Neuer Kostenrechner als Entscheidungshilfe
Plug-In-Hybrid oder ein Elektrofahrzeug lohnt und welche Kostenbestandteile wie hoch zu Buche
Unternehmen verpflichtet sich, Treibhausgasemissionen bis zum Jahr 2015 um 15 Prozent zu senken Weltweite Klimaveränderungen lassen keinen Zweifel daran, dass der Ausstoß an Treibhausgasen erheblich gesenkt werden muss. Dieser Verantwortung wollen sich zunehmend auch Unternehmen stellen. Das Öko-Institut bietet dabei fachliche Unterstützung für die Praxis. Aktuell haben die WissenschaftlerInnen für das Handelsunternehmen Metro Group eine Klimabilanz erstellt und geprüft, wie der Konzern seine Treibhausgasemissionen wirkungsvoll verringern kann. Das Ergebnis: Im Untersuchungsjahr 2006 hat das Unternehmen 4,15 Millionen Tonnen CO2 emittiert. Jetzt hat sich die Metro Group verpflichtet, ihre Emissionen bis zum Jahr 2015 um 15 Prozent zu senken. Das soll vor allem mit Energieeinsparungen erreicht werden.
Werbemittel macht rund 8,5 Prozent aus und Dienstreisen schlagen mit 1,5 Prozent zu Buche
Der Tourismus spielt eine nicht zu unterschätzende Rolle für den Klimawandel. Denn je weiter das Urlaubsziel, desto größer ist der Energieverbrauch auf dem Reiseweg und die damit verbundenen klimarelevanten Umweltauswirkungen.
in einer Ferienwohnung an der Ostsee schlägt mit 52 kg CO2 deutlich geringer zu Buche
Environmental aspects are more and more relevant for raw material policy-making and responsible sourcing strategies. This trend is partly based on growing public awareness of problems and impacts associated with extraction and processing of ores and minerals. Disaster events such as the tailing dam failures in Kolontár (Hungary, October 2010) and Bento Rodriguez (Brazil, November 2015) quite frequently highlight the fact that many mining and processing practices are associated with substantial environmental impacts and risks for the local and even regional environments. However, there is also increasing recognition that the rather devastating environmental performance of many past and current mining projects is a major reason for communities around the world to oppose both the development of new and the expansion of existing mines. Although mining companies constantly have to increase their efforts to secure the social license to operate, many scholars already point out that both environmental impacts and associated social and political reactions are emerging as a decisive factor determining current and future raw material supply. In light of these concerns, raw material policy-making requires solid information on environmental hot spots in mining, as well as on raw materials of particular concern. Whereas indicators and information systems are already well developed for geological, technical, structural, political, regulatory, and economic supply risks, there is currently no holistic method and information system for environmental concerns associated with the mining of raw materials. Although life cycle assessment can provide methodological support for various environmental aspects, it has substantial weaknesses in the fields of ecosystem degradation, impacts on fresh- and groundwater resources, and hazard potentials from episodic disaster events. This paper presents a methodology that aims to fill this gap. Our proposed method provides a system of 11 indicators allowing the identification of raw material-specific environmental hot spots and rankings of raw materials. Although the indicator system is qualitative in nature, its composition and aggregation cover the most relevant environmental concerns arising from mining and allow prioritizing of raw materials from a global environmental perspective.
