Germany’s energy transition in the media on 24 Oct 2014
Spiegel Online
“Agreement at EU summit: Merkel’s rotten climate deal”
The German government wanted ambitious climate targets but only partially succeeded in pushing them through, says Gregor Peter Schmitz in Spiegel Online. In particular, Schmitz highlights a provision in the agreement allowing member states to veto the European Commission's future decisions on climate issues. Chancellor Angela Merkel said no one “should be scared” by this provision, but Schmitz says it could pose an ongoing threat to the implementation of climate and energy policy.
See the article in German here.
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Online
“Europe wants to become a little more environmentally friendly”
Europe is playing a lead role on international climate protection, writes the Süddeutsche Zeitung Online, thanks to French and German negotiating skills. President Francois Hollande and Chancellor Angela Merkel fought for hours before reaching a compromise. However, environmentalists criticised the agreement on a 40 per cent reduction target for carbon emissions by 2030 as unambitious, saying that a 35 per cent reduction would be reached even without substantial further efforts, the paper reports.
See the article in German here.
Wirtschaftswoche, Online
“Europe makes wind”
Some voices from German industry are warning against ambitious climate targets, saying that along with the cost of CO2 emission allowances under the EU’s emissions trading scheme, they could endanger competitiveness, writes Tim Rahmann in the Wirtschaftswoche. But Chancellor Angela Merkel reassured companies that because German CO2 reduction and renewables targets are “far more strict”, Germany would be able to cope with the European regulations. Merkel has ensured that companies will continue to receive EU subsidies even if Germany exceeds the EU’s 27 per cent renewables target, the paper reports
See the article in German here.
Dow Jones Newswires German
“Businesses attack local government: Industry is leaving”
Bavarian businesses have criticised the state’s energy policy and “inadequate” implementation of the “Energiewende”, the Dow Jones Newswire reports. The Bavarian chamber of industry and commerce said that 10 per cent of industrial companies in the state have transferred parts of their business abroad or lowered production. Another 13 per cent are set to follow suit.
The state premier of Bavaria and the German federal government disagree on the implementation of the energy transition, particularly on the need for additional power lines to transfer electricity from the north of Germany to Bavaria, where much nuclear and fossil capacity is set to be decommissioned, potentially leading to power shortages.
Süddeutsche Zeitung
“Statement before empty chairs”
Bavaria’s minister for economic affairs, Ilse Aigner, stressed in the state's parliament the need for a secure electricity supply and demanded answers from the federal government over how soon nuclear power stations set to be retired will be replaced, and how this transition will be paid for. Reporting for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Frank Müller and Christian Sebald said that members of the opposition criticised Aigner for simply repeating what state premier Horst Seehofer has said repeatedly. Seehofer is a high-profile critic of federal implementation of the Energiewende.
Ärzteblatt
“Environmental medicine: Impacts of the Energiewende”
German doctors showed support the nuclear phase-out, highlighting the positive impact that the transition to renewable energies can have on human health, writes Frank Osterloh in the Ärzteblatt, the official paper of the German Medical Association. At a workshop, the German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer) and other medical professionals were presented with findings on the health impacts of inhalable contaminants lingering in new airtight insulated houses, as well as the risks to drinking water posed by fracking.
See the article in German here.
ABC News Australia
“Germany’s renewable revolution”
A TV report by Australia's ABC News compared employment opportunities created by Germany’s renewable energy sector to jobs lost in Australia, after it decided to wind down its renewable energy targets.
See the video here.
