Expanding the EU's top runner approach

The Federal Environment and the Federal Economics Ministries published a joint concept paper which presents concrete proposals on how the top-runner approach can be further developed at EU level. The key elements had been set out by the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Environment Ministry on the basis of the study. [ more]

• Joint concept paper (accessible PDF, 54 KB)

Nexus Conference opens in Bonn

At the invitations of the German government, discussions got underway in Bonn at the three-day conference "The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus - Solutions for the Green Economy" among high-level decision-makers and international experts seeking solutions to key global challenges. [ more]

Resource efficiency

Resource efficiency programme submitted

On October 12 Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen submitted the draft of a national resource efficiency programme. The objective of the programme is to make German industry less dependent on the use of new raw materials and to reduce environmental pollution associated with the use of resources. [ more]

International

Strengthening Cooperation with the United States

Katherina Reiche noted at the Inter Solar North America fair: "Germany, the United States and California are faced with the same energy policy challenges - they have to modernise their energy systems and make them more efficient."
[ more]

Cabinet

Cabinet adopts CCS act

On 13 April, the German government adopted the draft act on the demonstration and application of technologies for the capture, transport and permanent storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). [ more]