8:21 min - posted on 2019-09-18
Hamburg, 11. 11. 2020 - By phasing out ten particularly climate-damaging subsidies in the energy, transport and agricultural sectors, Germany can generate up to 46 billion euros in revenue annually.
This is the result of a new study by the "Forum Ökologisch-Soziale Marktwirtschaft" on behalf of Greenpeace. (Study "Ten climate-damaging subsidies in focus" online at: https://bit.ly/2JVu3tq).
A total of almost 100 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents would be saved annually compared to today if the subsidies under consideration were reformed. This is roughly equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from passenger car traffic in Germany. The study appears in the run-up to the publication of the tax estimate by Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced for Thursday. It shows how the federal government can simultaneously reduce the immense new debt caused by the Corona crisis and make progress on climate protection. "Now the German government can kill two birds with one stone by reducing climate-damaging subsidies: lower CO2 emissions and relieve the budget by billions. In doing so, it eliminates significant disadvantages for climate-friendly industries and can accelerate the shift towards a sustainable, ecologically oriented economy," says Bastian Neuwirth, climate expert at Greenpeace.
A ranking examines the phase-out of ten particularly climate-damaging subsidies in Germany and sorts them according to where the most tax money and CO2 can be saved. The abolition of the tax exemption for kerosene, the withdrawal of tax concessions for electricity generation and the reduction of electricity price exemptions for industry prove to be particularly effective for climate protection and budget restructuring. In arithmetical terms, the German government could save around 73 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents and 18 billion euros of taxpayers' money each year with these measures alone. In the middle of the ranking are the VAT exemption for international flights, the distance allowance, the diesel privilege and the reduced VAT rate on animal products. "Continuing to hand out extra money for climate-damaging economic activity is completely out of step with the times. Each of these climate-damaging subsidies must be overturned as soon as possible," says Neuwirth.
The gradual dismantling of the ten subsidies that are particularly harmful to the climate can shorten the Federal Government's delay in achieving its own climate targets: according to the Federal Environment Agency, Germany will emit around 71 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents too much in 2030 with the measures it has adopted so far to achieve the 2030 climate target. A rapid reduction in subsidies can therefore help to remedy this situation. At the international level, Germany and the G7 countries already committed in 2016 to reducing climate-damaging subsidies by 2025.
Keywords:
DE-News, Climate protection, Mobility, Sustainable management, New books and studies, Resource efficiency, Environmental policy
Interview with Rob Hopkins from 10 September 2016
Link:
www.transition-initiativen.de/...
Keywords:
Movies, Movies 11 to 45 Min, Lifestyle / Consumption, Media, Sufficiency, Transition Town
5:28 min - 06/30/2017 posted
Bonn/Düsseldorf. Who doesn't dream of this? To become independent of the electricity supplier and to use all the electricity you produce yourself. A new 5-minute video from the EnergyAgency.NRW introduces homeowner Thomas Koch from Bonn, who has almost fulfilled this dream. With his photovoltaic system on the roof and his battery storage in the cellar, he is up to 90 percent self-sufficient from his energy supplier.
The reason for this is the falling prices for storage technology. With production costs of only around 20 cents per kilowatt hour, it is worth generating and storing electricity yourself and being able to use it at any time - even when the sun is not shining. In fact, every kilowatt hour that does not have to be stored for the evening hours only costs around 11-12 cents to generate.
With its 91 PV modules and matching lithium-ion battery, it is now almost completely self-sufficient in solar power.
The video gives experts a chance to talk about the planning, installation and maintenance of battery storage systems in the home, charging times, guarantees and subsidies, and provides recommendations for action.
The EnergyAgency.NRW website offers more information on funding opportunities, practical application examples and tips at www.energieagentur.nrw/photovoltaik
The film may be embedded free of charge on other websites. Please use the link Video on Youtube
Under the video you will find the embed code under "Share" in the menu item "Embed".
More about photovoltaics:
www.energieagentur.nrw/solarenergie/solarstrom-photovoltaik
More on the topic of electricity storage:
www.energieagentur.nrw/netze/dezentrale_solarstromspeicher
Background information:
Now skim off subsidies.
Anyone who submits their subsidy application by the end of September can still benefit from the highest subsidy. This applies to battery storage systems with which the electricity from your own roof can also be used after sunset. Funds are available in the KfW 275" development programme made available. Currently, 16 percent of the eligible costs are covered by a repayment subsidy as part of the loan programme. From October, this will be reduced to 13 per cent; at the turn of the year, the rate will fall to ten per cent. The subsidy will expire at the end of 2018.
Keywords:
100% EEs, Bonn, DE-News, Energy storage, Renewable, Movies, Movies 4 to 10 Min, Funding, Climate protection, News Blog NRW, PV, PlusEnergy house/settlement, Electricity storage, Ecology
The federal government wants to significantly increase its spending on climate protection and the promotion of affordable housing in the coming year. "This is a key concern for the federal government, but also for me personally," emphasised Federal Minister Barbara Hendricks at the start of the Bundestag debate on her ministry's budget. According to the federal government's draft budget, the budget of the BMUB will grow to over four billion euros next year. Against the backdrop of rising refugee numbers, Hendricks pointed out that the federal government, federal states and municipalities are called upon to create more affordable housing. Significantly more money must be invested in social housing and affordable housing. The largest item in Hendricks' budget is therefore housing benefit, for which an increase of 200 million euros to 730 million euros has been estimated.
According to the draft federal budget for 2016, the overall budget for the BMUB to around 4.07 billion euros. This is around 205 million euros or 5.3 per cent more than in the current year. In addition to the housing allowance, funding for international climate protection projects, for research in the areas of the environment, construction and housing as well as for urban development funding has increased in particular. In addition, the BMUB 859 million over the next three years from the newly launched Future Investment Programme. This money will be used in particular for the national climate protection initiative, model projects for the construction of sustainable student and trainee accommodation, national urban development projects, the refurbishment of municipal facilities and age-appropriate housing.
Hendricks emphasised that there is a need for affordable housing in society as a whole. The influx of refugees is just one reason. Hendricks: "As a state, we have a responsibility to ensure that there is enough affordable housing available for everyone." This is why housing benefit will also be significantly increased from January. Around 590,000 people currently receive housing benefit. More people will be able to benefit from the increase next year. The BMUB assumes that the number of recipients will increase to around 870,000.
The minister put the need for new homes per year at at least 350,000. Hendricks: "It is absolutely clear that we need to invest significantly more money in social housing. I have therefore proposed at least doubling the compensation payments to the federal states totalling 518 million euros per year over the next few years." Hendricks was confident that this could be realised during the parliamentary deliberations on the 2016 budget. The Minister also proposed the temporary and regionalised reintroduction of declining balance depreciation. Hendricks: "We need the commitment of private investors. They should also help to provide rental flats in the affordable segment."
In order to provide additional support to the federal states and local authorities in the provision of refugee accommodation, the international climate protection initiative will play a central role. As part of the International Climate Initiative, investments to protect the climate and biodiversity will be increased by over 75 million euros to more than 338 million euros. Overall, Germany will double its international climate financing by 2020 and provide four billion euros by then.
Source (accessed 14/09/2015): www.bmub.bund.de/.../hendricks-wir-koennen-noch-staerker-in-die-zukunft-investieren/
Keywords:
DE-News, Funding, Climate protection, Resource efficiency, Environmental policy
