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The report advocates for a technology-inclusive energy strategy for Germany to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It argues that relying solely on weather-dependent renewables leads to higher system costs, price volatility, and infrastructure bottlenecks. The author proposes an 'options-based portfolio' including nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), clean hydrogen, fusion, and superhot rock geothermal energy. Key recommendations include restarting nuclear plants, prioritising clean hydrogen for hard-to-abate industrial sectors, and implementing the EU Methane Regulation to reduce potent greenhouse gas emissions.

The document details the management cycles and legal deadlines of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), emphasizing the obligation to achieve 'good status' for water bodies and the strict conditions under which deadlines may be extended. It highlights that while the primary deadline for good status was 22 December 2015, extensions for technical feasibility or disproportionate costs are limited until 2027, after which only 'natural conditions' can justify further delays. The paper also addresses the immediate requirement to prevent water deterioration and the inferred deadline of 18 December 2028 for phasing out priority hazardous substances. A case study on mercury pollution in North Rhine-Westphalia illustrates the legal consequences of failing to implement necessary measures to meet these standards.

The European Union's projected hydrogen demand is expected to rise from 8.3 Mtpy to over 60 Mtpy by 2050, with the World Energy Council estimating that 50% of this demand must be met through imports from regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and the U.S. To ensure these imports are climate-beneficial, the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) advocates for a certification system that measures greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire value chain—including production, storage, transport, and conversion—rather than focusing solely on production facilities. The document highlights a regulatory gap, noting that the Gas Package's delegated act for GHG emissions methodology is not planned until 31 December 2024, which lags behind current market activities and Memoranda of Understanding. CATF recommends that the EU adopt a technology-inclusive approach covering renewable and low-carbon hydrogen (including blue hydrogen), incorporate stringent methane leakage criteria, and align its methodology with the Methane Regulation's monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements by 2027.

The European Union faces a significant hydrogen supply gap, with demand projected to rise from 8.3 million tonnes per year to over 60 million tonnes by 2050, necessitating imports from regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and the USA. The Clean Air Task Force argues that current certification efforts are often voluntary or too narrow, focusing only on production plants rather than the full value chain. To avoid market uncertainty and investment risks, the document recommends that the EU's 'Gas Package' and subsequent delegated acts establish a technology-neutral certification methodology. This methodology must employ a full life-cycle analysis (LCA) that includes upstream methane leaks, transport, storage, and distribution to ensure genuine greenhouse gas reductions.

The policy brief outlines a proposed framework for a German national carbon management strategy, emphasizing the necessity of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and direct air capture (DAC) to meet 2045 climate goals. It suggests five pillars: setting clear quantitative targets, prioritizing hard-to-abate sectors like cement and refineries, engaging civil society, developing shared CO2 transport infrastructure, and fostering international cooperation, particularly within the EU and with countries like Norway and Denmark.

The Netherlands aims to reduce industrial GHG emissions by 59% by 2030 and reach climate neutrality by 2050. The government employs a 'carrot-and-stick' approach, using a National CO2 Tax as a floor price and the SDE++ subsidy scheme to support low-carbon technologies. CCS is currently prioritized as a cost-effective transition technology, with projects like Porthos nearing final investment decisions. Hydrogen strategy involves a transition from grey to blue and eventually green hydrogen, supported by plans for a national 'hydrogen backbone' utilizing existing gas infrastructure. However, the report notes that current policy is insufficient to enable gigawatt-scale green hydrogen projects, and the SDE++ scheme tends to favor mature technologies over long-term innovation.

The document examines how cities can measure sustainability using indexes and indicator systems, presenting a synthesized list of 310 indicators across four themes: environment, social, economy, and governance. It proposes a cyclical 'indicator pathway' for municipal decision-making, involving baseline definition, ex-ante impact assessment during planning, and ex-post impact assessment after project completion. The text notes a global trend toward increased municipal monitoring but highlights a lack of commonly accepted reporting criteria and challenges with non-SMART indicators.

The policy brief contends that Germany cannot achieve climate neutrality by 2045 without carbon management technologies, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), direct air capture (DAC), and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). It highlights that current industrial emissions reductions are insufficient and that a lack of CO2 transport infrastructure and storage sites within Germany necessitates a strategy to connect to regional hubs in Northern Europe. The document further argues that carbon management is essential for decarbonizing the hydrogen economy—specifically through the use of blue hydrogen—and for producing the low-carbon industrial materials required for the renewable energy transition.

The document highlights the dependency of the European wind industry on steel, noting that turbines consist of at least 70% steel. It argues that while wind energy is critical for the EU's energy transition, the steel production process remains highly carbon-intensive, emitting 1.85 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of steel in 2020. Using the example of Dirostahl in Remscheid, the brief illustrates the technical and financial barriers to switching from fossil gas to hydrogen or carbon capture and storage (CCS), specifically citing a potential price increase of 700 to 800 Euro per tonne of steel if switching to renewable hydrogen. It calls for the development of hydrogen and CO2 pipeline infrastructure and the implementation of policy tools like Carbon Contracts for Difference to maintain industrial competitiveness during the transition.

