EU Falls Short on Energy Transition | People Take Climate Action | Who Reigns after King Coal? – July 2019

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – July 2019

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Discussions about global warming and its manifold devastating impacts have been dominating the international media landscape all along this summer – also this month, is on track to become earth’s hottest month on record. Despite all this and the associated transfer of political attention toward the climate crisis, the amount of action taken by governments over the last month has been woefully lacking. The EU’s newly inaugurated President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented the idea of a European Green Deal. While this sounds ambitious, concrete proposals and measures are missing. And while having introduced the idea of becoming climate-neutral by 2050, the EU bodies have not managed to commit to this goal either. Frustrated with such two-faced statements and actions of national governments all over the world, cities & communities are taking matters into their own hands: declaring „Climate Emergency“ and taking action for themselves. Another possibility to make your national government care about global warming: Sue them. A recently published survey found that climate litigation cases have drastically increased through the last years, with a resounding amount of success. Individuals, organizations, businesses and cities demanding and taking legal action for more climate action is one of the most remarkable accomplishments of our time. Yet, we have to emphasize: Aiming for net-zero by 2050 is not enough. In order to get even close to 1.5°C, we need to reach zero emissions way before. And how will such a zero-emission economy look like? We don’t know yet, what we do know is that it will be fueled by a 100% renewable energy system, as solar & wind are already picking up the torch from dying king coal. If you ask us, this cannot happen fast enough. And while it happens, read our newsletter right here to provide you with all the information and analysis you need on the way.

End of Human Civilization | EU Election: Greens Gain Ground | Why Gas is Not a Bridge Fuel – June 2019

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – June 2019

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It seems like the world as we know it might come to an end much sooner than we expected: if we continue to ignore global heating human civilization could be history by 2050. But not all hope is lost. Leonardo DiCaprio and Damon Grameau present solutions to fight climate change in their documentaries and Fridays For Future is more successful than ever: after nearly half a year, students all over the world continue to protest for better climate policies and the movement keeps growing. It certainly seems that their efforts are being acknowledged considering that the EU elections last month saw a surge in green party support all over Europe. This was particularly the case in Germany. Here the Greens now stand even higher in the polls than the Christian Democrats, who are the  majority in parliament. The UK, despite ongoing Brexit troubles, still managed to commit to a net zero target by 2050. Finland managed to top this commendable effort by announcing carbon neutrality by 2035. A wave of so called progress reports in the energy field washed over us, unfortunately there was little progress to be seen. The European Coal Exit has equally little progress to show, reports the Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe. Dr. Traber, the EWG’s Chief Research Officer talked about an energy system of 100% renewable energy at EVS32 in Lyon, France and President of the EWG, Hans-Josef Fell, was asked to consult the Ukranian Government on a Renewable Energy Law.

EU Elections | Climate Activism on the Move | Big Oil’s Lasting influence – May 2019

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – May 2019

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The month of May was marked by hardly surprising yet very alarming revelations about the current state of our Earth and our (non-)actions to finally get it into a better shape. 1 million of the planet’s species are at risk of extinction due to human activities such as fishing, agriculture and of course, climate change, a damning UN report warns. The highest CO2 concentration in the atmosphere in human history was recorded this month at the world’s oldest measuring station in Hawaii. 29 states have already experienced their national Earth Overshoot Days, indicating the day on which they have used their share of resources for the whole year. Every year of the last decade, more people fled from natural disasters than from violence and conflict, a new UN report calculated. The oil industry continues to push its agenda and plans to drill fossils worth $5 trillion.
We agree that these news sound absolutely devastating, but with the global climate movement and the triggered public debates on climate action becoming louder, we also see the first positive indications that the voices of the younger generation are heard. The most recent example that makes us more optimistic: Chancellor Merkel just announced that Germany needs to discuss how to “achieve the target of becoming climate neutral by 2050”, which would be a great step forward as opposed to the initially targeted 80-95%. We need more commitments and with them, more action. Thankfully, the Europeans among us have the opportunity to voice our opinion on climate action in the EU parliament elections this week. Let’s inform ourselves and others. Enjoy reading our May Newsletter!

100% Renewable Energy Worldwide | European Nuclear Industry Crisis – April 2019

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – April 2019

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

On April 12, together with LUT University, we presented our new study showcasing that: A global transition to 100% renewable energy will not only reduce energy related GHG emissions to zero but is technically feasible and economically competitive with the current fossil and nuclear based system. The scientific modelling study simulates a total global energy transition to renewables in the electricity, heat, transport and desalination sectors by 2050 or earlier, given a strong political will.
More political ambition and action is urgently needed as 2018 has seen the highest emission growth in over 5 years. Not only politics but also big businesses have failed to reduce emissions and become more sustainable. While oil multinational Shell is still one of the world’s worst polluters, Ryanair might just be on its way there, the airline landed in the top-10 of Europe’s worst carbon emitters, together with 9 coal plants. Europe, or rather the EU, could nevertheless reach nearly 60% of emission reduction by 2030. In Germany, the fight for climate action continues, while business representatives want to lower emission reduction goals, Fridays for Future Germany have published a paper with an official set of climate action demands to the German government, including the call for 100% renewables by 2035 and a complete coal phase-out until 2030. Scientific work on 100% renewables is increasingly taking off, as shown in a new study by a Scandinavian research team. Read about these and more exciting news in our April Newsletter.

