What are Germany's Traffic-Light government’s plans for accelerating the country's energy transition? Spotlight Germany aims to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate neutrality by 2045. This Spotlight examines Germany's "traffic-light" government's Energiewende plans against the backdrop of fossil fuel price hikes and supply concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. By Sascha Samadi
Energy Efficiency in Germany: What is at Stake? Explainer With few natural resources, Germany relies on energy efficiency to lower costs and reduce dependency on fossil fuel exports. Optimizing energy efficiency is crucial to achieving the goal of 100% renewable energy production. By Senta Schmatzberger
State Support for Energy Efficiency in Buildings: A View from Germany Commentary One of the most influential European practice schemes to support energy efficiency investments in the building sector with public funds, was developed jointly by the German government with the KfW bank in 2006. Notwithstanding the program's scale, the annual renovation rate is still only around 1%, while around 3% is needed for a decarbonization of the building stock by 2045. By Senta Schmatzberger
An Algorithm for Peace? AI in International Peace Mediation Commentary AI in the context of international conflict is more likely to be associated with lethal autonomous weapons (LAWS) on the battlefield. Hiding on the other side of that coin are, however, rewarding questions regarding AI’s possible contribution to peace. By Katharina Höne
Energy Performance Certificates: Understanding Their Role and Current Status in Germany Commentary Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) enable the comparison of building energy consumption, making energy efficiency a key selling point for property sales or rentals. This analysis examines the current status of EPCs in Germany. By Senta Schmatzberger
Fashion Sustainability: Achieving Circularity in Clothing Consumption Explainer The staggering amount of waste generated by the disposable fashion model has become a major problem over the years. Newer business models utilize systems thinking and aim to move away from a linear system and towards a closed loop scenario. By Olga Cieslak
What role could off-shore wind energy play in Europe's energy transition? Explainer Focusing on offshore wind and green hydrogen: What are the prospects of transforming the North Sea into a green power plant for Europe? By Karin Jensen
Meat Consumption and Climate Change: What's the Connection? Explainer Meat consumption is a contentious issue for multiple reasons, with many condemning the practice on moral, ethical or religious grounds. But its climate impact is indisputable. By Rachel England
What is Tech Diplomacy? Explainer The term “tech diplomacy” has gained currency over the last five years. The following text aims to unpack it and highlight specific examples of tech diplomacy practices. By Katharina Höne
What is Digital Constitutionalism? A view from Europe Explainer European digital constitutionalism should not be considered as a mere constitutional reaction. Rather, it is a long-term, proactive strategy to protect democratic values in the algorithmic society from being eroded by unaccountable powers. By Giovanni De Gregorio