The document explores the 'brownfield to brightfield' transition, where contaminated or abandoned mine sites are repurposed for renewable energy. It highlights two primary examples: the SunMine solar project in Kimberley, BC, and the Windpark Hünxe in Ruhr, Germany. Both cases demonstrate how utilizing former mining land can reduce financial liabilities, leverage existing electrical infrastructure, and provide community economic benefits while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

The document examines the 2018 establishment of Germany's "Coal Commission," which aimed to balance climate goals with a just transition for workers and coal-dependent regions. The commission proposed ending coal-fired power by 2038, supported by an estimated 69 billion to 93 billion euros in measures, including a 40 billion euro investment in affected regions. While praised for its multi-stakeholder approach and clear mandate, the plan faced criticism from NGOs for lacking ambition and providing excessive compensation to power plant operators.

The text examines the forced relocation of villages near the Garzweiler lignite mine in Germany's Rhine Valley. It highlights the emotional and social trauma of residents, the inadequacy of financial compensation for non-material losses, and the perceived failure of the German government to accelerate the energy transition (Energiewende) while protecting local communities. The authors describe the emergence of activist movements like 'Alle Dörfer Bleiben' as a response to the lack of democratic influence and the prioritization of mining interests under the Federal Mining Act.

The document examines five major industrial clusters in Belgium and the Netherlands, highlighting their economic significance and high greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that because each cluster's governance and industrial makeup differ, 'tailor-made policy' is required rather than generic instruments. The brief identifies the Antwerp-Rotterdam-Rhine-Ruhr Area (ARRRA) as a critical meta-cluster connected by extensive pipeline infrastructure. It recommends a multi-level governance approach where cluster authorities handle local planning and implementation, while national and EU bodies provide high-level coordination, regulatory frameworks, and the bulk of the financing for the transition to net-zero by 2050.

The July 2021 floods in Western Europe were driven by extreme rainfall from the low-pressure system 'Bernd', compounded by pre-existing wet soil conditions. While attribution for small catchments like the Ahr and Erft is challenging due to high natural variability, a broader 'Pooling Region' analysis indicates that climate change increased the intensity of maximum 1-day rainfall by 3-19% and its likelihood by a factor of 1.2 to 9 compared to a climate 1.2 °C cooler. Future projections suggest further increases in intensity and frequency in a 2 °C warmer climate.

The authors examine the experiences of villagers near the Garzweiler mine in the Rhineland, where lignite extraction continues to displace communities. They argue that the resettlement process is characterized by procedural injustice, as German federal mining law prioritizes resource extraction over residents' interests. The document highlights the failure of the 'joint resettlement' model to address non-material losses, such as the loss of 'Heimat' (homeland) and the erosion of social structures. It further links these local struggles to Germany's broader failure to accelerate its energy transition (Energiewende), noting that the country remains Europe's largest carbon emitter. The text describes the emergence of activist movements like Alle Dörfer Bleiben and Ende Gelände as responses to political inaction and the perceived entanglement between the government and the mining industry.

The Higher Administrative Court of Münster scheduled a two-day evidence hearing on 9-10 May 2019 featuring science and health experts to resolve debates over air quality rules and diesel restrictions in Germany. This follows legal actions in 35 German cities supported by ClientEarth and Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) to enforce air quality limits. While some officials and specialists have questioned the science linking nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to health issues, the briefing notes that the majority of researchers, the European Commission, and Germany's environment minister maintain that limits are based on sound science. The hearing aims to provide the evidence necessary to adjudicate appeals regarding diesel restrictions in 14 cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The report finds that ten companies were responsible for an estimated two-thirds of the health damage caused by EU coal power plants in 2016, including 7,600 premature deaths. RWE is identified as the most harmful company, with health costs of €5.4 billion in 2016. The analysis highlights that for many companies, the health costs imposed on society are similar in magnitude to the revenues they earn from selling coal-fired electricity. The report argues that companies are 'clinging to coal' through lack of retirement plans, continued investment in old plants, and lobbying for subsidies, and recommends a full phase-out of coal by 2030.

The document outlines four primary categories of financial interventions for regional governments to accelerate the energy transition: increasing capital availability, implementing first-cost solutions, creating market incentives, and reducing procurement costs. It details specific mechanisms such as green investment banks, energy savings performance contracts, carbon pricing, and reverse auctions, providing examples of legislation and programs from various global jurisdictions to illustrate their application.

The document examines two distinct coal transitions in Germany: the economically driven, subsidy-supported decline of hard coal in the Ruhr area from 1958 to 2018, and the politically driven reduction of lignite in East Germany following the 1990 reunification. It evaluates the effectiveness of various structural policies, including investment support, retraining programs, and the creation of universities and infrastructure, while highlighting the risks of 'lock-in' caused by powerful industry networks. The study concludes that a 'just transition' requires multi-level governance, stakeholder participation, and a comprehensive approach that addresses not only employment and the energy system but also soft location factors and environmental renaturation.

The document assesses the progress of Germany's Energiewende, noting that while renewable energy shares have grown, coal still provided 42% of power production in 2015. It highlights the economic tension between the 'big four' utilities and decentralized renewables, the social and political challenges of phasing out hard coal and lignite, and the influence of industry unions in blocking a proposed climate levy on power plants in favor of a capacity reserve.