly, it suggests further development in German policies to make better use of synergies between the ecologic, social and economic demands on buildings.
How can existing national climate policy instruments contribute to ETS development? : Final report
(2019)
Before introducing an emissions trading system, jurisdictions have to consider the ex-isting energy and climate policy framework. This report seeks to analyse and evaluate non-ETS climate policy instruments, such as carbon taxes or green certificate trading schemes, regarding their suitability to serve as a basis for establishing emission trading systems. There is a general assessment of prototypical policy instruments. Besides, the report contains insights from case studies in India and Mexico. The report is meant to inform ETS development by showing how existing policy instruments could contribute to this process and by illustrating how non-ETS policy instruments could coexist with an emissions trading system, allowing for an effective policy mix.
Global climate
(2019)
The twenty-third Conference of the Parties (COP-23) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Bonn on 6-17 November 2017, under the presidency of Fiji. COP-23 focused, in particular, on developing rules to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement and on raising ambition for climate protection. Since this was the first "Oceanic" COP, special attention was given to supporting the countries of the Global South in their efforts to reduce emissions, adapt to climate change, and deal with the unavoidable impacts of climate change. This article summarizes the main developments and results of COP-23.
The transformation of cities towards sustainable and inclusive development is a key objective of the New Urban Agenda (United Nations 2017). Transport infrastructure is a critical factor in shaping cities, determining the energy intensity of mobility and providing access to essential social and economic opportunities. The sector also plays an important role in global climate change mitigation strategies, as it currently accounts for about 23% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC 2014).
There is substantial potential to improve urban access, air quality, safety and the quality of life in cities along with reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions if an integrated policy approach is applied that combines all intervention areas for transport policy and involves all levels of government. A package that achieves low-carbon transport and fosters sustainable developed includes avoided journeys through compact urban design and shifts to more efficient modes of transport, uptake of improved vehicle and engine performance technologies, low-carbon fuels, investments in related infrastructure, and changes in the built environment. From a governance perspective, all relevant political institutions at the local and national level need to be involved in the coalition building along with key societal actors, such as unions, industry and civil society organisations. Bringing the policy objectives of these actors together with an integrated policy package is a vital step towards a low-carbon, sustainable mobility system.
Policy design and governance are critically interlinked as the ability of institutions to find a political consensus and to maintain policy stability heavily influences the success of measures to shape the transformation pathway towards sustainable mobility. This thesis aims to analyse these linkages and highlight the role of different policy and governance approaches. This analysis builds on transport and urban development research, but takes a transdisciplinary research perspective, building on the Multi-Level-Perspective on sustainability transitions (Geels 2002) and aims to highlight the potential for a consensus oriented policy approach (Lijphard 1999) that builds on co-benefits among key policy objectives and coalitions among key political actors, which leads to the main question for this thesis and the focus areas for the analysis.
Last year's conference of the global climate change regime took place from 2 until 15 December 2018 in Katowice, Poland. The conference had two main objectives: operationalising the Paris Agreement by adopting detailed rules for its implementation, and starting the process of strengthening Parties' climate protection contributions. This article covers the negotiations on these two sets of issues and also includes a discussion of other recent climate activities by Parties and non-Party actors. Success of the negotiations in Katowice was far from assured, but in the end COP24 concluded with the adoption of the "Katowice Climate Package" setting out detailed guidelines on how to implement its various elements. However, the conference fell short on the first objective, none of the major emitting countries was ready to step up its climate ambition. The most important aspect of the Katowice outcome is therefore that it has brought the wrangling about implementation procedures to a close, making way for the true task at hand: the strengthening of national and international activities to protect the climate and the implementation of the existing pledges. Arguably, a key factor that has been slowing down climate policy is the power of entrenched interests. The article therefore concludes with a reflection on how such barriers to climate action may be overcome and what role future COPs may play in this regard.
Europa braucht eine neue Fortschrittsvision. Eine Energiewende hat dieses Potenzial. Sie kann der "Europäischen Idee" einen zukunftsorientierten Inhalt geben. Das Ziel für 2050 ist klar: ein Europa ohne fossile und nukleare Energie! Das ist keine Utopie. Studien, Beschlüsse der EU und einiger Mitgliedsländer belegen, dass diese Vision machbar und mit vielen Vorteilen verbunden ist: mehr Jobs, mehr Versorgungssicherheit, weniger vorzeitige Todesfälle durch Luftverschmutzung, Abbau von Ressourcenkonflikten, sinkende Energiekosten. Neue grüne Leitmärkte für erneuerbare Energien und Ressourceneffizienz entstehen. Eine europäische Energiewende erfordert eine Allianz, idealerweise angefeuert durch die Nachbarn Frankreich und Deutschland. Viele hoffen auf Deutschland als Treiber von Atom- und Kohleausstieg. Aber "revolutionäre Ziele" zu beschließen ist nicht genug: Sie endlich umzusetzen - darauf warten Deutschland und Europa. Dieses Buch zeigt, welche konkreten Schritte diese Fortschrittsvision voranbringen werden.
Der Anteil fluktuierender erneuerbarer Energien im deutschen Strommix steigt. Um die Netzstabilität zu erhalten, Fluktuationen im Dargebot nach Wetterlage und saisonal auszugleichen sind absehbar ab ca. 2030 große Stromspeicherkapazitäten erforderlich. Wasser-Pumpspeicherwerke sind derzeit die einzige langjährig erprobte Technologie, die künftig in Braunkohletagebauen, welche im Zuge der Energiewende aufgegeben werden, errichtet werden könnten. Eine Überschlagsrechnung am Beispiel eines Pumpspeicherwerks in verschiedenen Tagebauen zeigt, dass diese mit bis zu 400 GWh ein signifikantes technisches Speicherpotenzial haben.
On 26 January 2019, the Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment recommended that no more coal-fired power plants would be operated in Germany by 2038 at the latest. In this paper the Wuppertal Institute comments on the results of the Commission and makes recommendations for the current necessary steps for the climate and innovation policy in Europe, Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Am 26. Januar 2019 hat die Kommission "Wachstum, Strukturwandel und Beschäftigung" beschlossen, dass in Deutschland bis spätestens 2038 keine Kohlekraftwerke mehr betrieben werden sollen. Das Wuppertal Institut nimmt in diesem Papier Stellung zu den Ergebnissen der Kommission und gibt Empfehlungen für die nun notwendigen Schritte für die Klima- und Innovationspolitik in Europa, Deutschland und Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Before linking emissions trading systems, there should be a good understanding of the expected economic implications: How could linking affect the development of the common allowance price, the development of emissions or industrial production, capital flows or liquidity? Answering these questions requires a multitude of data and assumptions and therefore usually the use of economic models.
This report gives an overview of various economic models that are suitable for assessing the economic effects of linking. It analyses the economic indicators relevant for the assessment of the effects of linking, formulates requirements for economic models to answer this question, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different modelling approaches and gives an assessment of which models are suitable in principle for the assessment of linking. Five models were selected for a more detailed description: E3ME, GEM-E3, PACE, POLES, and TIMES-MARKAL.
Der Beitrag von synthetischen Kraftstoffen zur Verkehrswende : Optionen und Prioritäten ; Kurzstudie
(2019)
Diese Kurzstudie geht auf den möglichen Beitrag von synthetischen Kraftstoffen zur Verkehrswende ein. Sie stellt die Einsatzmöglichkeiten dar, zeigt alternative Minderungsoptionen auf, und vergleicht sie mit den Einsatzmöglichkeiten von synthetischen Kraftstoffen.
Zudem gibt der Bericht einen Überblick über volkswirtschaftliche Effekte, auf deren Basis abschließend Schlussfolgerungen für den Beitrag synthetischer Kraftstoffe zur Verkehrswende abgeleitet und diese in Handlungsleitlinien (Prioritäten) übersetzt werden.
Phasing out coal in the German energy sector : interdependencies, challenges and potential solutions
(2019)
Relevant aspects of the options and requirements for reducing and phasing out coal-fired power generation have been under debate for several years. This process has produced a range of strategies, analyses and arguments, outlining how coal use in the energy sector could be reduced and phased out in the planned time frame, and determining structural policy measures suitable to support this. This Coal Report studies the existing analyses and provides an overview of the state of debate. It is intended to provide information on facts and contexts, present the advantages and disadvantages of individual courses of action, and reveal the respective scientific backgrounds. It strives to take a scientific and independent approach, and present facts in concise language, making it easy to follow for readers who are not experts in the field, without excessive abridgements or provocative statements.
Mit fortschreitender Energiewende steigt der Anteil erneuerbarer Energien im Strommix. Deren Angebot variiert im Tagesverlauf, nach Wetterlage und saisonal. Um Angebot und Nachfrage zur Deckung zu bringen, benötigt es daher Speicher mit großen Kapazitäten. Von allen technologischen Optionen mit großer Speicherkapazität sind Wasser-Pumpspeicherwerke die einzige, die langjährig erprobt und wirtschaftlich ist. Diese könnten in Braunkohletagebauen, welche im Zuge der Energiewende aufgegeben werden, errichtet werden. Unsere Überschlagsrechnung am Beispiel eines Pumpspeicherwerks in den heutigen Tagebauen Hambach, Garzweiler und Inden zeigt, dass diese mit bis zu 400 GWh ein signifikantes technisches Speicherpotenzial haben. Dies entspricht etwa der kontinuierlichen Maximalleistung eines Kernkraftwerks über zwei Wochen. Im Kontext der Diskussion um den Braunkohleausstieg skizziert das Papier ein netzdienliches Nachnutzungskonzept für Braunkohletagebaue, das zumindest für einen Teil der heute in der Kohleförderung und -Verstromung Beschäftigten mögliche Zukunftsperspektiven bietet.
Sulphate aerosols are dominated by SO2 emissions from coal-burning for the Indian electricity sector and they are thought to have a short term but significant, negative impact on South Asian Summer Monsoon rainfall. This reduction in precipitation in turn can lead to reduced economic outputs, primarily through smaller agricultural yields. By bringing together estimates of (a) the impact of sulphate aerosols on precipitation and (b) the observed relationship between monsoon rainfall and GDP, we present a methodology to estimate the possible financial cost of this effect on the Indian economy and on its agricultural sector. Our preliminary estimate is that the derived benefits could be large enough that around 50% of India's SO2 emissions could be economically mitigated at no cost or net benefit, although it should be noted that the large uncertainties in the underlying relationships mean that the overall uncertainty is also large. Comparison of the 1952-1981 and 1982-2011 periods indicates that the Indian economy may now be more resilient to variability of the monsoon rainfall. As such, a case could be made for action to reduce SO2 emissions, particularly in the crucial monsoon period. This would have a significant, positive effect on a crucial and large sector in India's economy and the effects would be visible almost instantly. The recent growth in renewable energy sources in India and the consequent, reduced increase in coal burning means that further financial costs have already been avoided. This impact should be further investigated so that it can be included in cost-benefit analyses of different fuel types in the region. The significant uncertainties associated with these calculations are discussed.
