Klima

We are facing two major climate challenges. First, to avoid the unmanageable impacts of climate change, through climate action. Secondly, to cope with unavoidable impacts of climate change, through adaptation. Germanwatch is working on equitable and efficient solutions to both.

News

Blogpost
Blog post by Gerrit Hansen and Lutz Weischer, August 2016
Representing two-thirds of global population, four-fifth of world GDP and more than three-quarters of total greenhouse gas emissions, the G20 – group of the leading industrialized countries and largest emerging economies is a central platform for the implementation of the Paris agreement. When G20 leaders meet at the Hangzhou summit from September 4th to 5th, climate change and decarbonisation have to rank high on the agenda. For the Paris Agreement to enter into force, it has to be signed by at least 55 countries representing no less than 55% of global GHG emissions.
Publication
The encyclical Laudato Si’ – A Magna Carta of integral ecology as a reaction to humanity’s self-destructive course
This background paper explores the potential relevance within a pluralistic society of the important encyclical Laudato Si’ issued by Pope Francis in June 2015. It considers whether the encyclical documents a reflected faith that accepts the primacy of science in secular knowledge as well as the primacy of democratically elected governments, human dignity, and human rights in the political sphere. Laudato Si’ presents a paradigm shift from the image of the dominion of mankind over the rest of creation to universal fraternity with even weak and marginalised people as well as fellow beings threatened with mass extinction.
Publication
Roles and responsibilities at the local, national and international level to enable cities’ climate leadership
The Paris Agreement which was adopted in December 2015 sets the pace for global action against climate change for the coming years and decades. In its preamble it underlines the importance of all levels of government engaging in and contributing to tackling the climate challenge. Given the significance of cities in emitting greenhouse gases as well as their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, their role in advancing a low-carbon and climateresilient development should not be underestimated. An urban transformation is key as it will decisively shape the functionality of cities for the next 50 to 100 years.
Publication
It is, without doubt, difficult to compare India and Germany as the cultural and socio-economic differences are striking. With this paper, Germanwatch and CANSA seek to introduce some of the backgrounds to the different climate policy approaches of India and Germany with a view to the ambitious and equitable implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Publication
The Potential of Creating Low-Carbon Development Strategies Together
Indo-German cooperation on low-carbon development can reach far beyond should dialogue on and provision of German support for an Indian low-carbon energy mix. Germany, in turn, should seek inspiration from India as well. An Indo-German dialogue on low-carbon development should therefore allow exchange in partnership on more fundamental aspects of a low-carbon development such as sustainable guiding principles, lifestyles, sustainable business concepts and economic and governance structures.
Blogpost
Blog post by Vera Künzel and Alexander Reif, July 2016
The Nansen Initiative, which ended in 2015, developed a comprehensive "Protection Agenda” over the course of 3 years, which to date has been endorsed by over 100 countries. Although not producing new legal regulations, the initiative was pioneering in that it was the first intergovernmental process to work on protecting people displaced across borders by disasters and in the context of climate change. Its focus on exploring existing political instruments in order to close the protection gap has made for a solid foundation for further work. Now next steps are to be taken.
News
More International Energy Efficiency and Green Energy Cooperation Could Help to Overcome Major Conflict Drivers
The Donbas is extremely important now and in upcoming decades for two things: securing peace in Europe and the energy transition from oil, gas and coal to energy efficiency and renewable energy. In order to improve a solution to the current conflict in the Donbas through new economic perspectives, Ukraine and Germany/the EU should urgently and significantly enhance cooperation on the low-carbon transition of the Donbas. The Germanwatch conclusions in detail here.
Publication
Bilateral Indo-German cooperation has proven to build mutual understanding and trust in finding solutions in international negotiations. Bilateral cooperation experience has provided learning and confidence for various negotiation items at UNFCCC. A fruitful implementation of the Indo-German Solar Partnership would build further evidence for healthy bilateral cooperation and would support implementing the Paris Agreement jointly.
Press Release
The Peruvian mountain guide Saúl Luciano Lliuya is demanding that the Essen Regional Court in Germany order the energy firm to pay for safety measures to protect his home town. Climate change has caused a glacial lake to fill up to the brim, threatening to flood the city of Huaraz.
Representing RWE, the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has filed its first response to a civil suit filed by the Peruvian small-scale farmer and mountain guide Saúl Luciano Lliuya. The german firm denies responsibility for climate change impacts in the Peruvian Andes. In the written statement, the lawyers claim that RWE has no liability under German civil law. The claimant Saúl Luciano Lliuya expected such a reaction and is determined to pursue his case at the Essen Regional Court (Germany) in a hearing this autumn with his Hamburg lawyer Dr. Roda Verheyen: “RWE needs to take responsibility for its emissions. We in Peru have hardly made any contribution to climate change, but we live with the worst consequences.”
Blogpost
Blog post by Lisa Junghans, May 2016
In this blog Lisa Junghans, Policy Advisor for Climate Change, Adaptation & Urban Transformation, discusses the opportunities for cities under the GCF, and how achieving a paradigm shift needs bundled power from all sides.
Contact

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Policy Director
(until 15.6.24 in Political Focus Time)

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Head of Division – German and European Climate Policy

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Senior Advisor – Climate and Development – India

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Head of Policy Berlin /
Representation of the Policy Director until 15.6.24