A Green Industrial Revolution
To stop climate change, growth needs to be decoupled from environmental pollution. Europe should lead the way, both as a model for others and to secure its own economic future.
The Face of Germany’s Climate Strikes
The 22-year-old student Luisa Neubauer is often referred to as “Germany’s Greta.” Yet Neubauer is a force of her own.
Tepid on Climate Change
Following years of German inaction, a government commission has drawn up a timetable for phasing out coal. But Angela Merkel’s record on climate has …
Germany’s Diesel Dilemma
The “dieselgate” air pollution scandal leaves Berlin with fewer and fewer good options.
An Oil-Price War’s Surprise Ending
No one expected shale producers to survive extended low oil prices, but they have. The next act could prove even more destabilizing.
Rounding Out the Energiewende
A new incentives initiative seeks to complete Germany’s transition to renewables with an appeal to business and a focus on a long-neglected area: the heating and cooling sector. Government support for solar and biogas heat may give the Energiewende a further push in the right direction.
The Coming (Öko)Strom
Removing regulations slowing the build-up of renewable systems for consumers and industry, considering complementary methods of integrating fluctuating flows of renewable energy, and greening the transport sector through fuel innovations: these are three of the developments we may see in Germany’s renewable energy transition in 2015.
A Pivotal Year
What a difference a year makes: Germany’s transition to renewable energy showed positive forward momentum, with increasing energy production from renewables, increased exports, decreased carbon emissions, and decreasing consumer prices. The next challenge is to improve efficiency.