Wie misst man ein Feuerwerk?
(2018)
Die Städte nutzen den Raum
(2019)
Zwischen 2005 und 2016 gab es in Deutschland über 150 Stadtwerke-Neugründungen im Energiebereich. Die insgesamt rund 900 Stadtwerke, die heute im Energiesektor tätig sind, spielen für die Energiewende eine zentrale Rolle. Denn sie stellen weit über die Hälfte der Versorgung an Strom, Gas und Wärme sicher. Zudem haben Stadtwerke aufgrund ihrer kommunalen Verankerung eine besondere Position im Spannungsgefüge von Politik, Wirtschaft und Zivilgesellschaft. Dieser Beitrag zeigt auf, welche Gründe und Motive zu dieser Gründungswelle führten und welche Erfolgsfaktoren für Stadtwerke-Neugründungen ausschlaggebend waren.
Sustainable Urban Mobility Pathways examines how sustainable urban mobility solutions contribute to achieving worldwide sustainable development and global climate change targets, while also identifying barriers to implementation and strategies to overcome them. Building on city-to-city cooperation experiences in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, the book examines key challenges in the context of the Paris Agreement, UN Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda, including policies needed to achieve a sustainable, low-carbon pathway for transport and how an integrated policy strategy is designed to provide a basis for political coalitions.
The book explores which institutional framework creates sufficient political stability and continuity to foster the take-up of and long-term support for sustainable transport strategies. The linkages of climate change and wider sustainable development objectives are covered, including success stories, best practices, and quantitative analysis for key emerging economies in public transport, walking, cycling, freight and logistics, vehicle technology and fuels, urban planning and integration, and national framework policies.
Im Forschungsprojekt "Landscaping" untersuchte das Wuppertal Institut die für Nordrhein-Westfalen aus heutiger Sicht denkbaren Technologieansätze, die dafür nötigen politischen Rahmenbedingungen sowie mögliche Innovationen entlang der Wertschöpfungsketten. Bestandteil des Berichts sind Steckbriefe, in denen die möglichen Technologien für treibhausgasneutrale Industrieprozesse samt offener Forschungsfragen und Infrastrukturbedarfe dargestellt sind. Das Projekt entstand im Auftrag des Ministeriums für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitalisierung und Energie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Relevante Fragen rund um die Möglichkeiten und Erfordernisse der Reduzierung und Beendigung der Kohleverstromung werden seit mehreren Jahren diskutiert. Dabei sind eine Fülle von Strategien, Analysen und Argumenten entwickelt worden, wie die Reduzierung und Beendigung der energetischen Nutzung von Kohle auf der Zeitachse umgesetzt und strukturpolitisch flankiert werden könnte. Der vorliegende "Kohle-Reader" greift die vorliegenden Analysen auf und gibt einen Überblick über den Diskussionsstand. Er soll über Fakten und Zusammenhänge informieren, das Für und Wider für einzelne Handlungsoptionen benennen und dazu den jeweiligen wissenschaftlichen Hintergrund aufzeigen. Er hat den Anspruch wissenschaftlich-neutral zu sein und er soll in Sprache und Darstellung prägnant und für die nicht zuvor im Detail mit den Themen befassten Leserinnen und Leser gut verständlich sein, ohne unzulässig zu verkürzen oder zuzuspitzen.
Implementation of nationally determined contributions : Rebublic of Marshall Islands country report
(2018)
The study analyses the country background, emissions trends, ongoing activities and barriers relating to the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Republic of Marshall Islands under the UNFCCC. A special emphasis is laid on further mitigation potentials in the fields of transport - especially low-carbon domestic shipping - and waste reduction, disposal and processing.
The new mechanism under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement is to be supervised by a body designated by the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA). However, so far there is no clarity what role exactly the supervisory body (Body) is to play. Against this background, this JIKO Policy Paper analyses different governance options for Art. 6.4.
The paper first reflects the objectives of the new mechanism and on what the role of the mechanism as a whole should be. The paper then summarises what has already been agreed on the functioning of the mechanism and elaborates what steps will be needed to generate transferrable emission reductions under the Article 6.4 mechanism. On this basis, the paper develops criteria for how to decide what role the Body should have, and then discusses what role the Body and the other actors that are involved in the mechanism could have in each of the steps of the activity cycle.
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement establishes three approaches for countries to cooperate with each other in implementing their climate protection contributions. However, Article 6 sketches out only some basic contours; the details are to be filled in by further negotiations. This article surveys the views countries have submitted so far in order to identify the main issues at stake, points of controvery and convergence and possible ways forward. The submissions reveal some sharp differences in opinions on key issues such as the scope of the new mechanisms, how to operationalise the Article 6 requirement to increase ambition, whether to have international provisions on the promotion of sustainable development, and how to protect environmental integrity in the use of Article 6. The article concludes with a number of recommendations on how to address these controversies.
Mit fortschreitender Energiewende steigt der Anteil erneuerbarer Energien im Strommix. Deren Angebot variiert im Tagesverlauf, nach Wetterlage und saisonal. Um Angebot und Nachfrage zur Deckung zu bringen, benötigt es daher Speicher mit großen Kapazitäten. Von allen technologischen Optionen mit großer Speicherkapazität sind Wasser-Pumpspeicherwerke die einzige, die langjährig erprobt und wirtschaftlich ist. Diese könnten in Braunkohletagebauen, welche im Zuge der Energiewende aufgegeben werden, errichtet werden. Unsere Überschlagsrechnung am Beispiel eines Pumpspeicherwerks in den heutigen Tagebauen Hambach, Garzweiler und Inden zeigt, dass diese mit bis zu 400 GWh ein signifikantes technisches Speicherpotenzial haben. Dies entspricht etwa der kontinuierlichen Maximalleistung eines Kernkraftwerks über zwei Wochen. Im Kontext der Diskussion um den Braunkohleausstieg skizziert das Papier ein netzdienliches Nachnutzungskonzept für Braunkohletagebaue, das zumindest für einen Teil der heute in der Kohleförderung und -Verstromung Beschäftigten mögliche Zukunftsperspektiven bietet.
Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement stand as milestone diplomatic achievements. However, immense discrepancies between political commitments and governmental action remain. Combined national climate commitments fall far short of the Paris Agreement's 1.5/2°C targets. Similar political ambition gaps persist across various areas of sustainable development. Many therefore argue that actions by nonstate actors, such as businesses and investors, cities and regions, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), are crucial. These voices have resonated across the United Nations (UN) system, leading to growing recognition, promotion, and mobilization of such actions in ever greater numbers. This article investigates optimistic arguments about nonstate engagement, namely: (a) "the more the better"; (b) "everybody wins"; (c) "everyone does their part"; and (d) "more brings more." However, these optimistic arguments may not be matched in practice due to governance risks. The current emphasis on quantifiable impacts may lead to the under-appreciation of variegated social, economic, and environmental impacts. Claims that everybody stands to benefit may easily be contradicted by outcomes that are not in line with priorities and needs in developing countries. Despite the seeming depoliticization of the role of nonstate actors in implementation, actions may still lead to politically contentious outcomes. Finally, nonstate climate and sustainability actions may not be self-reinforcing but may heavily depend on supporting mechanisms. The article concludes with governance risk-reduction strategies that can be combined to maximize nonstate potential in sustainable and climate-resilient transformations.
The study analyses the country background, emissions trends, ongoing activities and barriers relating to the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Ethiopia under the UNFCCC. A special emphasis is laid on further mitigation potentials in the fields of agriculture, forestry and low-emission transport.
With the adoption of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, former debates about generating carbon credits on the basis of national policies have resurged. National policies have not been eligible as project activities under the Kyoto Protocol's flexible mechanisms. The Paris Agreement opens the possibility for such policy crediting but also provides an entirely new context: Universal participation, ambitious long-term targets and nationally defined contributions (NDCs) that are to be made more ambitious over time. As this paper shows, these changes in the framework conditions add an additional layer of complexity to policy-based cooperation.
The paper explores the potential for policy-based cooperation by first briefly presenting the regulatory basis provided by the Paris Agreement before outlining a prototype for policy-based cooperation and its key challenges.
Much mitigation-related governance activity is evident in a range of sectoral systems, and regarding particular governance functions. However, there is a tendency for this activity to relate to the easiest functions to address, such as "learning and knowledge building", or to take place in somewhat limited "niches". Across all sectoral systems examined, the gap between identified governance needs and what is currently supplied is most serious in terms of the critical function of setting rules to facilitate collective action. A lack of "guidance and signal" is also evident, particularly in the finance, extractive industries, energy-intensive industries, and buildings sectoral systems.
Of the sectoral systems examined, the power sector appears the most advanced in covering the main international governance functions required of it. Nevertheless, it still falls short in achieving critical governance functions necessary for sufficient decarbonisation. Significantly, while the signal is strong and clear for the phase-in of renewable energy, it is either vague or absent when it comes to the phase-out of fossil fuel-generated electricity. The same lack of signal that certain high-carbon activities need actively to be phased out is also evident in financial, fossil-fuel extractive industry and transport-related sectors.
More effective mitigation action will need greater co-ordination or orchestration effort, sometimes led by the UNFCCC, but also from the bodies such as the G20, as well as existing (or potentially new) sector-level institutions. The EU needs to re-consider what it means to provide climate leadership in an increasingly "polycentric" governance landscape.
Combating climate change requires a fundamental simultaneous transformation of various sectoral systems that are key to the functioning of our economies and societies, such as energy, industry, transport, housing, and agriculture. This report by the COP21 RIPPLES project examines sector-specific challenges to decarbonisation and what contribution international governance could make to overcoming these challenges.
Taking a sectoral perspective, the report identifies the key governance challenges that exist internationally towards the deep transformations required, and specifies the resulting key governance functions to be fulfilled by means of international cooperation/international institutions.
To this end, the report first clarifies a number of key concepts, including international (climate) governance, international and transnational institutions, institutional complexes and poly-centricity. It then derives a number of functions that international institutions can fulfil from the relevant literature: providing guidance and signals, setting rules, providing transparency and accountability, providing capacity building, technology and finance, and facilitating knowledge and learning. This is the basis for an investigation into the key governance challenges and the potential of international governance in 14 key sectoral systems.
