In brief | 25 September ‘25

Politico: It’s game over for Europe’s climate clout

China stands ready to fill the gap as EU infighting leaves a vacuum in global talks.

Reuters: China leads nations with new climate plans, defying US climate denial

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a live video message at the UN climate leaders’ summit that by 2035 his country would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10 percent from its peak.

The Guardian: China’s plans to cut emissions too weak to stave off global catastrophe, say experts

Xi suggested US is not rising to the climate challenge in his UN speech, but critics say new cuts fall ‘far short’ of what is necessary.

PIK: Seven of nine planetary boundaries now breached – ocean acidification joins the danger zone

A new report from the Planetary Boundaries Science Lab at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) said that 7 of the 9 critical Earth system boundaries have now been breached, one more than last year.

Bloomberg: Germany’s growth won’t last without reforms, advisers warn

Germany’s economy is set for a rebound thanks to rapid fiscal expansion, but the boost will prove temporary unless the government addresses underlying issues, according to the country’s leading research institutes.

Bloomberg: Porsche, Mercedes learn pricey lesson: luxury EVs don’t sell

Manufacturers around the world are failing to convince their richest customers to switch to cars that run on batteries rather than gasoline — even after pouring billions of dollars into developing them.

electrive/ARD: Chinese Dreame Technology considers building electric car factory in Brandenburg

Chinese company Dreame Technology is considering building a factory for luxury electric cars in Brandenburg, Germany. “There are talks,” said state premier Dietmar Woidke.

AFP: Germany's Merz rejects claims he is slowing green shift

German chancellor Friedrich Merz in a parliamentary speech rejected claims his government was undermining the climate change fight, but insisted that industry also needed to be protected to revive the crisis-wracked economy.

Reuters: Grid investors keen on Europe as energy transition creates openings

Europe presents huge investment opportunities in power lines and grid enhancements, but business cases can vary between countries and EU initiatives are required to meet wider transmission needs.

DWD: Facts on weather extremes in Germany (2025 version, in German)

Global warming leads to significant changes in extreme weather events in Germany. This document by the German weather service (DWD) compiles key data and research.