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Background: The decarbonization of the mobility sector is one of the main challenges in the context of climate mitigation. In Germany, as in many other countries, policy measures aiming to make the mobility system greener frequently fail to produce substantial results, not least due to a lack of support by large sections of the general public. Policy measures directed at reducing car traffic in particular are often met with indifference and resistance. The question thus arises: what basis do citizens use to form their (often negative) opinions about sustainable mobility policies? As a conceptual starting point for our empirical analysis, we draw on the frame concept and focus on people's frames of the politics of mobility. With "politics of mobility" we refer to everything people could consider as political with regard to mobility. We understand frames as culturally mediated patterns of interpretation that ultimately motivate and guide actions. Results: Based on interviews and focus group data gathered in the region of the city of Stuttgart (Germany), we identify two dominant frames as well as combinations of these frames by which people make sense of the activities of political actors in the field of mobility. In one frame, which we labeled "politics-as-actor", mobility politics are interpreted with reference to politics as some kind of monolithic abstract actor. In the other, which we labeled as "politics-as-staged-process", mobility politics are portrayed as an interest-driven, opaque process that only purport to being democratic. Conclusions: In terms of policy recommendations, we use our findings to derive suggestions for how to increase support for green mobility policies: transparent implementation of policy measures, pragmatic policy styles and the involvement of intermediaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity loss and climate change are deeply intertwined and constitute a complex and interdependent crisis. These interlinked sustainability issues need to be addressed through an integrated approach. However, governments have been slow to integrate the need to protect both climate and biodiversity into environmental governance. NGOs, as non-profit organisations promoting public good, are seen as having the potential to recognise and advocate for this much-needed holistic protection of climate and biodiversity. But to what extent and in what ways do NGOs recognise this climate-biodiversity nexus? This article addresses these questions through an analysis of 107 German climate NGOs, examining their 190 annual reports from two time periods, 2016/2017 and 2021/2022. We found that, while German climate NGOs have made significant progress in recognising the climate-biodiversity nexus, they lack recognition of the role of biodiversity in stabilising the climate and the unintended negative consequences of climate policies and measures for biodiversity, highlighting that NGOs are still far from being holistic environmental stewards. Climate NGOs need to integrate the interplay between climate and biodiversity objectives into their organisational activities and align their mandates to promote synergies and minimise trade-offs between climate and biodiversity actions. We suggest that one way forward is to increase collaboration between NGOs. NGOs could then complement each other's expertise and be better placed to jointly contribute to finding integrated solutions for climate and biodiversity protection and mainstreaming biodiversity into climate policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of dairy and biogas production in Northwestern Europe has led to the conversion of permanent grasslands to arable land, mainly for silage maize production, resulting in significant soil organic carbon (SOC) losses, highlighting the need for implementing alternative management practices during land use change (LUC) for effective climate change mitigation. This study evaluated the impact of incorporating annual grass-clover leys in 3-year arable rotations and slurry application to mitigate SOC losses during LUC. We compared this approach to a continuous silage maize and a permanent grassland on sandy loam soil in Northern Germany. The experiments were simultaneously established at two adjacent 17-year-old sites of permanent grassland and arable cropping, with different levels of initial SOC when the experiment was established. The SOC dynamics in the upper soil layer (0-30 cm) were evaluated by annual 12-year sampling (2011-2022). The cropping systems were unfertilized (N0) or fertilized (N1) using cattle slurry at a rate of 240 kg N ha-1 year-1. The study reveals substantial SOC losses following the conversion of the permanent grassland to grass-clover (ley) based rotation or continuous silage maize, with reductions of 22% and 31%, respectively, compared to baseline levels of the permanent grassland. However, over the 12-year period, the grass-clover ley-based crop rotation demonstrated a 30% reduction in SOC losses compared to continuous silage maize, without compromising dry matter yield. Conversely, the conversion of arable land to grasslands led to SOC increases ranging from 10% to 30%. This recovery was only half the SOC losses observed in the grassland conversion for the same period, indicating a slow-in, fast-out effect during LUC. However, the transition from ley-containing forage rotation to continuous silage maize incurred significant SOC losses of 11%. Overall, these findings underscore the imperative of integrating ley phases to mitigate SOC losses, particularly in high-biomass- yield cropping systems. As a 1-year ley phase was insufficient to sustain carbon sequestration in arable crop rotations, extended ley residence times should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Draining peatlands to create agricultural land has been the norm in Europe, but in the context of climate change and the loss of biodiversity, these rich ecosystems may reactivate their functions as greenhouse gas sinks and retreat spaces for animals and plants. Against this background, the National Moor Rewetting Strategy was put into effect in Germany in 2023, together with the Natural Climate Protection Action Plan. This article examines the methodology of peatland rewetting from scientific, administrative, social, and technical perspectives. The article focuses on an example of moor rewetting in central Germany: the Rathsbruch moor near the municipality of Zerbst, Saxony-Anhalt. To illustrate the importance of rewetting projects for degraded peatlands, five scenarios with different target soil water levels were considered, and the associated greenhouse gas emissions were calculated for a period of five years. For the planning solution, an estimate of the medium-to-long-term development of the habitat types was made based on current use and the dynamics typical of the habitat. The results for the Rathsbruch moor area showed that increasing the water level in steps of 1, 0.8, or 0.5 m has no significant influence on reducing the CO2 emissions situation, while a depth of 0.3 m has a slight influence. When the water was raised to 0.1 m below the surface (Scenario 5), a significant CO2 reduction was observed. The calculated avoided CO2 costs due to environmental damage show that the environmental benefits multiply with every decimeter of water level increase. The rising groundwater levels and extensification favor the establishment of local biotopes. This means that two of the biggest man-made problems (extinction of species and climate change) can be reduced. Therefore, this research is applicable to the development and planning of recultivation work at municipal and regional levels in Germany and beyond within the framework of EU restoration policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior evidence suggests that perspective-taking may promote pro-environmental behavior, at least for low-cost behaviors or local environmental problems. Climate change, however, requires costly mitigation efforts and is a global problem. Thus, in this study, we examine whether perspective-taking in the context of climate change is effective in promoting mitigation behaviors, including actual and/or costly behaviors, the mechanisms through which perspective-taking works, and if the distance to the person adversely affected by climate change matters for the effect. We conducted an online experiment with a non-student sample from Germany (n = 557), utilizing a 2 × 2 factorial design, to investigate the impact of perspective-taking and distance on three outcome measures: a climate donation, signing a petition, and approval of mitigation policies. We find that perspectivetaking does not promote these mitigation behaviors, yet it raises the degree perspective-takers value and - for close others - feel connected with the affected person. Exploratory analysis shows that dispositional perspective-taking and empathic concern are correlated with mitigation behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially explicit information on carbon fluxes related to land use and land cover change (LULCC) is of value for the implementation of local climate change mitigation strategies. However, estimates of these carbon fluxes are often aggregated to larger areas. We estimated committed gross carbon fluxes related to LULCC in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, using different emission factors. In doing so, we compared four different data sources regarding their suitability for estimating