Zur Realisierung der europäischen Klimaschutzziele muss der Industriesektor, besonders die energieintensive Grundstoffindustrie, seine Treibhausgasemissionen stark reduzieren. Obwohl in der Vergangenheit bereits große Fortschritte erzielt wurden, sind in Zukunft weitere, teils bahnbrechende Innovationen und der Aufbau der dafür benötigten Infrastruktur erforderlich. Im Rahmen dieses Projekts stellt das Wuppertal Institut für die "European Climate Foundation" den aktuellen Wissensstand zum Thema zusammen, diskutiert diesen vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Situation für Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW), erstellt konsistente mögliche Zukunftsszenarien für NRW und leitet Schlüsselfragen und weiteren Forschungsbedarf für die Region ab.
Eine Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse ist ein bewährtes Mittel, um die Rentabilität einer Energieeffizienzmaßnahme zu bewerten: Die Investitionskosten werden mit den eingesparten Energiekosten verglichen. Investitionsentscheidungen für Energieeffizienzmaßnahmen erfolgen allerdings häufig nicht nach einer reinen Erwägung der direkten Kosten und Nutzen. Gründe hierfür sind unter anderem "versteckte" Kosten und Risiken (z. B. Kosten für die Beschaffung von Informationen, Unsicherheiten über zukünftige Energiepreise und Einsparungen), aber auch nicht-monetäre Hemmnisse, die bei Entscheidungen eine Rolle spielen (z. B. beschränkte Rationalität, Präferenzen, Zeitverfügbarkeit). Vor diesem Hintergrund verfolgt der Bericht das Ziel, ein besseres Verständnis der Kosten-Nutzen-Erwägungen von Investoren und deren Entscheidungswirklichkeit zu erlangen.
Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass Energieeffizienzdienstleistungen (EEDL) generell die versteckten Kosten - Transaktionskosten - reduzieren können. Das setzt aber voraus, dass EEDL sachgerecht durchgeführt werden. Transaktionskosten werden allerdings im Zusammenhang mit Energieeffizienzmaßnahmen von den Akteuren kaum wahrgenommen und entsprechend nicht quantifiziert. Des Weiteren zeigt sich, dass insbesondere bei Unternehmen die EEDL-Kosten für bestimmte Maßnahmen hoch sein können. Doch werden gerade in diesen Fällen die Transaktionskosten reduziert. Grundsätzlich erscheinen kostenaufwendigere EEDL, wie umfassendere Vor-Ort-Beratungen, im Gegensatz zu den preiswerteren Vor-Ort-Checks besser geeignet, um Transaktionskosten zu reduzieren.
The current global momentum for carbon pricing has lately produced innovative hybrids: carbon taxes allowing the use of offsets from emission sources not targeted by the carbon tax for compliance with the tax load. This study aims at filling the knowledge gap in existing literature by exploring the potential impacts of domestic offset components in carbon taxes on mitigation of national emissions, including the country examples Colombia, Mexico and South Africa.
The findings indicate that the use of offsets in carbon taxes may significantly influence mitigation of national emissions both positively and negatively. On the one hand, this model may result in real emission reductions from offset projects and positive spillover effects of efforts to reduce emissions from emission sources covered by the carbon tax to other emission sources. Furthermore, the offsetting component can be used as a bargaining chip in political negotiations facilitating the introduction of mitigation policies and measures and/or strengthening their ambition level. On the other hand, it also entails serious risks: Offsetting could compromise the environmental integrity of the carbon tax through low-quality offsets. Furthermore, offsets reduce incentives to curb emissions in the emission sources covered by the carbon tax, potentially leading to carbon lock-in effects. Moreover, an offsetting component could provoke opposition to further climate policies and measures for emission sources generating offsets, as replacing the offsetting component with mandatory emission reduction policies would eliminate revenues from offset credits. General opposition of stakeholder groups to the introduction of offsets may even hinder the introduction of carbon pricing instruments and offsetting altogether.
The study identifies options that could be employed to increase potential positive effects of introducing an offset component to a carbon tax and mitigate related risks, pointing to the country examples included, where appropriate.
Although it is not part of what has been called the "ambition mechanism" or "ratchet mechanism", Article 6 of the Paris Agreement also has an explicit requirement to promote ambition. Article 6 specifically highlights that some Parties choose to pursue voluntary cooperation in the implementation of their nationally determined contributions to allow for higher ambition in their mitigation and adaptation actions. Despite the common purpose, the two elements have to date been discussed mostly in isolation, both in the negotiations as well as in the wider literature. This JIKO Policy Paper sets out to change this by exploring the relationship between Article 6 and the Global Stocktake.
Das Ziel der Arbeit war es, die Rolle von Energiegenossenschaften unter dem Einfluss aktueller Entwicklungen der Energiewende für die dezentrale Energieversorgung zu analysieren. Mit dem Wegfall günstiger Förderbedingungen sind Energiegenossenschaften gezwungen ihr bisher erfolgreiches Geschäftsmodell neu auszurichten. In diesem Zusammenhang wurde der Frage nachgegangen, welche neuen Geschäfts- und Kooperationsmodelle von Energiegenossenschaften in Betracht gezogen werden. Weiterhin wurde untersucht, inwiefern die Kooperation mit Stadtwerken dabei Potenziale für Energiegenossenschaften birgt. Die Analyse erfolgte durch eine empirische Untersuchung, die sich zum einen aus einer quantitativen Online-Befragung und zum anderen aus teilstandardisierten Experteninterviews, welche vorrangig Kooperationen von Energiegenossenschaften mit Stadtwerken nachgehen, zusammensetzt.
Die untersuchten Energiegenossenschaften zeigten sich, ausgelöst durch einen geänderten Ordnungsrahmen, in einer wandelnden Position. Neue Geschäfts- und Kooperationsmodelle im Bereich der Erzeuger-Verbraucher-Angebote und der Energiedienstleistungen rücken dabei verstärkt in den Vordergrund der Überlegungen. Für den weiteren Erfolg dieser Entwicklung wird es allerdings umso wichtiger, kontextspezifische Möglichkeiten und Lösungen zu finden, die sich in die begrenzenden Möglichkeiten einer ehrenamtlichen Tätigkeit einrahmen lassen. Hierbei erwiesen sich Stadtwerke als bereichernde Kooperationspartner, die vielfältige Möglichkeiten für Energiegenossenschaften eröffnen können. Die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit analysierten Kooperationsmodelle zeugen von einem großen Spektrum an beidseitig gewinnbringenden Modellen. Für Energiegenossenschaften eröffnet sich damit durch die Unternehmensbeteiligung und der Einflussnahme auf die Stadtwerke verschiedene Wege einer Teilhabe der dezentralen Energiewende.
Energy sufficiency has recently gained increasing attention as a way to limit and reduce total energy consumption of households and overall. This paper presents both the partly new methods and the results of a comprehensive analysis of a micro- and meso-level energy sufficiency policy package to make electricity use in the home more sufficient and reduce at least the growth in per-capita dwelling size. The objective is to find out how policy can support households and their members, as individuals or as caregivers, but also manufacturers and local authorities in practicing energy sufficiency. This analysis needed an adapted and partly new set of methods we developed. Energy sufficiency does not only face barriers like energy efficiency, but also potential restrictions for certain household members or characteristics, and sometimes, preconditions have to be met to make more energy-sufficient routines and practices possible. All of this was analysed in detail to derive recommendations for which policy instruments need to be combined to an effective policy package for energy sufficiency. Energy efficiency and energy sufficiency should not be seen as opposed to each other but work in the same direction - saving energy. Therefore, some energy sufficiency policy instruments may be the same as for energy efficiency, such as energy pricing policies. Some may simply adapt technology-specific energy efficiency policy instruments. Examples include progressive appliance efficiency standards, standards based on absolute consumption, or providing energy advice. However, sufficiency may also require new policy approaches. They may range from promotion of completely different services for food and clothes cleaning, to instruments for limiting average dwelling floor area per person, or to a cap-and-trade system for the total electricity sales of a supplier to its customers, instead of an energy efficiency obligation.
Der Titel "Grüne Hauptstadt Europas 2017" zeichnet seit 2008 Großstädte aus, die sich dauerhaft für hohe Umweltstandards und eine nachhaltige Entwicklung einsetzen. Mit der Auszeichnung der Stadt Essen für das Jahr 2017 wurde sowohl ihr bisheriges Engagement unter anderem in den Themen Klimawandel, Verkehr, Umwelt- und Ressourcenschutz gewürdigt als auch ihre Bestrebungen, den ökonomischen Strukturwandel in der Stadt nachhaltig zu bewältigen.
Umso bedeutsamer ist es daher, festzuhalten, in welcher Weise die Projekte und Aktivitäten zur Grünen Hauptstadt Europas in der Stadt Wirkungen erzielt haben. Diese und weitere Fragen waren der Gegenstand der Begleitforschung zur Grünen Hauptstadt, die von einem Team von Forscherinnen und Forschern des Wuppertal Instituts, der Universität Duisburg-Essen, der Ruhr-Universität Bochum und der Technischen Universität Dortmund umgesetzt wurde. Der nun vorliegende Bericht ist Teil der Dokumentation, die die Stadt Essen an die Europäische Kommission als Abschlussbericht der Grünen Hauptstadt richten wird.
The inclusion of references to human rights in the Paris Agreement was celebrated as a milestone towards greater integration of human rights in environmental and climate governance. Beyond their symbolic value, the significance of these provisions however depends on the extent to which they inform the implementation of the Paris Agreement both at the national and international levels. This article takes stock of the integration of human rights in climate governance and identifies concrete opportunities to ensure that human rights considerations are included in the Paris Implementation Guidelines to be adopted at COP-24, promoting climate action that aligns with Parties' human rights obligations. We first consider the relevance of human rights to climate action and the incremental recognition of these linkages in the international climate regime - both in the lead up to the adoption of the Paris Agreement and since. We then consider in specific terms how human rights could inform five key dimensions of the Paris Agreement's Implementation Guidelines: NDC guidance, adaptation communications, transparency framework, global stocktake, and the article 6 mechanisms. This article will reflect on past experience of how climate policy impacts human rights and on proposals put forward in the context of the negotiations of the implementation guidelines. It concludes with recommendations on a right-based approach to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The potential of mixed-mode office buildings with varying design and control parameters is examined by using an uncertainty analysis in the three climate zones of India. The analysis is in terms of cooling energy consumption, thermal comfort conditions, and natural ventilation hours. Furthermore, influential parameters are identified using sensitivity analysis. In this study, opening the windows enables natural ventilation. Night-time ventilation through the windows is not enabled because these are mostly closed at night. A maximum natural ventilation of 10% of the total building occupancy hours are observed in warm and humid, and hot and dry climates; however, they are slightly higher in the composite climate. A further increase in the number of natural ventilation hours leads to an increase in the occupancy hours outside the Indian Model for Adaptive Comfort model for mixed-mode buildings with at least 90% of occupants are satisfied. There are no occupancy hours outside of 80% of occupants are satisfied. The choice of thermal comfort band is crucial for determining the potential of mixed-mode buildings. The cooling setpoint temperature, building size, window solar heat gain coefficient, and surface properties of exterior surfaces are identified as the more influential parameters than the thermophysical properties of building envelope constructions. Although the building envelope which is in compliance with the Energy Efficient Building Code of India increases energy efficiency during air-conditioning periods, whether it reduces natural ventilation hours, because of overheating during such period remains to be determined.
