Publications

The current international scenario is characterised by a complex web of global crises. This situation is having a particularly negative impact on the countries of the Global South, which are facing considerable financial constraints that are hindering the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In this context, the French Government is organising the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact on 22-23 June 2023, which aims to forge a new pact between Global North and Global South countries.

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is comparable to a comprehensive digital index card or a “digital CV” that the EU seeks to introduce for a wide range of products. It is intended to provide information needed, for example, for more efficient repair and recycling of products. We believe that the DPP has a significant potential to pave the way towards a more circular economy as it can address the information deficit along a circular value chain that often impeded circularity.

While Senegal has had major success in expanding renewable energy – the variable nature of wind and solar energy and the existing electricity system means that further grid integration is starting to become a growing challenge. Moving forward, policy decisions to be taken will have a large influence over the role of fossil fuels in Senegal for the foreseeable future. This paper aims to provide an overview of the opportunities to support Senegal in its transition to a decarbonised, renewable energy system, including a discussion of the challenges associated with this transition and the role that Germany can play in overcoming them.

To take advantage of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and other financing opportunities, Indonesia must identify key requirements to create the right environment for cooperation without violating existing principles. Our background paper provides a brief overview of the state of the energy transition plan and financing in Indonesia.

In a series of dialogues with Indonesian civil society organisations (CSOs), Germanwatch and the Habibie Center explored how to integrate social justice aspects into the energy transition debate in Indonesia. This policy brief provides the context for how Indonesian CSOs view the JETP and how they relate to other key socio-economic issues.

Steering the steel industry towards a climate-neutral future is a major challenge. However, it is also a great opportunity: steel sector is responsible for approximately 30% of industrial greenhouse gas emissions in Germany – and, by extension, for 7% of national emissions. This means that a climate-neutral steel industry will allow us to take a major step closer to meeting the German and international climate targets. This policy paper highlights how we can get there and which technologies will play a key role.

The emerging polycrisis is challenging governments and institutions around the world. Especially countries in the Global South lack the financial capacity to address the current challenges and simultaneously prepare their nations for the impacts of climate change. The existing international financial architecture has so far been unable to provide the necessary financial resources.There are three major reform proposals that address different institutions within the international financial architecture. This primer introduces the proposals presented and provides an overview of the main institutions and actors involved in the process in Germany.

The debate on downstream due diligence has never been more topical: The EU currently discusses the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. However, both the Council and various parliamentary groups want to limit the scope of the value chain to which environmental and human rights due diligence obligations should apply. Among other things, the downstream value chain would then be (largely) exempted from corporate due diligence obligations. In this short policy brief, published along with Initiative Lieferkettengesetz, SOMO, SwedWatch, and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung we demonstrate why downstream due diligence is necessary and how it can be implemented. We also provide key recommendations for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

European mining equipment manufacturers are cooperating with and supplying mining projects that are known for human rights abuses and environmental destruction. The lack of legislation requiring companies to address severe human rights and environmental risks in their downstream value chain makes this possible. This study highlights the need for downstream due diligence obligations in the mining equipment sector.