the fluxes: (a) a land cover dataset derived from OpenStreetMap (OSMlanduse); (b) OSMlanduse with removal of sliver polygons (OSMlanduse cleaned), (c) OSMlanduse enhanced with a remote sensing time series analysis (OSMlanduse+); (d) the LULCC product of Landschaftsveränderungsdienst (LaVerDi) from the German Federal Agency of Cartography and Geodesy. We produced a high range of carbon flux estimates, mostly caused by differences in the area of the LULCC detected by the different change methods. Except for the OSMlanduse change method, all LULCC methods achieved results that are comparable to other gross emission estimates. The carbon flux estimates of the most plausible change methods, OSMlanduse cleaned and OSMlanduse+, were 291,710 Mg C yr-1 and 93,591 Mg C yr-1, respectively. Uncertainties were mainly caused by incomplete spatial coverage of OSMlanduse, false positive LULCC due to changes and corrections made in OpenStreetMap during the study period, and a high number of sliver polygons in the OSMlanduse changes. Overall, the results showed that OSM can be successfully used to estimate LULCC carbon fluxes if data preprocessing is performed with the suggested methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse consequences of climate change often affect people and places far away from those that have the greatest capacity for mitigation. Several correlational and some experimental studies suggest that the willingness to take mitigation actions may diminish with increasing distance. However, the empirical findings are ambiguous. In order to investigate if and how socio-spatial distance to climate change effects plays a role for the willingness to engage in mitigation actions, we conducted an online experiment with a German population sample (n = 383). We find that the willingness to sign a petition for climate protection was significantly reduced when a person in India with a name of Indian origin was affected by flooding, as compared to a person in Germany with a name of German origin. Distance did not affect donating money to climate protection or approving of mitigation policies. Our results provide evidence for the existence of a negative effect of distance to climate change consequences on the willingness to engage in low-cost mitigation actions. Investigating explanations for such an effect, we find that it can be attributed to the spatial rather than the social dimension of distance. Moreover, we find some cautious evidence that people with strong racist attitudes react differently to the distance manipulations, suggesting a form of environmental racism that could also reduce mitigation action in the case of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Beef production is criticized for its contribution to global warming and its use of human-edible food as feed and hence needs to innovate. Relying on three case studies of beef production systems in Belgium, France, and Germany, we test, using the single-farm model FarmDyn, the interest of fast rotational grazing associated (redesign scenarios) or not (FRG scenarios) to crossbreeding strategies as innovation. The redesign scenarios are adapted to local conditions using early-maturing beef breeds on a French farm or Belgian Blue breeds in a German dairy system and a Belgian suckler cow system becoming, in this last type, a growing and fattening system. Fast rotational grazing induced a higher profit through cheaper feed but an increased workload in pasture management compared to the baseline situation. Beef production from crossbred dairy cows reduces the global warming potential of the systems because of the share of the environmental load with milk production. Crossbreeding with early-maturing breeds, in the French type, has little impact on global warming. The feed-food competition diminished by adapting the stocking rate to the grassland production potential and feeding of by-products. In the future, these simulations should be validated by field trials and a larger diversity of farms. In the context of a growing population, beef production is expected to reduce its consumption of human-edible food and its contribution to global warming. We hypothesize that implementing the innovations of fast rotational grazing and redesigning existing production systems using crossbreeding and sexing may reduce these impacts. In this research, the bio-economic model FarmDyn is used to assess the impact of such innovations on farm profit, workload, global warming potential, and feed-food competition. The innovations are tested in a Belgian system composed of a Belgian Blue breeder and a fattener farm, another system where calves raised in a French suckler cow farm are fattened in a farm in Italy, and third, a German dairy farm that fattens its male calves. The practice of fast rotational grazing with a herd of dairy-to-beef crossbred males is found to have the best potential for greenhouse gas reduction and a reduction of the use of human-edible food when by-products are available. Crossbreeding with early-maturing beef breeds shows a suitable potential to produce grass-based beef with little feed-food competition if the stocking rate considers the grassland yield potential. The results motivate field trials in order to validate the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental catastrophes, including the increased severity and frequency of climate extremes, can act as "windows of opportunities" that challenge citizens' mental models and motivate them to engage in reflective processes, challenging their pre-conceived ideas. Less well understood is whether experiencing changing weather conditions, common in mid-latitudes, can have a similar effect and increase the citizens' concerns about climate change and their willingness to accept more stringent climate policies. In this paper, we investigate the effects of changing seasonal temperature on the perceived seriousness of climate change and willingness to mitigate climate change. We use data from four yearly waves of a spatially explicit representative population survey in Germany and weather records from the postal code areas in which they live. To our knowledge, this study is the first analysis to link individual perceptions towards climate change and different mitigation options with seasonal temperature changes at specific locations in Europe. The analyzed perceptions were strongly influenced by socio-demographic characteristics and broader societal changes, as well as individual experiences of seasonal temperatures. The results show that experienced seasonal temperature change influences personal climate change concerns as well as the willingness to mitigate climate change, although with a weaker effect. The results indicate that it is the absolute temperature variation experienced that is important, rather than whether it is getting colder or warmer than usual. Considering the influences identified in this study can offer a window of opportunity for more stringent and targeted climate change policy. • Seasonal temperature changes influence climate change perception. • Effects can offer a window of opportunity for more stringent climate change policy. • Governmental mitigation policy solutions less supported than self-determined options. • Perceptions influenced by broader societal changes as well as individual experiences. • Need for targeted climate change communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forestry plays a major role in climate change mitigation. However, which intensity of logging is best suited for that task remains controversial. We contribute to the debate by quantitatively analyzing three different forest management scenarios in Germany—a baseline scenario which represents a continuation of current forest management practice as well as an intensive and an extensive logging scenario. We assess whether increased carbon storage in wood products and substitution of other emission-intensive materials can offset reduced carbon stocks in the forest due to increased harvesting. For that, we calculate annual required displacement factors (RDF)—a dimensionless quantity that indicates the minimal displacement factor (DF) so that intensive forestry outperforms extensive forestry from a climate perspective. Results: If the intensive forest management scenario is included in the comparison, the RDF starts off with relatively high values (1 to 1.5) but declines over time and eventually even reaches negative values. Comparing the extensive scenario to a baseline yields RDF values between 0.1 and 0.9 with a slightly increasing trend. Compared to RDFs, expected future DFs are too low to favour the intensive forestry scenario and too high to favour the extensive forestry scenario, during the first 25 years of the modeling period. However, towards the end of the modeling period, the relationship between DFs and RDF is turned around in both comparisons. In the comparison between intensive and extensive forest management RDF values are very similar to future DF trajectories. Conclusion: RDFs are a useful tool for comparing annual climate impacts of forest growth scenarios and can be used to benchmark material and energy substitution effects of wood. Our results indicate that the baseline scenario reflects an effective compromise between carbon stocks in the forest and carbon displacement by wood use. For a longer modeling period, however, this might not be the case. Which of the alternative scenarios would be best suited for climate change mitigation is heavily dependent on future DF trajectory. Hence, our findings