The Ernst Strüngmann Forum seeks to link justice, sustainability, and diversity agendas. In support, this chapter discusses how linkages between these three concepts have formed and changed in the climate change discourse, particularly in light of the recent Paris Agreement. As the latest addition to the portfolio of international climate change agreements, the Paris Agreement establishes a landscape in which nation-states, subnational actors, and transnational networks will be able to reconfigure existing linkages between sustainability, diversity, and justice, and perhaps improve upon them.
Here, three possible developments are identified which may substantially influence the reconfiguration process. Recognition is given to the sustainability and justice deficits that have plagued the "top-down" character of the international climate change discourse, and it is hypothesized that the Paris Agreement opens the door for "bottom-up" movements to claim a larger segment of climate change policy decision making and design. In turn, the "polycentric" landscape created by such "movement from below" appears to emphasize concepts such as inclusivity and transparency perhaps allowing for explicit climate justice commitments. Finally, to advance societal transformation and embrace diversity, it is hypothesized that the scientific endeavor needs to be transformed from a purely analytical pursuit to an effort that makes use of the wide range of scientific competences and provides support for transformative innovations to change unsustainable sociotechnical systems.
Global climate
(2017)
On 7-18 November, the twenty-second Conference of the Parties (COP-22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the twelfth Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP-12) took place in Marrakech. Due to the rapid entry into force of the Paris Agreement, Marrakech also hosted the first Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA-1). Nobody had expected this one year before in Paris - the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, by comparison, had taken eight years. Many hailed the rapid entry into force as further proof of the commitment of the world community to finally tackle the climate problem.
Was ist eine "nachhaltige Stadt"? Gesundheits- und Umweltwissenschaften haben darauf differenzierte Antworten. Sie verfügen über ganzheitliche und integrierte Vorstellungen einer "guten" Stadt. Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Konzeptionen einer "guten" Stadt beschränken sich dagegen in der Regel nur auf materiell messbare Formen des urbanen Wohlstandes. In Zeiten umfassender ökologischer und sozialer Umbrüche reicht das nicht mehr aus. Die Themen ökologische Nachhaltigkeit und Gesundheit sind eng miteinander verzahnt. Der Klimawandel beispielsweise hat Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit von Menschen: Hitzestress und Wetterkatastrophen stellen direkte und indirekte Gesundheitsrisiken dar; zunehmende Verbreitung bestimmter Infektionskrankheiten und Gefährdung der Ernährungssicherheit kommen hinzu. Zugleich fallen die Ursachen für Klimawandel und gesundheitsschädliche Verhaltensweisen beispielsweise im Mobilitäts- und Ernährungsverhalten oft zusammen. Zudem wissen wir, dass wir unsere Art zu wirtschaften ändern müssen, wenn wir den Klimawandel aufhalten wollen. Eine gesunde Stadt bedarf deswegen einer neuen Stadtökonomie.
Der vorliegende Beitrag entwickelt eine solche Konzeption entlang von drei Dimensionen und stützt sich dabei auf aktuelle Arbeit des Wuppertal Instituts.
European coal mining regions face massive transformational challenges. The necessity of climate protection only intensifies a trend, prevalent in all of Europe: coal mining has been losing its economic importance over the last decades. Fewer and fewer people are employed in the sector. Coal regions face the challenge of how to facilitate a just transition, and which perspectives to develop for a future beyond coal.
Against this background this study analyses the current situation in four key European coal mining regions, namely: Aragon in Spain, Lusatia in Germany, Silesia in Poland and Western Macedonia in Greece. The study provides a brief summary of the regions' socio-economic structure, including the respective role of coal mining. An assessment of how existing European structural instruments, specifically the European Structural and Investment Funds (the ESI Funds) are utilised in the region, forms the core of the study.
India's present development trajectory is at a crucial juncture with a requirement to meet the demands of a population of over 1.2 billion while ensuring environmental sustainability. The resulting economic growth over the past two decades has over-exploited finite natural resources and led to tremendous environmental degradation. Therefore, decoupling economic growth from resource consumption is crucial in the transformation towards a green economy. Building construction is one of the most resource-intensive sectors, as well as creating a high impact on the environment. This study analyzes existing mechanisms in India's building construction sector that attempt to decouple economic growth from resource use and environmental impacts. The key contributors for decoupling are analyzed. Recommendations for regulations, market incentives, transparency, data monitoring and capacity-building are provided for an array of policy initiatives targeted at political and financial decision-makers at the national, state and local levels for different buildings.
Stadtwerke spielen für die Energiewende eine zentrale Rolle. Zum einen stellen sie in Deutschland weit über die Hälfte der Versorgung an Strom, Gas und Wärme sicher, zum anderen haben Stadtwerke aufgrund ihrer kommunalen Verankerung eine besondere Position im Spannungsgefüge von Politik, Wirtschaft und Privathaushalten. Wenn es aber um die Frage geht, was den Erfolg von neugegründeten Stadtwerken ausmacht, besteht in der Literatur in gewissem Maße eine Forschungslücke.
Die vorliegende Studie, die vom Wuppertal Institut und der BLUBERRIES GmbH gemeinsam erstellt wurde, behandelt ausgewählte Handlungsfelder, bei denen ein Einfluss auf den Unternehmenserfolg von neugegründeten Stadtwerken zu vermuten ist. Dabei werden als Rahmen die Ziele der Rekommunalisierung herangezogen und konkret vier Handlungsfelder in den Vordergrund gerückt. Der Fokus der Studie liegt auf Fragestellungen nach dem wirtschaftlichen Erfolg neugegründeter Stadtwerke sowie deren Zielerreichung. Dabei wird auf den klassischen Ansatz der Erfolgsfaktorenforschung zurückgegriffen. Ziel dieser Studie ist die Formulierung erster Aussagen darüber, wie einerseits die unterstellten Handlungsfelder in ihrer Ausgestaltung, andererseits die Erfolgsmaße durch neugegründete Stadtwerke beurteilt werden.
Aufgrund der im Rahmen dieser Untersuchung vorgenommenen Online-Befragung lassen sich für die in den Focus genommenen vier Handlungsfelder (Kooperationen, Digitalisierung, Resilienz und Soziale Verantwortung) die wichtigsten Ergebnisse wie folgt zusammenfassen:
Kooperationen und verschiedene Formen der Zusammenarbeit in der Gründungsphase spielen für den Erfolg neu gegründeter Stadtwerke eine sehr große Rolle. Neu gegründete Stadtwerke legen meist großen Wert auf nachhaltige Geschäftsbeziehungen zu örtlichen Unternehmen, was einen wesentlichen Beitrag zum Public Value darstellt. Insbesondere gut ausgearbeitete Geschäftsstrategien in den Bereichen Erneuerbare Energien, Verteilnetzbetrieb, Vertrieb und Diversifikation unterstützen die Umsetzung der Unternehmensziele in Bezug auf Resilienz und Nachhaltigkeit. Die eher durchschnittliche Bewertung der Resilienz-Relevanz für den Ausbau eines Smart Grids im Verteilnetzbereich ist ein Indiz dafür, dass der Ordnungsrahmen so geändert werden müsste, dass Investitionen in diesem Bereich attraktiver werden.
Aufgrund des explorativen Charakters der vorgelegten Studie, der keine repräsentativen Aussagen über die Erfolgsfaktoren von neugegründeten Stadtwerken zulässt, werden folgende vier Hypothesen abgeleitet:
1. Der Einsatz von horizontal-kooperativen Ansätzen in der Gründungsphase als ein spezifisches Wesensmerkmal der deutschen Stadtwerkelandschaft hat positive Auswirkungen auf die Verbesserung des wirtschaftlichen Erfolgs und der Rentabilität.
2. Der Fokus auf Resilienz, Nachhaltigkeit und Klimaschutz als zentrale Werte des Stadtwerks und als integrale Bestandteile des Unternehmensleitbildes unterstützt die Erreichung der strategischen Ziele des neugegründeten Stadtwerks.
3. Das Anbieten von Smart Metern zur Erhöhung der Kundentransparenz, zur Verbesserung des Kundennutzens und zur Optimierung des Verteilnetzmanagements kann als Erfolgsfaktor eingestuft werden und unterstützt seitens der Stadtwerke eine positive Unternehmensentwicklung nicht nur in der Startphase.
4. Die explizite Wahrnehmung von sozialer Verantwortung wirkt sich positiv auf den Unternehmenserfolg aus.
Es müsste nun anschließend auf der Basis einer größeren Grundgesamtheit geprüft werden, ob und inwieweit die beschriebenen Tendenzen (die sich aus der Online-Befragung ergeben) und die explorativen Hypothesen im Rahmen eines konfirmatorischen Untersuchungsansatzes wissenschaftlich verifiziert werden können.
Poor households in Germany and those that are close to the poverty line are more likely to suffer from increases in electricity costs. One consequence of this is the increasing number of cases in which the supplier disconnects a household's power. According to the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur), a total of almost 359,000 interruptions of the electricity supply were caused in 2015 due to outstanding payments. In order to avoid disconnection from the electricity grid, more and more utility companies have begun to offer prepayment meters (PPMs) to their customers as a response to outstanding payments and a growing number of customers owing debts to their energy supplier. The phenomenon of an increasing number of households affected by energy poverty in Germany is new, and thus the number of PPMs is still low. As a result, experiences in this context are - compared to other countries (e.g. Great Britain) - far from extensive, and political awareness of the problem is low. This paper presents the findings of Germany's first scientific survey on experiences with the use of PPMs.
This paper investigates the multimodal nature of urban congestion and network performance, with the aim of developing practice ready policy tools to alleviate the adverse effects of excess demand, no matter in which mode it realizes. As part of the efforts to get an overall understanding of how congestion is defined in various disciplines, we conduct a literature review of relevant engineering and microeconomics studies. The investigation reveals the main areas where contradiction can be identified between engineering and economics approaches. In a second step, we investigate the results of an expert survey about the principles of congestion analysis from a multimodal perspective. The main contribution of the paper is twofold. First, we draw attention to the pitfalls of oversimplified and narrow viewpoints on congestion. Second, we operationalize these principles in order to enable decision makers to assess the impact of urban transport measures on congestion.
