A common task

Goodbye, nuclear power

Arguments for the future

In Fukushima, there was core meltdown after an earthquake a good 10 years ago. In Zaporizhzhia, Russia’s war of aggression puts a nuclear power plant at risk. Meanwhile, France was forced to shut down its reactors in summer. The reasons? Sudden hairline fractures and a lack of cooling water due to the heatwaves. Is nuclear power…

A perfect circle

A major part of the solution

The warning signs from the climate crisis are becoming increasingly clear. And yet this crisis is still viewed primarily in terms of the energy supply and perhaps transport, with no regard for another major part of the solution: the required radical shift in our economic paradigm towards the establishment of a genuine circular…

Climate Policy – A Fitness Check

Peace, freedom and climate action

I am a fan of Europe. The EU has brought peace, security and more freedom for citizens and has created the world’s largest internal market – as well as a high level of climate ambition. In that field we have an important driver in the form of the European Commission, with its latest initiative, the Fit for 55 package. The Commission…

A quiet climate champion

Making headway at last

Electromobility was the outlier for a long time, until just a few years ago. In 2016, electric vehicles still accounted for less than 1% of new registrations. 2020 saw the figure soaring to 13%, and the number of models available almost quadrupled between 2015 and 2020. When it comes to two-wheelers, electric drives have also…

Diversity at risk

Not always pretty, but vital

It is not considered particularly pretty. And let’s not mention its reputation. But when it comes to one particular characteristic, the termite is unrivalled: it can significantly improve the quality of depleted soils. This makes it just one of countless species that are important for the well-being of nature – and in turn also for…

Environmentally sound, collective and fair

A transformation with many dimensions

The sustainability transformation is one of the biggest tasks that humankind has ever faced. And it’s a challenge in which there is more than one dimension to consider. There is of course the environmental dimension, but the technical, economic and – importantly – the social aspects must not be forgotten. Those who formulate…

Another 30 years to go

A new yet familiar role

Where nuclear energy is concerned, we have come a long way since the Oeko-Institut was founded more than 40 years ago. The nuclear phase-out was finally agreed; Germany’s remaining reactors are due to be shut down next year. A science-based, transparent, participatory and stepwise procedure is now in place to identify a site for a…

50 million by 2030

Room wanted, for a while

I wish our apartment had a spare room. Just one. Now that the children are a bit older, it would be nice for them to have a space of their own. We would only need it for a few years, just until they leave home. After that, I would happily hand it back – my wife and I wouldn’t use it.

That’s not how it works, I hear you say. But…