highlight the necessity of robust projections of forest dynamics and industry decarbonization pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major concern in climate adaptation is to enhance the heat resilient design of residential buildings. However, recent scientific literature addressing overheating analysis is only focussing on individual countries. In this article, we discuss how different design of representative apartment buildings in two countries influences the overheating risk or cooling demand and what conclusions can be drawn from it. This is done for a low-rise apartment building located in Germany and a high-rise building in South Korea applying building performance simulation. Both countries are located in the moderate climate zone, but regional differences in frequency of tropical nights and radiant summer days lead to significant differences in overheating intensity (800 Kh/a for the German and 5100 Kh/a for the Korean) or cooling demand (1800 kWh for the German to 1300 kWh for the Korean). The lower cooling demand but much higher overheating intensity of the Korean building compared to the German is mainly caused by the different solar heat gain due to the glazed balcony design of the Korean building where these balcony rooms are not actively cooled. On the contrary, the common internal façade insulation of Korean buildings results in a higher overheating risk compared to the German building and in addition the lower potential of passive cooling by natural ventilation due to the necessity of insect screens in Korea. The large effect of implementing heat adaptation measures on overheating risk reduction or cooling demand (up to 90%) clearly demonstrates that both buildings are far away from a heat resilient design and that heat adaptation measures can address both climate change adaptation and mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerted, timely action for mitigating climate change is of uttermost importance to keep global warming as close to 1.5°C as possible. Air traffic already plays a strong role in driving climate change and is projected to grow—with only limited technical potential for decarbonizing this means of transport. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the expansion of air traffic or even facilitate a reduction in affluent countries. Effective policies and behavioral change, especially among frequent flyers, can help to lower greenhouse gas emissions. For both, a positive evaluation and public support is indispensable. This study contributes to understanding air travel behavior and the perception of regulative policies. We examined the role of attitudes, perceived behavioral control, efficacy, global identity, and justice concerns for intentions to avoid flights and aviation-related environmental policy support. We conducted an online survey study with a quota sample of N = 2,530 participants in Germany. The strongest positive predictors of intentions to refrain from flying and policy support were perceived behavioral control to travel without flying, efficacy beliefs that avoiding air travel contributes to climate change mitigation, and intergenerational justice concerns; pro-travel attitude was a negative predictor. Moreover, we tested whether the provision of additional information on climate impact, global and intranational inequalities as well as subsidies (implying intranational inequality) affected the intention to avoid air travel and policy support. We found no effects of the different types of information. Nor did we find an interaction between the type of information provided and global or national identity. Our results highlight the need for a shift within the mobility sector that facilitates attractive and accessible transport alternatives in order to strengthen people’s behavioral control to choose other means than planes and their efficacy perceptions. Moreover, raising awareness of the impacts of climate change on future generations and developing strategies to promote people’s concern for intergenerational justice might motivate people to reduce air travel and thereby contribute to a livable future for new generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of oxyfuel carbon capture and storage technologies in combination with use of alternative fuels comprising high biogenic shares is promoted as an attractive climate change mitigation option for the cement sector to achieve low or even negative carbon emissions. Here, we perform a prospective life cycle assessment of two state-of-the art cement plants, one in Sweden and one in Germany, under conventional and retrofitted oxyfuel conditions considering alternative fuel mixes with increasing bio-based fractions of forest residues or dedicated bioenergy crops. The analysis also considers effects of the projected changes in the electricity systems up to 2050. Retrofitting the cement plants to oxyfuel reduces climate change impacts between 74 and 91%, while with additional use of biomass as alternative fuel the cement plants reach negative emission between − 24 and − 169 gCO2eq. kgclinker−1, depending on operational condition, location, and biomass type. Additional emission reduction of − 10 (Sweden) and − 128 gCO2eq. kgclinker−1 (Germany) are expected from the decarbonization of the future electricity systems. Retrofitting the cement plants to oxyfuel conditions shows trade-offs with other environmental impacts (e.g., human toxicity, water and energy depletion), which are partially offset with projected changes in electricity systems. Our results illustrate the large climate change mitigation potential in the cement sector that can be achieved by the implementation of oxyfuel carbon capture and storage and biomass use as alternative fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drained peatland currently contributes 7.5% of Germany's total national greenhouse gas emissions. The National Peatland Protection Strategy adopted by the German government in 2022 recognizes that these emissions need to be reduced significantly to meet the country's climate change mitigation commitments. The present study employs a global dynamic computable general equilibrium model to assess the economic and greenhouse gas emission impacts of alternative agriculture-focused peatland rewetting scenarios for Germany up to 2030. In contrast to partial-analytic approaches, the global general equilibrium approach allows to take consistent account of economic ripple-on effects and carbon leakage effects triggered by peatland rewetting. The results suggest that in the medium term towards 2030 a reduction in annual emissions from agricultural peatland use by up to 45% are attainable at marginal private abatement costs between 27 and 61 Euro/tCO 2 e. Carbon leakage effects due to induced indirect land use change in Germany and the rest of the European Union reduce the global net emission reduction impact by 0.7 to 1.0% of the direct emission reduction. The effects on food prices remain small in all scenarios. In conclusion, a sizable reduction of Germany's land-use-related emissions is achievable at a low macroeconomic cost by moving beyond the moderate ambitions of the National Peatland Restoration Strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hedgerows and adjacent croplands at 23 sites across Germany were sampled. • Under hedgerows, 36 ± 49 % more soil organic carbon (SOC) was stored compared to cropland. • 41 % of absolute SOC stock increase was found in subsoil below 30 cm soil depth. • SOC stocks were also increased along the transect from the hedgerow to the cropland. • Planting hedgerows on 3 % of German cropland could increase SOC stocks by 13 Tg C. Carbon dioxide removal strategies are becoming increasingly important as a fundamental component of comprehensive climate policies. One strategy to increase carbon (C) sinks is the integration of hedgerows into agricultural landscapes. Besides additional C storage in above-ground and below-ground hedgerow biomass, the establishment of hedgerows has the potential to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, empirical data regarding the magnitude of SOC accrual with hedgerow establishment are still limited. We sampled 23 sites across Germany in a paired-plot approach with the aim of estimating SOC stock change with hedgerow establishment on cropland. At 21 sites, SOC stocks were higher beneath hedgerows than in the reference cropland. On average, SOC stock accrual was 29 ± 22 Mg ha−1 (36 ± 49 %) in 0–100 cm soil depth. SOC stocks were significantly different in both topsoil and subsoil. Subsoils below 30 cm depth contributed 41 % (12 ± 17 Mg C ha−1) of the total SOC stock change, stressing the importance of subsoil SOC for the total SOC stocks of hedgerow systems. The positive effect of hedgerows on SOC stocks extended laterally beyond the hedgerow area itself. SOC stock in the grassy hedgerow edge also increased significantly by 22 ± 22 Mg C ha−1 (28 ± 30 %) and SOC stock in the cropland directly adjacent to the hedgerow were 9 ± 19 Mg C ha−1 (12 ± 25 %) higher than in the reference cropland. Particularly high C stock differences between hedgerows and reference cropland soils were found in old hedgerows (>200 years) planted on hedgebanks, which are typically found in northern Germany. Our study confirmed that SOC stocks increase with hedgerow establishment on cropland throughout the whole soil profile. If hedgerows were to be established on 3 % of Germany's cropland area, SOC stocks would increase by 13 Tg C equivalent 48 Mio. t CO 2 , highlighting that