Many hope that the Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement can become a catalyst for increased mitigation ambition over time. Based on different theories of change, this paper outlines four governance functions for the Global Stocktake. It can contribute to the Paris Agreement as a pacemaker (stimulating and synchronizing policy processes across governance levels), by ensuring accountability of Parties, by enhancing ambition through benchmarks for action and transformative learning, and by reiterating and refining the guidance and signal provided from the Paris Agreement. The paper further outlines process- and information-related preconditions that would enable an ideal Global Stocktake.
In der Analyse wurden die wesentlichen, in Thüringen vorhandenen nachhaltigkeitsrelevanten Strukturen und Akteure analysiert. Ziel war es, Handlungsempfehlungen zu entwickeln, wie die zukünftige Arbeit der nicht-staatlichen Nachhaltigkeits-Partnerinnen und -Partner und der Landesregierung Thüringen weiterentwickelt und verbessert werden kann. Für die Analyse wurden leitfadengestützte Experteninterviews und ein Akteurs-Workshop durchgeführt.
Ahead of the Conference of Parties (COP) 24 where countries will first take stock of climate action post Paris, this paper assesses India's progress on its nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets and future energy plans. We find that, although India is well on track to meet its NDC pledges, these targets were extremely modest given previous context. Furthermore, there is considerable uncertainty around India's energy policy post 2030 and if current plans for energy futures materialise, the Paris Agreement's 2 degrees goal will be almost certainly unachievable. India's role in international climate politics has shifted from obstructionism to leadership particularly following the announcement of withdrawal by the United States from the Paris Agreement, but analysis reveals that India's "hard" actions on the domestic front are inconsistent with its "soft" actions in the international climate policy arena. Going forward, India is likely to face increasing calls for stronger mitigation action and we suggest that this gap can be bridged by strengthening the links between India's foreign policy ambitions, international climate commitments, and domestic energy realities.
This policy paper reviews the concept of additionality in the context of the Paris Agreement. Additionality is a key criterion that helps to maintain the environmental integrity of the Paris Agreement, especially when units created under Article 6.2 or 6.4 are used for offsetting purposes whether that is by Parties in order to meet their NDCs or whether by other entities with legal mitigation obligations.
It does so by first reviewing key concepts such as offsetting, environmental integrity, and baseline. Subsequently, it explores the context of additionality under the Paris Agreement. More specifically it discusses what should be counted as the baseline for additionality demonstration. The subsequent chapter then highlights the challenges with establishing additionality, that is establishing a causal relationship between a policy intervention and a proposed activity. Finally, the Policy Paper discusses aspects of international governance with respect to additionality.
The objective of this paper is to analyse and make recommendations on a safeguard system for Article 6 that aims at preventing potential harm that mitigation activities may cause on the ground to local stakeholders and the environment. Following some definitory aspects of what and how to safeguard, the paper analyses a number of safeguard systems and do no harm principles as well as tools to implement them. It then gives an overview on Parties' views on the matter, as uttered in their latest submissions on Art. 6 options, as well as an overview of the references in the UNFCCC's SBSTA Chair's text with respect to sustainable development, safeguards, and human rights issues. The paper closes with recommendations on a possible safeguard system for Article 6.
This JIKO Policy Paper explores how Parties using Article 6 can increase their mitigation ambition. Building on a broad definition of ambition raising which puts the intensification of climate change mitigation targets and actions by Parties at its centre, eight different ambition raising options are identified. The analysis shows that these options are associated with different technical, institutional and political challenges, calling for a combination of different ambition raising options.
An index of accessibility-based vulnerability is created based on a definition of transport-user vulnerability regarding transport accessibility created for the EMPOWER project, in order to assess the project's key performance indicator of the inclusion of vulnerable people in the project's scheme. The objective of the index is to account for various individual vulnerability aspects, but also for the "multi-dimensionality" of vulnerability, i.e. individuals may be vulnerable because of one specific aspect (e.g., disability), or they may be vulnerable because of multiple aspects which, if assessed in isolation, wouldn't classify the individual as vulnerable. Users of the project scheme in the Dutch city of Enschede are surveyed on, inter alia, their vulnerability based on this definition, according to their income, mobility budget, physical mobility, age, gender, living situation, nation of birth, and education. According to individual questions, 1% to 54% (single parents and females, respectively) of respondents have some level of vulnerability. According to the index, 23–36% of respondents can be considered to be vulnerable. Suitably modified for local conditions, the index is relevant to cities, especially quickly developing cities where congestion reduction is or has been a priority, insofar as it offers a way of measuring and monitoring the vulnerability of the users of their transport system. Finally, steps to adapt the index to other settings (cities or countries) are discussed.
This governance brief aims to provide practical examples on how investments in urban infrastructure, clean energy, and energy efficiency can be implemented; and how these are embedded in multi-level governance, experimentation, and policy-learning. It draws on examples from the German energy system transition, which can be understood as a large-scale, real-life laboratory for the governance of a sustainability transition of an entire national energy system. The federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia's experience illustrates the complexity of the governance challenge of implementing low-carbon system transitions.
Prepaid-Stromzähler: Erfahrungen aus der NutzerInnen-Perspektive von Haushalten in Deutschland
(2018)
Energiearmut ist ein Phänomen, welches in Deutschland, wie auch in anderen Ländern des Globalen Nordens, in den letzten Jahren immer häufiger beobachtet werden kann. Zunehmend werden Prepaidzähler (engl. Prepayment Meter) von Energieunternehmen als Instrument eingesetzt, um KundInnen mit Zahlungsrückständen bzw. häufig auftretenden Zahlungsschwierigkeiten zu managen. Das Phänomen der Energiearmut in Deutschland ist relativ jung und damit die Anzahl der Prepaidzähler noch niedrig. Somit sind Erfahrungen in diesem Zusammenhang in Deutschland rar. Nachfolgend werden die Ergebnisse der ersten wissenschaftlichen Befragung von Haushalten mit Prepaidzählern in Deutschland (im Bundesland Nordrhein-Westfalen) analysiert. Dabei zeigt sich, dass Prepaid-Systeme für Strom für die betroffenen Haushalte mit erheblichen Alltagsveränderungen verbunden sind. Vorteilhaft ist, dass die Haushalte trotz bestehender Strom-Schulden weiterhin mit Energie versorgt werden können, dass sie über eine bessere Kostenkontrolle verfügen und dass sie Stromsparpotenziale erschließen können. Zu den wesentlichen Nachteilen zählen die hohen Kosten, der Aufwand für das Aufladen des Guthabens und dass Versorgungsunterbrechungen dennoch stattfinden, jedoch nicht erfasst werden. Insgesamt ergab die Studie eine hohe Zufriedenheit der Haushalte mit Prepaidzähler, es besteht jedoch Regulierungsbedarf seitens des Gesetzgebers in Deutschland.
Reliably reducing the emissions in the building sector plays a crucial role if the 1.5°C climate target from the Paris Agreement is to be met. The observed trends show a significant increase in building energy use, especially in emerging economies. Counteracting these trends is absolutely essential, especially in the light of urbanisation, population growth and changing lifestyles. In terms of mitigating the climate impact of buildings, ensuring high levels of efficiency (i.e. very low energy needs, especially for heating and cooling) has the greatest potential for saving energy and emissions, and is at the same time the prerequisite for effective use of energy from renewable sources. Clearly defined targets and suitable metrics are essential to enable appropriate design decisions. Implemented projects clearly indicate that quality assured design and construction lead to reliable in-use energy performance. Effective policy packages to address opportunities and challenges are important drivers to support the uptake of state-of-the-art efficiency measures in the urban building sector.
Im Projekt KomRev werden effiziente Energienutzungs- und Versorgungskonzepte am Beispiel der Stadt Rheine entwickelt. Ziel war es, mit einer sinnvollen Vernetzung der Bereiche Strom, Wärme und Verkehr eine weitgehend CO2-"freie" Energieversorgung im Jahr 2050 zu erreichen. Das Forschungskonsortium bestand aus dem Solar-Institut Jülich der FH Aachen, dem Wuppertal Institut sowie dem Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt.
The study shows that more cyclists and pedestrians can make cities safer. The ranking, compiled by the Wuppertal Institute and funded by Greenpeace, compared 13 metropolises in terms of public transport, road safety, air quality, mobility management, and the proportion of cyclists and pedestrians. The result: Amsterdam and Copenhagen, residents travel about a third of their trips by bicycle, and these cities have the fewest bicycle accidents.
Quo vadis voluntary markets? : new Paris Agreement architecture puts business model to the test
(2018)
Dieses Inputpapier soll für japanische Entscheidungsträgerinnen und -träger aufzeigen, was die Hintergründe der in Deutschland zu beobachtenden Welle an Stadtwerke-Neugründungen und Rekommunalisierungen sind. Dabei wird auf aktuelle energiewirtschaftliche Entwicklungen und Rahmenbedingungen in Deutschland eingegangen, die ein besseres Verständnis vermitteln werden. Das Inputpapier soll vor allem japanische Kommunalpolitikerinnen und -politiker in die Lage versetzen, in ihren eigenen Gemeinden fundierte Diskussionen über eine mögliche Stadtwerkegründung zu führen und Entscheidungen vorzubereiten. Dies können sie auf Basis wichtiger Grundkenntnisse und Erfahrungen deutscher Städte und Gemeinden initiieren. Im Laufe des Gesamtprojektes wird im Herbst 2018 ein Werkzeugkasten entwickelt, der zur Unternehmens-Neugründung in Japan wichtige Hilfestellungen wird leisten können. Ergänzend dazu bleiben juristische und energiewirtschaftliche Fachberatungen unerlässlich, um einen erfolgreichen Start der neuen kommunalwirtschaftlichen Unternehmen zu gewährleisten. Dieses Inputpapier versteht sich daher als erste Handreichung und Hilfestellung für kommunale Entscheidungsträgerinnen und -träger in Japan, damit dort ein Grundverständnis des "Stadtwerkeprinzips" entstehen kann.
In this perspective article, we undertake a brief empirical analysis of the dominant narratives in debates around India's energy future. India has ambitious goals for increasing renewable energy and enabling universal energy access, but there is little social consensus on how these goals should be achieved. We find two compelling narratives in energy policy debates in the country: "energy for development" that privileges energy as critical to economic growth and long term strategic security; and "energy for all" that prioritises the role of energy for basic development and ending poverty. We find that while these narratives find common ground on certain issues such as the role of coal, they clash in the socio-technical imaginaries they represent about India’s energy future. Indian energy policy has been characterised so far by top down, centralised policymaking. With this article, we highlight the societal choices that are inherent in discussions about transformations in India's electricity sector and call for further research on the socio-cultural dimensions of future energy pathways in India.
