P2X, P2Y, PtG, PtL, power-to-gas... These somewhat cryptic terms stand for energy conversion processes that can be used to store surplus power from renewable sources and help meet climate targets. But whether they will actually reduce emissions depends on many different factors, EURACTIV Germany reports.
So-called Power-to-X (PtX) technologies are seen as a good way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions because their potential for storing energy could stabilise the electricity grid. However, German environmental groups BUND and the Öko-Institut have criticised the technology. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The European Commission criticised Germany for its excess nitrate levels in groundwater. If Germany's environment and agriculture ministries fail to put proposals on the table quickly, high fines could be imposed. But this is not the only warning from Brussels. EURACTIV Germany reports.
A relatively unknown EU fund supports coal and steel research projects. Among other things, the money is used to purchase highly toxic gases and optimise processes in the coal industry. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany's Greens plan to make domestic flights 'largely obsolete' by 2035. To this end, they want to introduce a tax on kerosene and gradually increase rail traffic. The EU, however, is far from finding a solution on how to tax air travel. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany intends to invest €100 million annually into the research of hydrogen technologies. This could be the business of the future, as well as the country's next top export. However, the future of green gas is still extremely shaky. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Ursula von der Leyen has great plans for environmental protection. Some of her ideas have long been propagated by France, but have been ignored by Germany so far. Can the new European Commission President change that? EURACTIV Germany reports.
In a surprising turn of events, the leader of the German Christian Democrats (CDU), Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, was appointed Germany's new defence minister. While the opposition is unhappy, observers are wondering whether she will do a good job, given that she had opposed to take cabinet responsibility until recently. EURACTIV Germany reports.
France introduced a tax on airline tickets this week. However, this does not really replace a tax on kerosene, which continues to be tax-exempt across Europe. But why is the EU not introducing such a tax? EURACTIV Germany reports.
Should Germany put a price on carbon emissions from transport, buildings or agriculture, which are currently not covered by the EU emissions trading scheme? The question is dividing members of the ruling coalition. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The federal economic ministry has followed the German coal commission's recommendation by preparing a draft bill to phase-out coal power generation. However, things are going too slowly, according to the Greens. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Deutsche Umwelthilfe, an environmental association, was cleared yesterday (4 July) from accusations that it misused funds raised through the numerous legal cases it won before German courts. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Members of the European Parliament elected Italian Socialist David Sassoli to chair the chamber amid rising criticism over the EU leaders attempt to influence their choice.
Former German Justice Minister Katarina Barley told EURACTIV in Strasbourg that she wants to vote against Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council's proposed candidate for the European Commission presidency. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Community and belonging - what do these terms mean in an increasingly diverse and identity-focused world? At the Young Europeans' Forum 2019 that took place in Berlin in June, young people discussed what makes a good society and how social cohesion can be promoted at an individual level. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The prosperity gap in Europe is widening. Despite the general upswing since the economic crisis in 2008, an increasing number of European citizens are at risk of poverty. At the same time, globalisation and digitisation are changing almost every aspect of our lives.
In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Hanno Burmester, founder of the consultancy firm Unlearn, spoke about the widening gap between rich and poor in Europe, the rise of nationalism and whether social cohesion is crumbling.
German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze announced that she will be holding talks with representatives of all states that have so far refused to join the EU's carbon neutrality objective for 2050. EURACTIV Germany reports.
In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Axel Salheiser, who is conducting research on right-wing extremism at the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society, spoke about the growing incidence of acts of violence by the far-right and the potential dangers of right- and left-wing extremist groups in Germany.
Nestlé's plans to introduce a Nutri-Score for its products across Europe have been blocked in Germany, which lacks a legal framework for colour-coded food labels. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU leaders wrapped up a two-day summit on a low note on Friday (21 June), having failed to agree on the distribution of the EU's top jobs for the next five years.
EU leaders failed to reach an agreement in the early hours of Friday (21 June) on the EU's top jobs, as divisions over the process and the distribution of the posts impeded any progress.
Internal EU documents show that a European Commission fund invests €40 million per year into coal research projects. The money also goes towards personnel costs for Europe's main coal lobby organisation.
A few days before the EU Summit, climate diplomats are gathering in Bonn to agree on rules for trading CO2 certificates and financial mechanisms designed to support developing countries, two agenda items from the Paris Agreement that remain unresolved. EURACTIV Germany reports.