hedgerows are a promising and multi-functional climate change mitigation option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global carbon neutrality challenge places a spotlight on forests as carbon sinks. However, greenhouse gas (GHG) balances of wood for material and energy use often reveal GHG emission savings in comparison with a non-wood reference. Is it thus better to increase wood production and use, or to conserve and expand the carbon stock in forests? GHG balances of wood products mostly ignore the dynamics of carbon storage in forests, which can be expressed as the carbon storage balance in forests (CSBF). For Germany, a CSBF of 0.25 to 1.15 t CO2-eq. m−3 wood can be assumed. When the CSBF is integrated into the GHG balance, GHG mitigation substantially deteriorates and wood products may even turn into a GHG source, e.g., in the case of energy wood. In such cases, building up forest carbon stocks would be the better option. We conclude that it is vital to include the CSBF in GHG balances of wood products to assess the impacts of wood extraction from forests. Only then can GHG balances provide political decision makers and stakeholders in the wood sector with a complete picture of GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand trapping fences are a widely used nature-based solution to initiate dune toe growth along sandy shorelines for coastal protection. At present, the construction of sand trapping fences is based on empirical knowledge, since only a few scientific studies investigating their efficiency exist. However, the restoration and maintenance of beach-dune systems along the coast requires knowledge of the interaction between the beach-dune system and the sand trapping fences to provide guidance for coastal managers on how and where to install the fences. First, this review gives an overview of the typical aerodynamic and morphodynamic conditions around a single porous fence and the influence of various fence height and porosity values to understand the physical processes during dune establishment. Second, different approaches for evaluating the efficiency of sand trapping fences to trap sediment are described. This review then highlights significant differences between sand trapping fence configurations, nationally as well as internationally, regarding the arrangement, the materials used, and the height and porosity. In summary, it is crucial to enable an intensive exchange among the respective coastal authorities in order to create uniform or transferable guidelines taking local conditions into account, and thus work collaboratively on the idea of sand trapping fences as a nature-based solution in coastal areas worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even throughout a global pandemic, climate change continues to be a fiercely discussed topic—both politically and legally—the world over. Particularly in light of the many Covid-19 related financial aid programs (including transnational ones) and the associated economic stabilization and reconstruction plans, a sustainable climate policy and legal order should be expected to play a role for an economy that has fallen into a slump. Nevertheless, a lively discussion on how best to achieve climate protection continues to take place in already established systems such as the private law system. Here, as far as climate change is concerned, tort law appears to be the focus of these discussions. The extent to which tort law and the issue of climate change can be brought together is also increasingly being discussed in Germany. This article attempts to shed light on the questions of how tort law could contribute to the mitigation of climate change and how climate change could fit into the law of torts of the German civil law legal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong public support is a prerequisite for ambitious and thus costly climate change mitigation policy, and strong public concern over climate change is a prerequisite for policy support. Why, then, do most public opinion surveys indicate rather high levels of concern and rather strong policy support, while de facto mitigation efforts in most countries remain far from ambitious? One possibility is that survey measures for public concern fail to fully reveal the true attitudes of citizens due to social desirability bias. In this paper, we implemented list-experiments in representative surveys in Germany and the United States (N = 3620 and 3640 respectively) to assess such potential bias. We find evidence that people systematically misreport, that is, understate their disbelief in human caused climate change. This misreporting is particularly strong amongst politically relevant subgroups. Individuals in the top 20% of the income distribution in the United States and supporters of conservative parties in Germany exhibit significantly higher climate change skepticism according to the list experiment, relative to conventional measures. While this does not definitively mean that climate skepticism is a widespread phenomenon in these countries, it does suggest that future research should reconsider how climate change concern is measured, and what subgroups of the population are more susceptible to misreporting and why. Our findings imply that public support for ambitious climate policy may be weaker than existing survey research suggests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying transmission sectors that may not be revealed by existing indicators, such as production-based emission (PBE) and consumption-based emission (CBE) accounting, is significant in emission reduction policies and provides insights into novel opportunities for companies and industries to reduce emissions. This study proposed an intermediate-based emission (IBE) accounting approach that considers indirect emissions from intermediate goods production and a case study was conducted using Exiobase 3.8. The highest IBE sector was 'basic iron' (1131 Mt-CO 2), and the sector's IBE was higher than its PBE (1052 Mt-CO 2). Additionally, the material sector, such as aluminum products (326 Mt-CO 2), was identified as a key transmission sector, although PBE (21 Mt-CO 2) and CBE (3 Mt-CO 2) of the sector is very low. In addition, IBEs were observed to be closely related to overall supply chain emissions in Germany, Japan, and Asia, and cooperation is required to reduce the emissions. The method enables approaching supply chains with large emissions from three perspectives (production-, consumption-, and intermediate-based accounting) and exploration of the emission reduction responsibilities of the three key sectors. The utility and discussion of the approach are consistent with Scope 3 emissions and facilitate fair allocation of emission reduction responsibilities to a larger number of countries and industries. • This study suggested intermediate-based emission (IBE) accounting. • Industries such as basic iron have high production–based emissions but higher IBE. • Intermediate industries not focused on by existing emission accounting identified. • Existing betweenness-based emission accounting much higher than actual emissions. • Germany, Japan, and Asian HEMs have strong correlation with IBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop residue exploitation for bioenergy can play an important role in climate change mitigation without jeopardizing food security, but it may be constrained by impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and market, logistic and conversion challenges. We explore opportunities to increase bioenergy potentials from residues while reducing environmental impacts, in line with sustainable intensification. Using the case study of North Rhine‐Westphalia in Germany, we employ a spatiotemporally explicit approach combined with stakeholder interviews. First, the interviews identify agronomic and environmental impacts due to the potential reduction in SOC as the most critical challenge associated with enhanced crop residue exploitation. Market and technological challenges and competition with other residue uses are also identified as significant barriers. Second, with the use of agroecosystem modelling and estimations of bioenergy potentials and greenhouse gas emissions till mid‐century, we evaluate the ability of agricultural management to tackle the identified agronomic and environmental challenges. Integrated site‐specific management based on (a) humus balancing, (b) optimized fertilization and (c) winter soil cover performs better than our reference scenario with respect to all investigated variables. At the regional level, we estimate (a) a 5% increase in technical residue potentials and displaced emissions from substituting fossil fuels by bioethanol, (b) an 8% decrease in SOC losses and associated emissions, (c) an 18% decrease in nitrous oxide emissions, (d) a 37% decrease in mineral fertilizer requirements and emissions from their production and (e) a 16% decrease in nitrate leaching. Results are spatially variable and, despite improvements induced by management, limited amounts of crop residues are exploitable for bioenergy in areas prone to SOC decline. In order to sustainably intensify crop residue exploitation for bioenergy and reconcile climate change mitigation with other sustainability objectives, such as those on soil and water quality, residue management needs to be designed in an integrated and site‐specific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report estimates that government consumption and investment are responsible for at least 12 percent