The international governance landscape on climate change mitigation is increasingly complex across multiple governance levels. Climate change mitigation initiatives by non-state stakeholders can play an important role in governing global climate change. The article addresses the relationship between intergovernmental and transnational governance processes in global climate governance. Particularly, the article aims to complement existing research on the role of "orchestration" by and through the UNFCCC process by focusing on how successful transnational initiatives can resonate within the intergovernmental negotiation process in order to inspire more ambitious climate action also on the part of national governments. This issue is addressed by systematically analysing interdependencies between transnational and international governance. Building on a structurational regime model, the article develops a theory of change of how and through which structuration channels non-state initiatives can contribute to changing the politics of international climate policy, traces existing UNFCCC processes and the Paris Agreement with a view to identifying inroads for a more direct feedback from non-state initiatives and derives recommendations on how and under which agenda items positive experiences can resonate within the UNFCCC negotiation process.
In this project, an overview and prioritization of relevant technologies of the German energy transition are presented in a consolidated form. Many of the relevant technologies have already been developed and deployed to the market. However, in various sectors like system integration or sector coupling, innovation needs remain, as well as in-depth research on further possibilities and potentials for cost degression and technology optimization for all technologies.
Shaping the Paris mechanisms part III : an update on submissions on article 6 of the Paris Agreement
(2017)
At the 46th meeting of the UNFCCC's subsidiary bodies in Bonn, it was decided that Parties submit their input on selected aspects of the Art. 6 negotiations shortly before COP 23, taking place in Bonn in early November. This Policy Paper summarises the views submitted in October 2017 to identify points of controversy and convergence. It builds on previous papers summarising the views submitted in September 2016 and March 2017, respectively.
Durch den zu erwartenden Rückgang der Braunkohleverstromung in Deutschland wird der Strukturwandel in der Lausitz weiter beschleunigt werden. Die Energiewende erfordert also eine konsistente strukturpolitische Flankierung, für diejenigen Regionen, die bisher ökonomisch stark vom Braunkohlebergbau (inklusive Vorketten und Folgeindustrien) abhänging sind. Vor diesem Hintergrund hat die Brandenburger Landtagsfraktion von Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen das Wuppertal Institut beauftragt, erste Empfehlungen für strategische Ansätze einer präventiven Strukturpolitik in der Lausitz zu entwickeln. Die Kurzstudie nimmt besonders in den Blick, welche Erkenntnisse sich aus den Erfahrungen mit dem Strukturwandel in Nordrhein-Westfalen und insbesondere dem Rheinischen Revier für die Gestaltung des Strukturwandels in der Lausitz ableiten lassen.
Deutschland wird seine selbst gesetzten Klimaziele für 2020 sehr wahrscheinlich deutlich verfehlen, was die Frage aufwirft, inwieweit politische Rahmenbedingungen noch problemadäquat sind bzw. wo Veränderungen notwendig sind. Am Beispiel der privaten Kleinvermieter lässt sich zeigen, dass politische Instrumente häufig an den Bedürfnissen der Zielgruppen vorbei entwickelt werden und welche Veränderungen für das Gelingen der Wärmewende notwendig sind.
Global climate
(2008)
Vorteil Stadtwerke
(2018)
Climate change induces various risks for supply chains of manufacturing firms. However, surveys have suggested that only a minority of firms conducts strategic adaptations, which we define as anticipatory and target-oriented action with the purpose of increasing resilience to climate change. While several barrier-centered studies have investigated the causality of non-adaptation in industry, the examined barriers are often not problem-specific. Furthermore, it has been shown that even in cases when managers perceive no barriers to adaptation at all, strategic adaptations may still not be conducted. On this background, the present analysis focuses on the logic of adaptive inaction, which we conceive, in particular, as inaction with regard to strategic adaptations. Adopting an action-theoretical perspective, the study examines (a) which aspects may shape the rationality of adaptive inaction among managers, (b) which more condensed challenges of conducting strategic adaptations emerge for managers, and (c) how the theoretical propositions can be tested. For this purpose, the study employs an exploratory approach. Thus, hypotheses on such aspects are explored, which may shape the rationality of adaptive inaction among managers. Subsequently, predictions are inferred from the theoretical propositions, which allow testing their empirical relevance. Methodologically, the hypotheses are explored by reexamining existing explanatory approaches from literature based on a set of pretheoretical assumptions, which include notions of bounded rationality. As a result, the study proposes 13 aspects which may constrain managers in conducting adaptations in such a way, which serves the economic utility of the firm. By condensing these aspects, 4 major challenges for managers are suggested: the challenges of (a) conducting long-term adaptations, of (b) conducting adaptations at an early point in time, of (c) conducting adaptations despite uncertain effects of the measures, and of (d) conducting adaptations despite cross-tier dependencies in supply chains. Finally, the study shows how the propositions can be tested and outlines a research agenda based on the developed theoretical suggestions.
The implications of how climate funds conceptualize transformational change in developing countries
(2018)
The search for globally coordinated mitigation strategies that could contribute effectively towards bridging the gap between current emissions reduction efforts and a rapidly closing 2°C climate target remains contentious. The participation of developing countries through Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) is emerging as a crucial feature to attain this goal. Against this background, two of the major NAMA funding agencies have embraced "transformational change (TC)" and "paradigm shifts" as policy concepts. Yet, their operationalization within aid management approaches has not been fully justified. Concurrently, academic interest in theories of sustainability transitions has been growing, out of which the Transition Management (TM) approach provides the theoretical inspiration to study, and eventually promote, systemic TCs. However, there is still limited knowledge with which to contextualize the steering of such transitions to different settings. This article engages in these debates by reviewing the theoretical grounding behind the Green Climate Fund and the NAMA Facility's conceptualizations of TC through NAMA interventions against the corresponding theoretical assumptions of TM. Based on a critical review of relevant literature, it is argued that the logical framework-based approach adopted by the funds contains implicit assumptions of causality, which do not adequately cater for the uncertainties, non-linearity and feedback loops inherent in transition processes. The incorporation of more adaptive and reflexive elements is proposed as an alternative. This paper contributes to existing knowledge by critically reflecting on the applicability of TM towards governing sociotechnical transitions in the developing world and by exposing the limitations behind the current thinking underpinning NAMA funding. In conclusion, the systems perspective adopted in sustainability transition theories is thus recommended as a more rewarding approach towards understanding how attempts at transforming paradigms through support to climate policies and actions in developing countries are played out.
In this policy paper we discuss policy instruments which can help to decarbonise passenger cars in the European Union. We elaborate to what extent these policy instruments are effective, technology-neutral, predictable, cost-effective and enforceable. Based on these criteria, we develop recommendations for the European Union and its Member States on (1) how to shape their policy frameworks in order to achieve existing climate change mitigation targets; (2) how to support car manufacturers in selling innovative and competitive products; and (3) how to encourage consumers in Europe to purchase appropriate vehicles.
We conclude that favourable policy instruments are used, but there is a strong need for adjustment and further development. The effectiveness of the current EU emission standard should be further increased by turning away from granting "super-credits" and introducing a size-based (instead of weight-based) credit system. Moreover, its overall ambition is questionable and the existing compliance mechanisms should be sharpened.
Fuel taxes are an effective means to push consumers to buy energy-efficient cars. However, a sharp increase may not have the desired effects. Instead, the Member States should harmonise their excise duties at the level of those Member States, which currently impose the highest taxes (Netherlands, Italy). This includes the abolition of any diesel tax bonus. An introduction and harmonisation of vehicle taxes (purchase and circulation) should be based on a vehicle's energy consumption. Additionally, reformation efforts should aim to change the taxation of company cars in a way that vehicle sizes are reduced over time.
Ambitious Member States may also want to introduce a sales quota for electric vehicles. Sales quotas are a very cost-effective policy instrument provided that the mandated technology will achieve a certain market share. This may be assumed for battery-electric vehicles. Further supportive instruments that should be considered are eco-labelling, public procurement and purchase incentives. However, the latter instrument's effectiveness is debatable and its implementation should therefore not be a Member State's priority.
Viele Städte haben sich vor dem Hintergrund der kaum zurückgehenden verkehrsbedingten CO2-Emissionen und der hohen Belastung durch verkehrsbedingte Luftschadstoffe die Minderung des Pkw-Verkehrs zum Ziel gesetzt. Um dies zu erreichen, ist das Engagement verschiedener Akteursgruppen sinnvoll. Eine bislang noch wenig aktive Gruppe sind Unternehmen der Wohnungswirtschaft. Dieser Artikel zeigt am Fallbeispiel der Wohnungsgenossenschaft LebensRäume Hoyerswerda verschiedene Möglichkeiten auf, wie ein Wohnungsunternehmen zur fahrradfreundlichen Gestaltung von Wohnanlagen beitragen kann.
Wie weit können ambitionierte und flächenhafte Maßnahmen zur Verkehrsverlagerung im Personenverkehr im Ruhrgebiet dazu beitragen, die Ziele von Energiewende und Klimaschutz in der Region bis 2050 zu erreichen? Diese Frage wurde mit dem "Modell Ruhrgebiet" mittels systematischer Forecasting-Szenarien untersucht. Mit den Simulationsrechnungen können die Potenziale von integrierten Maßnahmen der Siedlungsentwicklung und Verkehrsplanung zur Verkehrsverlagerung vom motorisierten Individualverkehr zum Umweltverbund identifiziert werden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass durch eine kombinierte Push- und Pullstrategie für den Modal Shift beachtliche Potenziale zur Verkehrsverlagerung und damit zur Verringerung der Kohlendioxidemissionen erschlossen werden können. Besonders wirksam sind restriktive Maßnahmen gegen den MIV. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen eine unbequeme Wahrheit: Es ginge, wenn man wollte.
This study is an exploratory analysis to provide a prioritisation and indication of extensiveness of review activities related to measures that currently exist for eight product groups: Domestic Washing Machines, Domestic Dishwashers, Domestic Washer-Driers, Domestic Cold Appliances, Lighting products (non-directional, tertiary and "special purpose"), Set-top Boxes. For water pumps only a review of tolerances was required.
The analysis focused on possible energy savings as basis for prioritisation, but - following the request of the European Commission made during the kick-off meeting - also considers resource efficiency aspects insofar feasible within the constraints of the study. The conclusion of this exploratory study is that for all product groups considered (except pumps) a revision of existing regulations (or introduction of new regulations) is the preferred policy option.
The analysis shows that these product groups are expected to (continue to) meet eligibility criteria for the introduction of ecodesign and/or energy labelling measures, with simple set top boxes as sole exemption as its market and environmental significance is in rapid decline (sales are expected to be marginal by 2020).
