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German government passes €212bn climate fund
The German government passed the budget for its flagship climate and transformation fund (KTF) on Wednesday (9 August) to accelerate the green transition by providing €212bn to various projects in building renovation, decarbonisation and the industry between 2024 and 2027
The dedicated fund, which is excluded from the usually-strict German spending rules, has become one of the government’s primary tools to finance its major projects. For the year 2024 alone, the government has earmarked €57.6 billion for various projects – more than €20bn more than in 2023.
“With the KTF Economic Plan, we are promoting innovation in Germany as a business location. We are laying the foundations so that decarbonisation and digitalisation can give rise to opportunities for the future,” finance minister Christian Lindner said in a statement.
The fund particularly aims to finance the energy-efficient renovation of buildings, the decarbonisation of industry and the expansion of renewable energies, electromobility and charging infrastructure.
Cumbria Coal Mine court hearing pushed back
Cumbria Coal Mine court hearing pushed back
Proposed by West Cumbria Mining, the mine would be the first of its kind to open in the UK in more than 30 years. Cumbria County Council initially approved West Cumbria Mining’s proposals for the project in October 2020.
Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC) have filed legal challenges against the proposed development and were due for a court hearing on the matter in late October. However, it has now been confirmed
“At this stage it is unclear how long it will take for the Supreme Court to issue their judgement; however we do not expect the delay to be very significant,” West Cumbria Mining said in a statement.
The decision was first called in by the UK Government in early 2021 on the grounds of the potential climate impact of the use of the extracted coal. Ministers asked for a full assessment of the mine’s compatibility with national and international climate targets. The Government eventually gave the project the go-ahead in December 2022.
Amazon summit: Rainforest nations vow to halt deforestation, but delivery plans remain scant
Amazon summit: Rainforest nations vow to halt deforestation, but delivery plans remain scant
Delegates from each of the nations convened in Belem, Brazil, earlier this week for a two-day summit intended to signal cooperation on halting and reversing deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
The outcome was a 10,000-word joint declaration on collaboration to tackle deforestation, but the declaration stipulates that each nation can draw up its own plans to halt deforestation by 2030.
This was a weaker outcome than many environmentalists had hoped for. There are concerns that nations could continue to allow ‘legal’ deforestation beyond climate limits, or that they will continue oil exploration and mining expansions that could harm forest ecosystems. This is despite Brazilian president Lula’s push for an agreement that ended all “plundering” of natural resources for short-term economic gain.
“The planet is melting, we are breaking temperature records every day. It is not possible that, in a scenario like this, eight Amazonian countries are unable to put in a statement – in large letters – that deforestation needs to be zero,” said Climate Observatory campaigner Marcio Astrini.
One EV registered every minute in the UK
One EV registered every minute in the UK
Electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for more than one-third of UK car registrations in July, with battery electric cars registered at a rate of one per minute.
That is according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
According to the report, while hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) volumes increased year-on-year, their market share dropped to 11.3%. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) saw a 79.1% rise, accounting for 8.1% of the market in July. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) witnessed an 87.9% surge, claiming 16.0% of new registrations.
SMMT chief executive officer Mike Hawes said: “The industry remains committed to meeting the UK’s zero-emission deadlines and continues to make the investments to get us there.
“Choice and innovation in the market are growing, so it’s encouraging to see more people switching on to the benefits of driving electric.”