of German greenhouse gas emissions, mostly arising from the provision of public services and construction. Climate-friendly Green Public Procurement (GPP), which takes into account the carbon footprint of products and services in public tenders, can help reduce these emissions. Construction, and especially infrastructure, can be a main area for climate change mitigation through GPP. Yet the implementation of GPP practices in Germany is still limited and not focused on emission reduction. Based on a survey among procurement officials, this report shows that the main perceived barrier is the technical complexity of GPP combined with a low administrative capacity. Priority policy measures to overcome these barriers include triggering political commitment to GPP at the local level, enhancing specialized procurement capacities, and strengthening the provision of assistance to procurement authorities, for instance through competence centers on sustainable procurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Arable measures bear high potential to affect topsoil SOC stocks. • Mineral and organic fertilization, straw incorporation caused major SOC gain. • Liming and reduced tillage had little or even negative effects on SOC storage. • Sandy soils exhibited the largest relative response to management options. • Up to 10‰ SOC accrual per year were reached by combination of measures. Crop production often leads to soil organic carbon (SOC) losses. However, under good management practice it is possible to maintain and even re-accumulate SOC. We evaluated how different cropland management techniques affected SOC stocks in the topsoil (0–30 cm depth) of 10 long-term experiments (LTE) in Germany. We found that SOC stocks were particularly enhanced by mineral fertilization and organic amendments like straw incorporation and to a smaller degree by irrigation, but only slightly affected by the choice of preceding crops. In agreement with global meta -analyses, liming and reduced tillage had little or even negative effects on SOC storage, but effects also depended on fertilization. Management effects on SOC stocks were dependent on soil texture: sandy soils showed the lowest SOC stocks of 20.9 ± 2.3 (standard error of the mean) Mg ha−1, but exhibited the largest relative response to different management options. Annual changes in SOC stocks ranged from −3.0 ‰ with no mineral N fertilization, to + 6.1 ‰ with farmyard manure application, using the mineral-fertilized and limed treatment as reference. Even higher rates of up to + 10.6 ‰ yr−1 were reached with the combination of irrigation and straw incorporation. Note that the contribution of organic amendments to SOC accrual and thus to climate change mitigation must be adjusted for reduction in SOC at sites from which straw was removed. Overall, the potential of agricultural management to influence and enhance SOC stocks is significant. This potential is controlled by soil type and land-use duration, is largest for sandy soils with overall lowest SOC stocks, and is characterized by antagonistic and synergistic effects of different management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited evidence of temporal changes in the association between air temperature and the risk of cause-specific cardiovascular [CVD] and respiratory [RD] mortality. We explored temporal variations in the association between short-term exposures to air temperature and non-accidental and cause-specific CVD and RD mortality in the 15 largest German cities over 24 years (1993–2016) using time-stratified time series analysis. We applied location-specific confounder-adjusted Poisson regression with distributed lag non-linear models with a lag period of 14 days to estimate the temperature–mortality associations. We then pooled the estimates by a multivariate meta-analytical model. We analysed the whole study period and the periods 1993–2004 and 2005–16, separately. We also carried out age- and sex-stratified analysis. Cold and heat effects are reported as relative risk [RR] at the 1st and the 99th temperature percentile, relative to the 25th and the 75th percentile, respectively. We analysed a total of 3,159,292 non-accidental, 1,063,198 CVD and 183,027 RD deaths. Cold-related RR for CVD mortality was seen to rise consistently over time from 1.04 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02, 1.06) in the period 1993–2004 to 1.10 (95% CI 1.09, 1.11) in the period 2005–16. A similar increase in cold-related RR was also observed for RD mortality with risk increasing from 0.99 (95% CI 0.96, 1.03) to 1.07 (95% CI 1.03, 1.10). Cold-related ischemic, cerebrovascular, and heart failure mortality risk were seen to be increasing over time. Similarly, COPD, the commonly speculated driver of heat-related RD mortality was found to have a constant heat-related risk over time. Males were increasingly vulnerable to cold with time for all causes of death. Females showed increasing sensitivity to cold for CVD mortality. Our results indicated a significant increased cold and heat vulnerability of the youngest age-groups (<64) to non-accidental and RD mortality, respectively. Similarly, the older age group (>65) were found to have significantly increased susceptibility to cold for CVD mortality. We found evidence of rising population susceptibility to both heat- and cold-related CVD and RD mortality risk from 1993 to 2016. Climate change mitigation and targeted adaptation strategies might help to reduce the number of temperature-related deaths in the future. • Temporal variations temperature-cause-specific mortality association was explored. • Evidence of rising population susceptibility to both heat- and cold-related mortality. • COPD, the commonly speculated driver of heat-related respiratory mortality, found to have a constant heat-related risk over time. • Climate change mitigation and targeted adaptation strategies recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany remains the only large country in the world without a general speed limit on highways. One of the main arguments for this policy is that lower speeds represent a travel time cost that is not outweighed by benefits, such as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. As transport decision making in the European Union is based on cost-benefit analysis (CBA), this paper compares the value of travel time, fuel consumption, infrastructure, crashes, carbon dioxide (CO 2), and air pollution. Results suggests that, at the low end of the estimate, a 130 kph speed limit will generate welfare gains in the order of 950 million Euro per year. The 'no speed limit' policy consequently represents a subsidy forwarded to fast drivers. The paper also discusses the views of the public vis-à-vis automobile lobbies, and the relevance of Germany's climate change mitigation law, mandating that transport systems be decarbonized. The CBA suggests that a 130 kph speed limit is a policy field where environmental concerns, positive economic effects, and public opinion can be aligned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Will climate change be mitigated automatically by ongoing processes of urbanization as proposed by the “dense cities” hypothesis? Our answer is based on the German official income and expenditure survey (EVS) of 2013, which allow us to disaggregate total household expenditures into 44 consumer good categories (COICOP) and their respective GHG intensities. Results show that the density effect of cities saves some greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Germany, but singularisation of households, higher incomes and greater consumption opportunities in cities work in the opposite direction. Thus, smaller and larger municipalities are more or less on par with each other in terms of per capita emissions. Rural households are found to be more affected by environmental taxes which are imposed on direct rather than on indirect energy use in the course of German “Energiewende” policy reform. This is discussed in the article as a rural-urban social equity problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Topsoil SOC stocks and soil structure recovered 26 years after topsoil removal. • Topsoil buried under the plough layer non-linearly lost 30–50% of SOC in 55 years. • Topsoil SOC recovery and stability of buried SOC was dependent on N fertilisation. Erosion of fertile topsoil means severe land degradation and yield loss. Here, we show that reformation of the fertile topsoil and crop yield increase is possible by good agricultural management within a few decades. Evidence relies on a unique long-term field experiment in NE Germany, where in 1964 the sandy soil (Luvisol) had been excavated to 52 cm and refilled with subsoil material of 52 cm thickness. Undisturbed trials served as controls, these were all combined with either no fertilisation, mineral fertilisation or a combined mineral and organic fertilisation. It took only 26 years until new topsoil had been formed. Its soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N stocks and the aggregate size distributions equalled that of the other treatments; SOC sequestration corresponded to 28 Mg SOC ha−1. The former topsoil buried below the plough layer lost 30–50 percent of its SOC during 5 decades in a non-linear manner. We conclude that our current agricultural tools can restore degraded arable land rather fast and contribute to climate change mitigation through a significant SOC sequestration as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO 2 emissions from global steel