This policy brief discusses the importance of SUMPs (Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans). We test the hypothesis that the development of an ambitious plan in itself does not necessarily translate into successful policies and measures and in actual sustainable urban mobility. We find that the existence of a SUMP correlates positively with a higher share of public transport but that the existence of a SUMP does not as yet have a significant impact on the overall share of non-motorised modes of transport.
Contemporary combined heat and power (CHP) systems are often based on fossil fuels, such as natural gas or heating oil. Thereby, small-scale cogeneration systems are intended to replace or complement traditional heating equipment in residential buildings. In addition to space heating or domestic hot water supply, electricity is generated for the own consumption of the building or to be sold to the electric power grid.
The adaptation of CHP-systems to renewable energy sources, such as solid biomass applications is challenging, because of feedstock composition and heat integration. Nevertheless, in particular smallscale CHP technologies based on biomass gasification and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer significant potentials, also regarding important co-benefits, such as security of energy supply as well as emission reductions in terms of greenhouse gases or air pollutants. Besides emission or air quality regulations, the development of CHP technologies for clean on-site small-scale power generation is also strongly incentivised by energy efficiency policies for residential appliances, such as e.g. Ecodesign and Energy Labelling in the European Union (EU). Furthermore, solid residual biomass as renewable local energy source is best suited for decentralised operations such as micro-grids, also to reduce long-haul fuel transports. By this means such distributed energy resource technology can become an essential part of a forward-looking strategy for net zero energy or even smart plus energy buildings.
In this context, this paper presents preliminary impact assessment results and most recent environmental considerations from the EU Horizon 2020 project "FlexiFuel-SOFC" (Grant Agreement no. 641229), which aims at the development of a novel CHP system, consisting of a fuel flexible smallscale fixed-bed updraft gasifier technology, a compact gas cleaning concept and an SOFC for electricity generation. Besides sole system efficiencies, in particular resource and emission aspects of solid fuel combustion and net electricity effects need to be considered. The latter means that vastly less emission intensive gasifier-fuel cell CHP technologies cause significant less fuel related emissions than traditional heating systems, an effect which is further strengthened by avoided emissions from more emission intensive traditional grid electricity generation. As promising result, operation "net" emissions of such on-site generation installations may be virtually zero or even negative. Additionally, this paper scopes central regulatory instruments for small-scale CHP systems in the EU to discuss ways to improve the framework for system deployment.
Mit dem Auslaufen vieler Konzessionsverträge im Strom- und Gasbereich auf der örtlichen Verteilnetzebene sind in Deutschland zahlreiche neue Stadtwerke entstanden. Die Bestandsaufnahmen der Autoren zeigen einen eindrucksvollen Sachstand: Durch Gründung von insgesamt 152 neuen Stadt-, Gemeinde- und Regionalwerken haben zahlreiche Kommunen zwischen 2005 und 2016 die Chance ergriffen, ihre Energieversorgung künftig mit eigenen Unternehmen stärker selbst gestalten zu wollen. Doch zum Ende dieser Periode lässt dieser Trend in Deutschland merklich nach. International hingegen mehren sich die Fälle kommunalwirtschaftlichen Engagements. Selbst im Mutterland des Kapitalismus, den USA, gibt es eine starke Bewegung zur Gründung von Stadtwerken. Insbesondere in den Kommunen werden die Auswirkungen verfehlter Privatisierungspolitik deutlich. Hier zeigten sich die negativen Auswirkungen einer am Shareholder Value ausgerichteten Versorgung am deutlichsten. Deshalb wird dort zunehmend nach Lösungen gesucht, die den Public Value steigern, dabei die Gemeinwohlinteressen der Kommunen in den Vordergrund stellen und die Qualität von Serviceleistungen der Daseinsvorsorge nachhaltig verbessern.
Out of the comfort zone! : Governing the exnovation of unsustainable technologies and practices
(2017)
Innovations are important for sustainability transformations, yet often prove insufficient for replacing established unsustainable structures. The promotion of renewable energy, for example, has been insufficient for pushing coal out of the energy market. The prevalent "innovation bias" should be overcome by complementing innovation politics and research with a stronger occupation with the purposive termination of unsustainable technologies, products and practices. This article therefore introduces the concept of "exnovation" and discusses the need of, as well as different approaches for, the governance of exnovation processes.
This paper reports on a nationwide field survey of managing energy efficiency of buildings under energy performance contracting (EPC) in Chinese building sector. The survey aims at getting insight of Chinese experiences of EPC and survey yielded information on profile, specificity and risk specifications of EPC in Chinese building sector. The key findings are that the existing EPC projects are mainly driven by policies and majority of first parties in EPC are owners of public buildings. The contract specificity is worryingly low, with underspecification prominent in the contract sections of renewal and change of the planned solutions, dispute resolution and compensation for personal and property damage. Insufficient risk specification was a major cause of contract failure and disputing. High risks are observed in not enough feasibility study, delay in completion, operational risks, delay in payment and uninsured loss. Most post EPC projects would be worryingly unsuccessful, given to the facts that many of them have not established their energy team, have no further investment and have no effective maintenance. The Chinese existing emission trading scheme (ETS) offers a vital opportunity for upscaling EPC in building sector and policy framing is needed for linking EPC projects and ETS.
This paper analyses India's participation in more than two decades of global climate politics. India has transitioned from a protest voice on the fringes of global climate policy to one that is actively shaping international efforts to combat climate change. Analysis of the drivers behind India's negotiating positions on climate change thus far has focused on the competing motives of equity and co-benefits, which has however been insufficient to explain some of India's recent actions in global climate governance. There is a gap in the literature with regards to the analysis of Indian climate policy as situated in its larger foreign policy agenda and objectives. This paper studies the evolution of India's climate policy through the perspective of its broader foreign policy strategy, arguing that India's engagement with international climate politics can be better understood by locating its climate policy as a subset of its foreign policy agenda. Shifts in India's climate change negotiation stance in the past decade have been but a part of its overall foreign policy adjustments in favour of greater responsibility in management of the global commons. Going forward, tracking Indian foreign policy objectives will yield vital clues towards India’s role in global climate action.
Die meisten Konzessionsverträge für Strom und Gas auf der örtlichen Verteilnetzebene sind zwischen 2005 und 2016 ausgelaufen. Viele Gemeinden in Deutschland haben dies als Chance verstanden, um mit der Gründung eigener Stadtwerke die örtliche Energieversorgung stärker selbst gestalten zu können. Bei diesem Trend zur Rekommunalisierung waren Städte und Gemeinden mit unter 25.000 Einwohnern besonders stark beteiligt. Im Folgenden sollen die verschiedenen Aspekte der Rekommunalisierung näher betrachtet werden.
The study analyses the country background, emissions trends, ongoing activities and barriers relating to the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Indonesia under the UNFCCC. A special emphasis is laid on further mitigation potentials. Fields of mitigation assessed are land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) governance and monitoring as well as electricity demand and generation. A chapter is dedicated to the ongoing and planned increase in coal use - contrary to mitigation ambition in other fields - including an analysis of the economic role and local impacts of coal.
Concretely defined targets are guiding policy efforts and the measures required to achieve national energy and low-carbon transformations in order to reach the maximum 2 degree climate change mitigation target agreed at the COP in Paris in 2015. Reducing energy consumption by harnessing the potential of energy efficiency, expanding the use of renewable energy resources, and transforming all sectors into low-energy and low-carbon structures is crucial. Among the G20 states, most states have set targets for renewable energies, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. Yet, it seems that starting points and target units differ a lot between the G20, and hence comparability is difficult. This topical paper presents a synopsis on the current targets within the G20. The relative lack of energy efficiency targets shows that this pillar needs much greater efforts in current and future energy policy.
Wasting food, wasting resources : potential environmental savings through food waste reductions
(2018)
Food is needed to maintain our physical integrity and therefore meets a most basic human need. The food sector got in the focus of environmental policy, because of its environmental implications and its inefficiency in terms of the amount of food lost along the value chain. The European Commission (EC) flagged the food waste issue a few years ago and adopted since then a series of policies that partially address the problem. Among these, the Resource Efficiency Roadmap set the aspirational goal of reducing the resource inputs in the food chain by 20% and halving the disposal of edible food waste by 2020. Focusing on consumer food waste, we tested what a reduction following the Roadmap's food waste target would imply for four environmental categories in EU28 (European Union 28 Member States): greenhouse gas emissions, land use, blue water consumption, and material use. Compared to the 2011 levels, reaching the target would lead to 2% to 7% reductions of the total footprint depending on the environmental category. This equals a 10% to 11% decrease in inputs in the food value chain (i.e., around half of the resource use reductions targeted). The vast majority of potential gains are related to households, rather than the food-related services. Most likely, the 2020 target will not be met, since there is insufficient action both at Member State and European levels. The Sustainable Development Goals provide a new milestone for reducing edible food waste, but Europe needs to rise up to the challenge of decreasing its per capita food waste generation by 50% by 2030.
Das Projekt "Energiewende integrativ - Entwicklung eines transformativen Forschungsdesigns am Beispiel der Energiewende Ruhr" (EnerTransRuhr) behandelte vordergründig die Energiewende im Gebäudebereich. Auf dieses Thema fokussierten sämtliche Arbeiten und Untersuchungen, die im Rahmen des Projekts durchgeführt wurden. Im Kern aber ging es um die Frage, wie ein Projektdesign im Verständnis transformativer Wissenschaft inhaltlich und methodisch aussieht, das einzelne Disziplinen und Methoden ebenso integriert wie in transdisziplinären Prozessen das Wissen und die Expertise von nicht wissenschaftlichen Projektbeteiligten.
In the Paris Agreement, the governments of the world have pledged to attain climate neutrality in the second half of this century. More precisely, in Art. 4.1 parties agreed to "achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases". However, the collective as well as the majority of measures by individual countries fall short of embarking on a pathway towards that objective. But nevertheless, an increasing number of actors - countries, sub-national entities, as well as corporations - have stepped up their efforts and set themselves carbon neutrality goals.
In this Policy Brief Lukas Hermwille and Markus Gornik portray the commitments of Costa Rica, Norway, Sweden, the City of Melbourne, Australia and the corporation Microsoft. All cases have set themselves ambitious neutrality goals and have implemented measures to achieve them. However, none of the cases will be able to achieve accomplish neutrality on their own, at least not on short-term. The remaining emissions will be compensated using carbon credits either from domestic offset schemes (Costa Rica) or from international schemes.
For the time being, voluntary carbon neutrality goals, as presented in this Policy Brief, are an effective way to demonstrate leadership in climate protection. For the near future, pioneering actors that set voluntary carbon or climate neutrality goals could provide a significant source of demand for international carbon credits.