potentials of minerals and metals from mining 13.08.2018 Bereichsübergreifend Bücher
Reducing power consumption is a vital building block for transforming the energy system. In the contribution, we will present insights from an ongoing research project “Power efficiency classes for households” studying how power consumption in households can be sustainably reduced and stabilized over the long term. The approach uses the concept of efficiency classes to provide a comparative feedback on households’ total power consumption. The power efficiency classes of households are developed as an indicator for households to more easily estimate their total power consumption and better implement specific goals for saving power. The efficiency classes range from 1-7 – like the power label of the European Union –, with 1 being the best possible class, i.e. the lowest power consumption. On this basis the power efficiency label pools the total power consumption of a household and assigns it a consumption class. A labelling process for particularly frugal households or households achieving a significant reduction in power use that is harmonized with this procedure makes things simple and transparent and thus increases the motivation to attain a better power efficiency class. An energy audit and corresponding power saving packages help households identify saving potentials in order to improve their power efficiency class. This approach is implemented in 100 selected households in cooperation with power companies and manufacturers of appliances in a field test. The aim of this test is to evaluate the households’ sensitization for their own power consumption and the suitability of the various power saving packages. In the contribution, we will present the power efficiency classes for households and report results from the field test in the participating households. Against this background, we will discuss some implications for implementing and scaling-up sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices in relation to sustainable energy use, to improve efficiency on a household level and to raise awareness for rebound effects.
Energiewende und Klimapolitik Publikationen Produkte & Stoffströme Bücher
To reduce Germany’s total GHG emissions by 95 % by 2050, the building sector must be completely decarbonised. Due to the inertia of the sector, it is necessary to significantly accelerate the renovation of buildings and the transformation towards climate-neutral heat supply technologies. Our analysis identifies which measures need to be implemented by which date at the latest, to achieve the long-term target of full decarbonisation. Based on this we develop a consistent set of policy instruments that would enable the building stock becoming climate neutral in 2050. For both, measures and policies, a roadmap for the heat transition in Germany is developed with short- (2020-2025), medium- (2025-2035) and long-term (2035-2050) guidelines and recommendations. The roadmap of measures is based on an analysis of potential risks and how they could be compensated. Potential risks include for example failing to achieve the refurbishment rates and renovation standards required to realize climate neutrality; or failing to get renewable heat quickly enough into the heating market. Options to offset resulting gaps include an additional use of domestic renewable energy, increased efficiency efforts or the import of renewable energy. The roadmap is divided into four blocks addressing the overall regulatory framework, demand reduction in buildings, heat supply technologies and district heating. The roadmap of measures is “translated” into a roadmap of policy instruments. The policy roadmap includes regulatory approaches, support programs as well as informative instruments. The policy roadmap is designed to provide sufficient incentives for target achievement while avoiding lock-in effects that would undermine meeting the long-term goal.
neutral building stock 11.10.2021 Publikationen Energie & Klimaschutz Bücher
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement creates an international framework for market-based cooperation between countries and/or entities “to allow for higher ambition in their mitigation and adaptation actions and to promote sustainable development“. Article 6.2 provides a framework for engaging in cooperative approaches involving internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs). Article 6.4 creates a new United Nations carbon crediting programme, also known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), overseen by the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body. Articles 6.2 and 6.4 are operationalised through decisions taken under the Paris Agreement. While distinct systems, they can intersect, as emission reductions or removals issued as Article 6.4 Emission Reductions (A6.4ERs) under the PACM, or by other eligible carbon crediting programmes can be authorised under Article 6.2 as ITMOs. A6.4ERs that are not authorised as ITMOs are referred to as Mitigation Contribution Units (MCUs).