production may jeopardize climate goals of 1.5 °C unless current steel production practices will be rapidly decarbonized. At present, primary iron and steel production is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, primarily coke. This study aims to determine which decarbonization pathways can achieve the strongest emission reductions of the iron and steel industry in Germany by 2050. Moreover, we estimate whether the German iron and steel industry will be able to stay within its sectoral carbon budgets for a 1.5 °C or 1.75 °C target. We developed three decarbonization scenarios for German steel production: an electrification, coal-exit, and a carbon capture and storage (CCS) scenario. They describe a phase-out of coal-fired production plants and an introduction of electricity-based, low-carbon iron production technologies, i.e. hydrogen-based direct reduction and electrowinning of iron ore. The scenarios consider the age and lifetimes of existing coal-based furnaces, the maturity of emerging technologies, and increasing recycling shares. Based on specific energy requirements and reaction-related emissions per technology, we calculated future CO 2 emissions of future steel production in Germany. We found that under the decarbonization scenarios, annual CO 2 emissions decrease by up to 83% in 2050 relative to 2020. The reductions of cumulative emissions by 2050 range from 24% (360 Mt CO 2) under the electrification scenario up to the maximum of 46% (677 Mt CO 2) under the CCS scenario compared to a reference scenario. This clearly demonstrates that the technology pathway matters. Nevertheless, the German steel sector will exceed its sectoral CO 2 budget for a 1.5 °C warming scenario between 2023 and 2037. Thus, drastic measures are required very soon to sufficiently limit future CO 2 emissions from German steel production, such as, a rapid decarbonization of the electricity mix, the construction of a hydrogen and CCS infrastructure, or early shutdowns of current coal-based furnaces. [Display omitted] • Scenarios for iron and steel production in Germany until 2050 • Adopting new technologies: hydrogen-based direct reduction and electrowinning • Comparison of CO 2 emissions with sectoral carbon budgets for the steel industry • Carbon budget for climate goal of 1.5 °C likely to be exceeded between 2023 and 2037 • Carbon capture scenario achieves lowest CO 2 emissions but has higher energy demand [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop breeding has boosted global agricultural productivity over recent decades, but little is known about its contribution to climate change mitigation. Here we assess greenhouse gas emissions per unit land (GHGL) and greenhouse gas emissions per unit harvest product, i.e. carbon footprint (CFP) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and winter rye (Secale cereale) from official German variety trials in the period 1983 to 2019. We assess the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and analyze the data using mixed effects models. We find that breeding progress led to slightly increased GHGL , amounting to ∼4–10%, but to strongly decreasing CFP, amounting to ∼13–23% in wheat and rye since 1983. With a ∼20% lower GHGL and ∼8% lower CFP in rye compared to wheat, the extension of rye production offers viable climate change mitigation potential. Finally, we find that lower CFP are associated with hybrid breeding, chemical plant protection and larger farms. We conclude that with increasing global food demand and limited cropland, breeding progress contributes considerably to climate change mitigation through reduced CFP. • First evidence on the contribution of breeding progress to climate change mitigation. • 27,652 and 10,523 Genotype x Environment x Management-combinations of wheat and rye. • Rye has lower greenhouse gas emissions (∼20%) and carbon footprint (∼8%) than wheat. • Crop breeding decreased carbon footprint in wheat and rye by ∼13–23% since 1983/1985. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have analysed the environmental impact of vegan, vegetarian, or reduced meat diets. To date, literature has not evaluated how diet shifts affect environmental impacts by utilising portfolios which reflect personal nutrition preferences. Further, changing diets could alter the available land for non-food uses. This paper defines novel diet portfolios to outline alternative diet transitions and choices within the population and finds their effect on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primary energy use, and land use in Germany. The aim of this study is to capture how these diet shifts affect land availability and increase the options for land-based climate change mitigation strategies. To do so, a contextualisation is made to compare the use of freed-up land for afforestation or biomethane production (with and without carbon capture and storage). The investigated diet portfolios lead to a reduction of the investigated impacts (GHG emissions: 7–67%; energy use: 5–46%; land use: 6–64%). Additionally, afforestation of freed-up land from each diet portfolio leads to further emission removals of 4–37%. In comparison, using the land to produce energy crops for biomethane production could lead to 2–23% further CO2-eq emission reductions when replacing fossil methane. If biomethane production is paired with carbon capture and storage, emission abatement is increased to 3–34%. This research indicates various short-term pathways to reduce GHG emissions with portfolio diet shifts. Utilising freed-up land for climate change mitigation strategies could prove essential to meet climate targets, but trade-offs with, e.g. biodiversity and ecosystem services exist and should be considered. • Diet portfolios are used to represent realistic population diets. • Diet portfolios include a mixture of 12 different diets. • GHG emissions decrease by 67% if the population adopts a Vegan diet. • Afforestation removes almost double the emissions compared to biomethane. • BECCS has similar GHG abatement to afforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of climate change mitigation and sustainable energy infrastructure development, this paper focuses on the successful implementation of microgrids supplied by renewable energies in very diverse environments. Taking into account the challenges of reaching economies of scale, this paper is targeted at identifying success factors for microgrid implementation. The success factors are derived from case study analyses of microgrids implemented in the Global South and in communities of Germany. The goal of the research is to develop a mutual understanding of common values and so support future developments. The analysis covers the categories of ownership and participation; technology and system design; and policy and financing. The results show that microgrids in the Global South and renewable-energy-based communities in Germany share a number of success factors. The results demonstrate that a high share of ownership by users and the flexibility to expand the microgrid with user needs are particularly promising features. To verify the application of the identified success factors, the latter are applied to analyze the microgrid concept of “swarm electrification”. The analysis concludes that the concept of swarm electrification is consistent with the success factors, making it a high-potential approach for renewable-energy-based electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is heat becoming a major threat to cities? Following the heat wave in Europe in 2003, which is estimated to have caused the deaths of 70,000 people, municipal authorities began to develop adaptation and mitigation plans and programs. Legal obligations to consider climate change within various development projects have been defined, e.g. by the latest amendment of the EU EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Directive (2014/52/EU) and the Federal Building Code (BauGB §1a (5)). However, urban heat hazards have not yet received as much attention as, for example, carbon dioxide emissions as drivers of global warming. Dense urban structures, high buildings, dark surfaces, and high population densities trigger urban heat effects. With about 3/4 of Europeans living in cities, measures to reduce heat-related impacts are needed. This paper evaluates how German cities have implemented measures towards climate change adaptation. The results show that 24 out of 30 cities have developed mitigation and/or adaptation plans, with a majority focusing on mitigating 2, indicating less awareness of urban heat hazards. Moreover, we found elaborate and comprehensive examples which might serve as blue-prints for adaptation strategies. Based on the inhomogeneous scope of the different plans and programs, there remains a need for guidance and more knowledge exchange among the cities on mitigation/adaptation options and preferably information on their effectiveness, to further assist cities in tackling heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the Global North is historically responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, Newly Industrializing Countries (NICs) are expected to overtake developed country emissions in the coming years. At the same time, NICs are climbing the ladder of the global economy, increasing their competitiveness on the global stage and catching up with technological competencies of developed economies. Against this background, this paper explores innovation and collaboration in Climate Change Mitigation Technologies (CCMTs) in NICs. The research question is whether the propensity to innovate and diffuse CCMTs is impacted by technological collaboration with two highly developed countries, Germany and The United States. The sample of NICs includes the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) plus Israel, Mexico, and Turkey, in a panel from 1995 to 2015. The empirical results suggest that collaboration with both Germany and the U.S. is highly significant for domestic CCMT innovation in NICs. These findings are important because, stepping beyond the literature on the merits and drawbacks of global climate governance tools such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and related UNFCCC processes, they show that collaboration for climate and environmental technologies could become a key tool to significantly improve the chances to stay in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. Finally, the policy advice for NICs and developing countries is to, above all else, focus on incubating strong technological innovation systems, including strengthening domestic Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), as well as to enhance technological collaboration with developed countries. • We present a time-series panel from 1995 to 2015. • This research explores Climate Mitigation Technologies (CCMTs) in Newly Industrializing Countries. • Technological collaboration with Germany and the U.S. drives NICs CCMT innovation. • Novel empirical models capture the role of absorptive capacities and domestic innovation systems. • A machine-learning governance index is used as a reliable proxy for governance quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emission reductions are at the centre of national and international efforts to mitigate climate change. In road transportation, many politically incentivised measures focus on increasing the energy efficiency of established technologies, or promoting electric or hybrid vehicles. The abatement potential of the former approach is limited, electric mobility technologies are not yet market- ready. In a case study for Germany, this paper focuses on natural gas powered vehicles as a bridging technology in road transportation. Scenario analyses with a low level of aggregation show that natural gas-based road transportation in Germany can accumulate up to 464 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emission reductions until 2030 depending on the speed of the diffusion process. If similar policies were adopted EU-wide, the emission reduction potential could reach a maximum of about 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent. Efforts to promote natural gas as a bridging tec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One of the cheapest ways to reduce CO2 emissions is thermal renovation of existing homes. Germany is a world leader in this project, with a strict building code, generous state subsidies, and an advanced renovation infrastructure. The effects of its policies are here explored in the light of progressive tightening of the building code, and the strict criteria for subsidies. Data on costs and outcomes of residential building renovations are presented from published reports on renovation projects, and cross-checked with projects investigated directly. Comparisons are made in terms of euros invested for every kilowatt hour of heating energy saved over the lifetime of the renovations, for standards ranging from 150kWh (the lowest standard) to 15kWh (the highest) of primary energy use per square metre of floor area per year. It is found that the lowest standard is an order of magnitude more cost-effective than the highest, in terms of both energy saved per euro invested, and return on investment over the lifetime of the renovations, regardless of fuel prices. It is argued that this throws into question Germany''s policy of progressively regulating for higher renovation standards, and offering subsidies only for projects that go beyond the minimum standard. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As a result of ongoing climate change and more frequent heat events, the regulating services of land cover in terms of moderating and mitigating local temperatures are increasingly important. While the reduced temperatures found in forests and wetlands are recognized, their wider contribution to regional landscape cooling remains largely uncharacterized and unquantified. Herein, we propose and test a new method that estimates the temperature response and inertia of landscapes in high temperatures, based on land cover share. In order to achieve this goal, we combined the MODIS daytime land surface temperature (henceforth LST) time series and CORINE land cover data. We classified the time series in two ways, i.e. by stepwise temperature range (−10/−5 °C to +35/+40 °C) and by the occurrence of hot days (days with a mean LST ≥ 30 °C). As an explanatory variable, we developed and used a greenest pixel composite of the MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series. In our study area, covering parts of northeastern Germany and western Poland, the fragmented landscape has heterogeneous temperature patterns, including urban heat islands, warm agricultural areas, cool forests and cold wetlands. We found that at high temperature ranges only forests and wetlands remained comparably cool, with LSTs up to 20.8 °C lower than the maximum LST in the study area. The analysis of land cover shares and LSTs revealed the substantial cooling effect of forests and wetlands in line with increasing land cover share in higher temperature ranges, as well as on hot days. The relation between LST and the NDVI indicated vegetation cover as the cause. We propose the corresponding metrics to quantify landscape-level temperature regulation. Equally, we advocate for management to identify these ecosystem services and their current and potential contributions, along with implications for sustaining and increasing, both tree cover and wetlands and thereby adapting landscapes to climate change. [Display omitted] • Land cover share by forests and wetlands predicts mitigation of temperature extremes. • Regulating service: forests and wetlands cool the landscape particularly on hot days. • NDVI measurements indicate that temperature relates to vegetation cover. • Landscape planning and management must incorporate need for temperature management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-of-use (TOU) electricity tariffs are a demand side measure to ease balancing of demand and supply to cope with a rising share of renewables in a country's electricity mix. In general, consumers require compensation for accepting these tariffs. This study analyzes how attitudes drive consumers' willingness to choose a TOU tariff in Germany. To identify attitudinal profiles, I use an exploratory factor analysis on items capturing positive and negative attitudes towards TOU tariffs, climate change awareness, and belief in energy saving measures. I use these factors as predictors in an ordered logit specification to estimate consumers' stated willingness to choose a TOU tariff. Three factors are significant: positive and negative attitudes towards TOU tariffs, and climate change awareness. These findings highlight that decision makers who aim at balancing demand and supply through the use of TOU tariffs should focus on informing consumers about the positive impacts of these tariffs on climate change mitigation, grid stability, and possible energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Prior beliefs and demographics affect reading accuracy and knowledge gains from scenarios. • In contrast, effects from different visualization formats analyzed are relatively minor. • Graphs with steep slope are disadvantageous over tables and graphs with gradual slope. • Tailoring formats to demographic and country differences to some extent reduces adverse effects. While scenarios are used extensively for communication about climate change mitigation, little is known about the interpretation of these scenarios by citizens. We conducted a cross-country empirical evaluation of scenario visualizations for global mitigation, using online surveys in Germany (N = 379), Poland (N = 223), and France (N = 225). Each respondent received visualizations of the required changes in global carbon dioxide emissions and composition of electricity supply (fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable sources) for limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. We evaluated the effects of respondents' demographics, prior beliefs, numeracy, and graph literacy on the reading accuracy and knowledge gains from the visualizations. We also included an experimental between-groups design on visualization format, where four groups received different graph formats (steep or gradual graphs with depictions of uncertainty ranges or scenario ensembles) and the fifth group received a table. Results showed that higher education level, numeracy, and graph literacy increased reading accuracy in all countries, while age reduced them. Respondents with prior beliefs about climate change mitigation that matched the information in the visualizations had also higher reading accuracy and knowledge gains. While the effects of different visualization formats were comparatively minor, customizing formats according to demographic and country differences was used to reduce adverse effects from these differences. These results emphasize the need to design visualizations that match characteristics of the intended