Measures to address climate change can result in human rights violations when the rights of affected populations are not taken into consideration. Climate change projects in so-called "developing" countries are often financed and/or also implemented by industrialised countries. The research project ClimAccount Human Rights Accountability of the EU and Austria for Climate Policies in Third Countries and their possible Effects on Migration focused on the accountability of the EU and its Member States with regard to negative impacts of climate change measures they are involved in on human rights in third countries - especially those associated with "migration effects". Based on three case studies - projects registered under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism - the human rights dimension of climate change action was discussed, areas of human rights concerns that were discernible in all three case study projects were identified, the issue of extraterritorial human rights obligations was analysed and the subject of access to justice was scrutinized.
Vor dem Hintergrund der europäischen Klimaschutzziele bis 2050 und der damit erforderlichen Dekarbonisierung der Wirtschaft werden in dem Vorhaben die Weiterentwicklungsoptionen der europäischen Energieeffizienzpolitiken untersucht. Es werden die Sektoren private Haushalte, Verkehr und Industrie betrachtet sowie der förderliche Rahmen, d. h. auch sektorübergreifende Instrumente. In den vorgeschlagenen Politikpaketen soll sich die Vielfalt der Instrumententypen abbilden. Neben Best-Practice-Beispielen liegen Länderstudien für drei große Volkswirtschaften der EU vor (Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien) und mit Polen auch eine Länderstudie für einen Mitgliedstaat aus dem mittelosteuropäischen Raum.
Energy efficiency activities are high on the current EU energy policy agenda. Key policy instruments like the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Energy Labelling Directive are under revision.
In a project for the German government, we therefore analysed the effectiveness and consistency of existing sectoral policy packages anew, to open the discussion on which policy changes to the EU's energy efficiency policy packages are crucial to reach the targets.
This comprehensive review addressed the industrial, buildings, and transport sectors plus the overarching governance framework (targets and roadmaps, EED, energy taxation and EU ETS). For each of these, the first step was a gap analysis of the main deficits in the sectoral policy packages, against effective model packages.
At first glance, the combination of energy efficiency policies at EU level seems already quite comprehensive. However, their design and implementation often lack a consistent and ambitious approach to leverage their full potential.
To give some examples of the many shortcomings identified, the governance framework suffers from exceptions and the transport sector being only marginally considered in the EED; an outdated Energy Tax Directive has very low minimum rates and several exception clauses; there is a lack of commitment to implement energy management systems and investment projects in large companies; a clear EU-wide definition of nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB) is missing; and the labelling of energy-using products is still confusing for consumers. Subsequently, we elaborated comprehensive policy recommendations to increase the effectiveness of all these policies, and to bridge some gaps with new policies. A list of priorities was established to sort them by their relevance.
From 7 to 18 November 2016, the twenty-second Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Marrakech. Due to the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement, Marrakech also hosted the first Conference of the Parties serving as Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1). Researchers from the Wuppertal Institute observed the conference and elaborated a detailed analysis of the results. The report starts by discussing developments regarding the implementation of the Paris Agreement, in particular the detailed "rulebook" and cooperative mechanisms. Next, the article discusses developments in the various avenues for raising climate ambition that have been put in place by the Paris conference: the 2018 facilitative dialogue, the engagement of non-state and sub-national actors, and the elaboration of mid-century climate strategies. In addition, the article discusses other Marrakech developments, in particular on issues of climate finance and adaptation, as well as recent developments in the wider world that have an impact on the UNFCCC, in particular developing alliances, developments in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and under the Montreal Protocol, and possible repercussions of the US presidential election.
Two for one : integrating the sustainable development agenda with international climate policy
(2017)
2015 was a watershed for international sustainability governance. With the Paris climate agreement and Agenda 2030, the international community adopted new targets and processes which are to guide policy for decades to come. Both emphasise the need for integration. In practice, however, climate change and sustainable development have so far been siloed issues.
The brochure summarises the project's objectives and methodological approach, its key findings as well as conclusions. Both case studies have shown that technological solutions for low carbon development should be embedded in a well-developed institutional framework to foster their deployment and implementation. Therefore, recommendations for Wuxi include examples of innovative and integrated technical projects for increasing energy and resource efficiency, combining them with recommendations for the development of institutional frameworks. One element of such a framework could be a local energy agency in Wuxi, which would offer support and expertise to potential investors in low carbon technologies. Also for the German pilot region, the brochure offers concrete recommendations how to facilitate low carbon planning within the region.
The study "Towards a Single and Innovative European Transport System" is developing action plans for the establishment of an integrated transport system in Europe. This report was created in a joint effort between VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH (Germany), Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy (Germany) and the Centre of Research and Technology Hellas, CERTH (Greece) on behalf of the European Commission's DG MOVE. Focus of the report is the international assessment of six different countries - Brazil, China, India, Japan, South Korea, USA - in five focus areas across all transportation modes. It provides actions plans on how to overcome existing European barriers towards a single and innovative European Transport System based on best practices and lessons learned in the countries under study. In addition to the actions plans, the study also provides recommendations for international collaboration.
The German government aims to achieve virtually climate-neutral building stock by 2050 to tackle climate change. To realise this goal, comprehensive policy packages based on neoclassical economic theory are in place to foster energy efficiency investment. However, in the building sector, there is increasingly a gap between this aspiration and the reality. It is claimed that one of the main reasons for this is that the existing policy framework fails to address the specific characteristics and needs of different groups of building owners. This is a particular challenge in Germany, where 80% of all dwellings are owned privately and 37% are rented out by small private landlords (SPL). Despite the significant numbers of SPL, they often follow black box decision-making processes when considering energy renovations. In this study, the author uses an explanatory model to understand the decision-making processes of SPL, combining theoretical aspects from different research disciplines. This model was applied to a low-demand housing market in a neighbourhood in the Ruhr area. Eighteen semi-structured interviews (each lasting between 37 and 115 min) were conducted, demonstrating that in addition to economic factors, the values, beliefs, norms and routines of SPL - as well as their personal capabilities and contextual factors - play an important role in their decision-making. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for enhancing the effectiveness of existing energy efficiency policies and other supporting instruments (e.g. tenancy law and social legislation), tailored to the specific needs of SPL.
In der vorliegenden Szenariostudie zeigen Forscher des Wuppertal Instituts, wie sich die Treibhausgasemissionen des Verkehrs in Deutschland von 166 Millionen Tonnen im Jahr 2016 bis zum Jahr 2035 auf null senken lassen - eine Zielmarke, die unter der Prämisse notwendig ist, dass die Erderwärmung auf möglichst 1,5 Grad Celsius begrenzt werden soll. Die Umsetzung dieser von der Staatengemeinschaft auf dem Klimaschutzgipfel in Paris 2015 vorgegebene Zielmarke erfordert eine rasche und konsequente Reduktion der Treibhausgasemissionen in allen Sektoren und auf nationaler wie globaler Ebene.
Zahlreiche einkommensarme Haushalte in Deutschland und diejenigen, die nahe der Armutsgrenze leben, leiden unter den in den letzten Jahren gestiegenen Stromkosten. In der Folge kann eine zunehmende Anzahl von Stromsperren beobachtet werden. Nach Angaben der Bundesnetzagentur wurden im Jahr 2014 insgesamt knapp 350.000 Unterbrechungen der Stromversorgung aufgrund von Zahlungsrückstände durch die Energieunternehmen veranlasst. Um solche Stromsperren zu vermeiden, bieten immer mehr Versorgungsunternehmen ihren Kunden einen Prepaidzähler als Antwort auf ausstehende Zahlungen und eine wachsende Zahl von Haushalten mit Energieschulden an. Das Phänomen der Energiearmut in Deutschland ist relativ jung und damit die Anzahl der Prepaidzähler noch niedrig. Erfahrungen in diesem Zusammenhang sind daher im Vergleich zu anderen Ländern (z. B. Großbritannien) rar. Im Auftrag des Ministeriums für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen hat das Wuppertal Institut die erste wissenschaftlichen Befragung von Haushalten mit Prepaidzählern in Deutschland durchgeführt und stellt die Ergebnisse in diesem Wuppertal Report vor.
This paper outlines the key elements of a low-carbon stabilization pathway for land transport, focusing on the potential of key policy measures at the local and national level, opportunities for synergies of sustainable development and climate change objectives, and governance and institutional issues affecting the implementation of measures. It combines several approaches to provide an integrated view on the decarbonization of the transport sector based on recent literature. It will assess the quantitative basis potential climate change mitigation pathways and will then look into policy and institutional aspects that relate to the feasibility of these pathways. This combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis to measure the potential, options, and feasibility of climate change mitigation strategies in the transport sector aims to synthesize recent papers on the subject and draw conclusions for future research.
A case study in the rural area of South Westphalia, Germany, showed the importance of independent intermediaries to support the development and implementation of sustainable energy and efficiency projects. The idea behind the project "Dorf ist Energie(klug)" (Village is Energy(smart)) was to foster, accompany, and support energy and efficiency projects in villages from the first idea to final implementation. Therefore, the South Westphalia Agency as independent intermediary initiated an application process in which villages could apply with their innovative energy and efficiency project ideas. During the following process the chosen "coaching villages" benefitted from the consultation of teams of thematic experts. Villages with less developed projects were supported through idea workshops with experts and study visits.
The accompanying scientific study evaluated the overall process focussing on the transferability, the sustainability and the quality of the process. Furthermore, a self evaluation tool for (energy) projects in villages was developed and tested in two of the participating coaching villages.
The paper gives a short insight into the project "Dorf ist Energie(klug)". It presents the methodology of the accompanying study and the results with a special focus on the role of the South Westphalia Agency as independent intermediary. Finally, it discusses the transferability and sustainability of the project.
Energiesuffizienz ist neben Energieeffizienz ein zweiter Weg, den Energieverbrauch zu reduzieren. Während Energieeffizienz bei unverändertem Nutzen den Energieinput senkt, ist Energiesuffizienz eine Strategie mit dem Ziel, die Menge an technisch bereitgestellter Energie durch Veränderungen der Quantität oder Qualität des Nutzens aus Energie auf ein nachhaltiges Maß zu begrenzen oder zu reduzieren. Das kann durch Reduktion, Substitution oder Anpassung des Nutzens an den Bedarf im Alltag geschehen. Viele Haushalte praktizieren schon Energiesuffizienz, aber die Hemmnisse für eine stärkere Nutzung sind groß. Auch die Energiesuffizienz im Haushalt benötigt daher eine Flankierung durch die Politik. Im BMBF-Projekt "Energiesuffizienz" wurde daher erstmals eine integrierte Energiesuffizienzpolitik untersucht, die insbesondere den Stromverbrauch in den privaten Haushalten adressiert.