In Anbetracht des Klimawandels stehen wir vor großen Herausforderungen, Mittel und Wege zu finden, die Emissionen von Treibhausgasen wie Kohlendioxid (CO2), Methan (CH4) und Lachgas (N2O) zu reduzieren beziehungsweise diese Gase aus der Atmosphäre zu entfernen. Es wird verstärkt diskutiert,...

In Anbetracht des Klimawandels stehen wir vor großen Herausforderungen, Mittel und Wege zu finden, die Emissionen von Treibhausgasen wie Kohlendioxid (CO2), Methan (CH4) und Lachgas (N2O) zu reduzieren beziehungsweise diese Gase aus der Atmosphäre zu entfernen. Es wird verstärkt diskutiert,...

The debate on effective climate protection is heating up in Germany and the rest of the world. Nuclear energy is being touted as “clean” energy. Given the circumstances, the present study analyzed the historical, current, and future costs and risks of nuclear energy. The findings show that...

For many years now, nitrate concentrations have exceeded the trigger value of 50 milligrams per liter at nearly one-fifth of the groundwater sampling sites in Germany. Apart from impairing the ecosystem by, for example, causing eutrophication of water bodies, nitrate-polluted drinking water also...

At just 4.4 percent, the contribution made by nuclear power to meeting the world’s primary energy requirements is marginal and on the decline. The current nuclear power fleet is outdated with around 200 plants due to be phased out over the next ten years compared to as few as 46 new nuclear...

To achieve climate targets, efforts need to be made in Europe to improve energy efficiency and to expand renewable energies. Conditions for investing in renewable energies in Europe must be improved, subsidies for fossil and nuclear energy reduced. A 100 percent renewable energy system is...

Amidst other national and global climate protection initiatives, the new EU Commission under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen is facing the challenge of concretely following through on previous announcements regarding an ambitious climate policy. Specifically, action must be taken to raise...

The construction of a second Baltic Sea natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany (Nord Stream 2) is very controversial for political, energy economic, and ecological reasons. The project owner and some European energy companies argue that it is a profitable, private-sector investment project...

Power generation from lignite and hard coal was responsible for more than a quarter of German greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. Of all federal states, North Rhine-Westphalia is by far the largest carbon emitter. The Growth, Structural Change and Regional Development Commission (also known as...