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In der Debatte um Klimaschutz und Förderung erneuerbarer Energien wird eine verstärkte stoffliche und thermische Verwendung von Holz als vermeintlich klimaneutraler Baustoff und Energieträger häufig pauschal als sinnvoll propagiert. Die Umsetzung dieses Narrativs führt zu intensiverer Nutzung der Wälder sowie zum weiteren Anstieg des globalen Rohholzaufkommens bei gleichzeitiger Verminderung der Holzvorräte und trägt auch zum Schwund der letzten europäischen Urwälder bei. Der vorliegende zweite Teil eines literaturbasierten Diskussionsbeitrags zu Urwäldern, Naturwäldern und Wirtschaftswäldern im Kontext des Biodiversitäts- und des Klimaschutzes analysiert die Entwicklung der Holzvorräte und Holzverwendung in Deutschland und beleuchtet die CO2-Senkenleistung von Holz für die vorherrschenden Nutzungspfade. Dieser Komplex hat wichtige Rückkopplungen zu Anliegen des Biodiversitätsschutzes. Kritisch betrachtet werden die Klimarelevanz von Holz als Substitut für andere Ressourcen und die vermeintliche CO2-Neutralität von Holz als Energiequelle. Die klimapolitischen Ziele der EU und Deutschlands und deren instrumentelle Umsetzung überschätzen die Leistungsfähigkeit von Wäldern als CO2-Senke und die Lieferfähigkeit für die Ressource Holz. Dies gilt besonders in Anbetracht der Folgen des Klimawandels. Die Forderung an die Politik ist der Verzicht auf Holzeinschlag in Ur- und Naturwäldern und die Einführung entsprechender normativer Vorgaben sowie Kriterien, um die Stammholznutzung für energetische Zwecke einzuschränken. Dies gilt speziell für Importe von Pellets und Hackschnitzeln zur Verstromung in Großkraftwerken. Eine thermische Nutzung von Holz und kurzlebigen Holzprodukten führt gegenüber der fossilen Referenz meist nur zu geringen bis keinen Reduktionen der Treibhausgasemissionen. Stofflich nicht weiter verwertbares Holz, Restholz oder Sägenebenprodukte sollten thermisch und dann möglichst ortsnah in effizienten Anlagen eingesetzt werden. Holz, das in Form von lebenden Bäumen oder Totholz im Wald verbleibt, kann im Vergleich zur energetischen und ineffizienten stofflichen Verwertung einen mindestens ebenso hohen, oft sogar größeren Beitrag zum Klimaschutz leisten. Nicht maximaler Ertrag, sondern Walderhalt mit möglichst resistenten und resilienten Beständen muss das vorrangige Ziel der Forst- und Holzwirtschaft sein. Teil 1: Funktionen für die biologische Vielfalt und als Kohlenstoffsenke und -speicher finden Sie hier >> Click here for the English version >>
Klimaschutz – Teil 2: 31.12.2021 Publikationen Energie & Klimaschutz Bücher
The impact of a global phase-out of nuclear energy is assessed for the costs of meeting international climate policy targets for 2020. The analysis is based on simulations with the Prospective Outlook on Long-term Energy Systems (POLES) global energy systems model. The phase-out of nuclear power increases GHG emissions by 2% globally and 7% for Annex I countries. The price of certificates increases by 24% and total compliance costs of Annex I countries rise by 28%. Compliance costs increase most for Japan (+58%) and the US (+28%). China, India, and Russia benefit from a global nuclear phase-out because revenues from higher trading volumes of certificates outweigh the costs of losing nuclear power as a mitigation option. Even for countries that face a relatively large increase in compliance costs, such as Japan, the nuclear phase-out implies a relatively small overall economic burden. When trading of certificates is available only to countries that committed to a second Kyoto period, the nuclear phase-out results in a larger increase in the compliance costs for the group of Annex I countries (but not for the EU and Australia). Results from sensitivity analyses suggest that the findings are fairly robust to alternative burden-sharing schemes and emission target levels.Policy relevanceNew calculations show that the impact of a global phase-out of nuclear energy on global mitigation costs is quite modest, but that there are substantial differences for countries. Total compliance costs increase the most for Japan and the US, but these are rather marginal if measured in terms of GDP. China, India, and Russia benefit from a nuclear phase-out because their additional revenues from selling certificates outweigh the additional costs of losing nuclear power as a mitigation option. The findings also highlight the importance of certificate trading to achieving climate targets in a cost-efficient way. If Japan or the US were to be banned from certificate trading, along with other countries, because of their non-participation in a second Kyoto period, then their compliance costs would increase substantially under a nuclear phase-out. The EU, however, would benefit because certificate prices would be lower. Published in: „Climate Policy“, 14:3, 327-352, DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2014.852018
Publikationen Energiewende und Klimapolitik Energie & Klimaschutz Bücher
Negativ schlägt heute noch ihr hoher Energieverbrauch zu Buche, der in der Zukunft
