Information for decision makers

Titelbild einer Studie zu ETS.

EU climate policy and carbon pricing 17. December 2025

Lessons from ETS1 to ETS2: Insights for Fair and Effective Climate Investments

How can EU Member States use their revenues from the new emissions trading system (ETS2) to support an ambitious and equitable path to decarbonisation? To answer this question, we examine revenue use from ETS1 in Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy, and France.

Ein Feld mit Solaranlagen vor einem Sonnenuntergang

EU climate policy and carbon pricing Policy Brief 2. December 2025

The Energy Transition in the Western Balkans

When people talk about coal phase out and decarbonisation measures, they usually think of huge milestones. While this perception is true per se, this regional roadmap for the Western Balkans introduces models on citizen, community, and municipality level which have huge potential to accelerate the energy transition.

preview image in CCPI 2026 - Results

UN climate conferences International climate co-operation Indices 18. November 2025

The Climate Change Performance Index 2026: Results

Published annually since 2005, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an independent monitoring tool that tracks the climate mitigation performance of 63 countries and the EU. It aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate mitigation efforts and progress made by individual countries.

preview image CCPI 2026 methodology

UN climate conferences International climate co-operation Indices 18. November 2025

Climate Change Performance Index 2026: Background and Methodology

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) compares 63 countries and the EU in the areas of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Renewable Energies, Energy Use and Climate Policy, thus providing a comprehensive overview of the current efforts and progress of the countries analysed. This brochure explains the background and methodology of the CCPI.

Leere Stühle bei der COP30 in einem Verhandlungsraum

UN climate conferences Blog post 17.11.2025

The New Nature of COPs

This article is an extended version of a German text originally published by Table.Media.COP30 is different from all previous COPs, and future COPs will rather follow the character of COP30.

Giftiger Rauch kommt aus dem Schornstein eines Wohnhauses

EU climate policy and carbon pricing Blog post 13.11.2025

New Emissions Trading System under Fire

Das EU-Emissionshandelssystem für Gebäude und Verkehr (ETS2) steht auf der Kippe: Mehrere Mitgliedstaaten wollen den Start um ein Jahr verschieben – und gefährden damit das zentrale Instrument europäischer Klimapolitik.

preview image

Report 12.11.2025

Civil Society Calls on AU–EU Summit to Put Climate Justice at the Centre

Together with African and European partner organizations, Germanwatch urges AU and EU Heads of State and Government to make climate action the top political priority at the AU–EU Summit on 24–25 November 2026 in Luanda, Angola. The joint statement highlights that only a partnership grounded in justice, equity, and accountability can deliver real progress for people and the planet.  

Eine Hütte bei Nacht, die mit Strom beleuchtet wird

Sustainable Finance 12. November 2025

Multilateral Development Banks’ Contribution to the COP28 Energy Consensus

The global energy transition is at a critical juncture. Despite historic commitments at COP28, investment remains dangerously uneven and insufficient. Our paper explores the role MDBs can play in delivering the COP28 energy consensus.

cover climate risk index

Dealing with the impacts of climate change International climate co-operation Indices 11. November 2025

Climate Risk Index 2026

Scorching heat, heavy rainfalls, raging wildfires, deadly floods, and devastating storms: The manifestations of extreme weather events have become too common in a new reality worldwide. The Climate Risk Index 2026 sheds light on inaction’s growing cost.

In drei Reihen stehen neu gepflanzte Mangroven in Wasser

UN climate conferences Dealing with the impacts of climate change Blog post 10.11.2025

Adaptation at COP30

With the world on the verge of overshooting the 1.5°C limit, adaptation to climate change is essential. We explain Germanwatch’s key demands on adaptation on the first day of COP30, taking into account the most recent reports and discussions.

Contact persons

Christoph Bals

Chief Policy Officer