Fridays For Future March Worldwide | EU’s Struggle Over Energy Transition – March 2019

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – March 2019

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Over 1.5 million students and climate activists took the streets on March 15 to urge world leaders to take rapid climate action. Meanwhile, Germany and the EU struggling to find a clear and determined pathway towards a timely and full decarbonisation. In the EU, there is talk of higher emission reduction targets and five states even agreed to aim for 100% renewables by 2050, while other member states have still not stepped up their ambitions. Germany fights over a new proposal for a climate protection law, which has been criticized for being insufficient and too ambitious at the same time. Under the current government, increased climate protection efforts seem nearly impossible. Moreover, we want to highlight three pieces of insightful investigative research and journalism covering the dark habits of the fossil industry “behind the scenes”. The focus of our science update is on Europe’s transition towards a 100% renewable energy system. EWG scientific board members Claudia Kemfert and Christian Breyer have published a new study on how to pave the way towards 100% renewables in the European power sector and another study funded by the European Climate Foundation outlines six scenarios for fossil-free energy by 2050. Read about these and more news in our March newsletter.

Coal Exit in Germany | Renewables vs. Coal | Studies on 100% Renewables – February 2019

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – February 2019

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The long-awaited report by the German coal exit commission recommends that the country quits coal by 2038 the latest. Yet, Germany could phase out coal much earlier, scientists and businesses say. Meanwhile, renewables keep overtaking coal power generation, now also in the EU. A court in Australia has taken a landmark decision, rejecting an appeal to build a new coal mine. The Balearic Islands have agreed a new law, committing to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050. Spain tabled a plan to phase out nuclear power before 2035. Find these news as well as new global and regional studies on 100% renewable energy in our February newsletter.

„Towards 100% Renewables“| Renewables to Reshape the World | Mixed Bag in Germany – January 2019

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – January 2019

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Our January newsletter is (almost) all about renewables. 100% renewable energy is a reality today with numerous best practices and commitments around the world. Doubt it? Have a look at the white paper “Towards 100% Renewable Energy”, launched by IRENA Coalition for Action, including the Energy Watch Group. Renewables are reshaping the global geopolitics and have a strong peacebuilding effort, another IRENA high-level report concludes. In Germany, renewables have for the first time overtaken coal as main source in electricity in 2018, having accounted for over 40% of electricity production. The Baltic Sea Region can switch to 100% renewable energy electricity in a cost-efficient way, new research by Lappeenranta University of Technology shows. Find out these news and more in our new newsletter.

100% Renewables in Europe | COP24 – Another Failed Attempt? | Germany Falls Back on Climate Action – December 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – December 2018

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Transition to 100% renewables is technically feasibly and economical viable, all we need is a strong political will. At COP24, Energy Watch Group and LUT University have presented a new study, showing a pathway to 100% renewables in Europe across power, heating and transport sectors. COP24 has agreed on a Paris „ruleback“, but failed to deliver on a needed climate ambition. Also in Germany, the times of climate ambition are long gone. On a positive side, the 1000th institution has committed to divest from fossil fuels. Portugal and Puerto Rico presented plans to become net-zero by 2050, as did the worlds biggest shipping company Maersk. Find out more in our new December Newsletter.

Oil Supply Set to Crash | Renewables Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels | IEA Comes Up Short on Climate (Again) – November 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – November 2018

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The biggest news of the month is deeply hidden within the newly released World Energy Outlook of the International Energy Agency: Global oil supply is going to decrease by 50% in until 2025 without new investments. This contains  an enormous crisis potential. More big news: solar PV and wind power generation is now cheaper than oil, gas and nuclear, according to the asset manager Lazard. The International Energy Agency comes up short on climate once again. Its latest World Energy Outlook Report 2018 calls for further investments in fossil fuel industry and provides no scenarios in line with the Paris Agreement. A new report by the NGO Partnership Climate Transparency shows that the G20 countries significantly underperform on the fossil fuel phase-out and the expansion of renewables, while massively subsidizing fossil fuels. Germany has become Europe’s new “Coal-Black Sheep”, struggling with its coal exit and hosting four out of ten of the heaviest polluting utilities. Good news come from Spain, planning to go net-zero  emission in the electricity sector by 2050 the latest and the UK, where renewable energy capacity has for the first time surpassed fossil fuels. To find out about this news and more, read our November newsletter.

Air Pollution: ‚New Tobacco‘ | Germany: Climate Brakeman? | Climate Litigation on the Rise – October 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – October 2018

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The simple act of breathing is killing seven million people a year and harming billions more, the World Health Organization warns in the run up to its first global air pollution conference. The latest data from the European Space Agency revealed that the global nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution has reached unprecedented scale. The landmark IPCC report showed that the world can still succeed in keeping the global warming to 1.5°C, but for that „rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes“ will be needed. Meanwhile, worldwide, over 670,000 MW of new coal threaten reaching the 1.5°C target and coal burning remains a major source of highly toxic mercury pollution in Europe. A former climate action front runner, Germany, is turning into a brakeman, hindering more ambitious climate action on the EU level. In the aftermath of the IPCC report, climate litigation cases across the world are expected to rise. Read our October newsletter to find out more.