audience and could inform better communication of climate change mitigation scenarios to non-expert audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous studies assessing the influence of individual sociological, political, and demographic factors on attitudes towards climate change. However, there is still a need for a deeper understanding of the reasons behind these attitudes and for research based on results from more than one country. This study empirically examines a range of psychosocial and demographic determinants of support for climate policy (renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon tax) in Germany and Poland (n = 1969). The results show that the societies of both countries, despite significant differences in income, culture and political stance on climate change, similarly support implementation of climate policies. For both countries valid predictors of support are: awareness, emotional response to climate crisis, sense of control, and belief in effectiveness of solutions; the study also shows predictors relevant in only one country. Factor analysis identified similar dimensions of attitudes toward climate change in both countries. The main findings show that support for climate policy is high in both countries and that the public is ready to accept more ambitious climate goals. Despite the differences between the countries, a coherent climate policy seems justified. The study also shows differences between the countries and provides recommendations for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutral labeling of food products is a market-based approach to reduce carbon footprints in the agri-food sector. To better understand consumers' preferences and attitudes towards a carbon neutral label on globally traded agri-food products, the willingness to pay (WTP) of German consumers for a carbon neutral label on specialty coffee was examined. A discrete choice experiment was conducted in Germany, where coffee is often sold with multiple labels or claims, in order to examine the WTP for alternative combinations of a carbon neutral label with either a Fair Trade label or a claim of direct trade coffee sourcing. Choice data were analyzed using random parameter logit models which determined a positive WTP for the carbon neutral label. This estimate exceeds the corresponding marginal costs of certification and the marginal social cost of carbon, yet it is relatively lower than the estimated WTP for the Fair Trade label and the direct trade claim. A positive synergy effect on utility was also determined for the combination of a carbon neutral label and a direct trade claim. If no additional information was provided, consumers often perceived coffee as a "natural product" that does not generate any greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, awareness-building policies are needed to make carbon neutral labels an effective market-based tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agri-food sector. • German consumers are willing to pay for a carbon neutral label on specialty coffee. • The WTP for a carbon neutral label was lower than that for ethical trade claims. • We found a positive synergy between the carbon label and a direct trade claim. • Consumers have limited awareness of greenhouse gas emissions in coffee value chains. • Carbon neutral labeling needs to be leveraged with education campaigns to make it effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic bioenergy crops are a potential option for climate mitigation and for meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement in Europe. The PopFor process-based model has been developed based on the earlier MiscanFor model and parameterised for poplar using data from a literature review in combination with experimental data on high performing clones Max 1, 3, 4 for extensively and intensively managed sites in Germany. PopFor needs comparatively few input data to provide accurate estimates of biomass yield. The parameters found allowed a good match to measured values. The best fit for bud emergence is 81 °days (base 5), with leaf emergence at 463 °days (base 5) and the temperature at which photosynthesis slows is 28 °C. Maximum radiation use efficiency was set to 2.9 gMJ−1. The air temperature threshold that kills crop was set at −37 °C with the number of days below this threshold that kills the crop set at 90 days. 30 days below wiltpoint was set as a threshold that kills the crop from drought. It was found that plant available water was the key explanatory variable in predicting yield and access to groundwater explained 97% of the yield variation between the sites. The results show that the model estimates the yield of poplar after the establishment phase with a mean difference of 0.27 DM t ha−1 y−1 (r2 0.99, n29, F = 4.18, p < 0.05 with RMSE = 19.68%). PopFor was shown to be an effective model for predicting yields under different soil conditions. Image 1 • New poplar model for predicting yield estimates on a local or larger scale. • PopFor needs only soil and weather data, no diameter or stem measurements. • PopFor accurately modelled yield for 2nd rotation and intensively managed 1st rotation poplar coppice. • PopFor parameters are widely applicable. • PopFor is a suitable tool for defining the most suitable areas for poplar bioenergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the different stakeholder based discourses and challenges around the Franconian Lake District (FLD), a recently constructed large reservoir system in Germany. The construction and operation of reservoirs represent a massive alteration of their natural and social environments leading to discourses and potential conflicts between a wide scope of heterogeneous interest patterns. Studies have shown that large reservoirs can be an important contributor to water supply, irrigation, energy storage and therefore climate change mitigation on a global scale, which brings these conflicting interests to a broader societal concern. Yet, information about conflicts around existing (German) reservoirs is limited. To assess which issues and conflicts appear on the daily agenda and how they are perceived, communicated and addressed by the stakeholders, a total of 609 articles in the Nürnberger Nachrichten and 22 semi-structured expert interviews were analysed, using qualitative content analysis. The results show that discourses at FLD are predominantly determined by economic factors. Management issues are dominated by discussions about cyanobacteria, which can pose a health risk, thereby impeding recreational use of the lakes and consequently causing economic losses and an image problem for the region. The issue is also strongly interlinked with other aspects of concern and therefore one of the main challenges at the FLD. Due to the construction of the lakes and the evolving strong tourism sector, the formerly agricultural region was subject to a major structural change linking together a very heterogeneous set of interests. The results of this study can help in establishing a management framework to suit all stakeholders and possibly be transferrable to similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is supposed to exacerbate conflicts arising from resource scarcity and contrasting objectives. Some European authors highlighted already the need to look at conflicting interests when elaborating and applying adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study analysed the level of consideration of these emerging topics arising through increased competition of resources, contrasting interests, climate change adaptation as well as mitigation measures for Austria and Southern Germany in detail. Furthermore, it surveyed the application of possible approaches for conflict prevention and mitigation in an international perspective and additionally examined the particular role of SEA as one of the instruments to cope with conflicts related to climate change. The results express the strong need to look at emerging conflicts in cross-sectoral and sectoral adaptation early enough and a strategic perspective. Based on the content analysis of the Austrian and German adaptation and mitigation documents, expert interviews as well as the international literature review, a rather low consideration of these emerging topics as well as approaches to cope with them became evident. In response to these deficiencies, the paper introduces a first framework to identify and tackle emerging and exacerbated conflicts related to climate change. This novel framework is internationally applicable. In the final step of the framework approaches to prevent and minimize conflicts are the key topic. Among these approaches, SEA could take a leading role in case mandatory planning instruments cover the topics related to potential or existing exacerbated fields of conflicts. Overall a mix of formal and informal instruments and a more cross-sectoral perspective seems necessary. To this aim, the paper introduces four main guiding principles to consider and minimize up-coming conflicting topics. • Consideration of cc related conflicts is very diverse in adaptation documents. • A more strategic view of emerging conflicts is of particular importance. • This paper presents a novel framework to identify and tackle conflicts. • SEA can partly address these conflicting topics depending on its role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invoking health benefits to promote climate-friendly household behavior has three unique advantages: (i) health co-benefits accrue directly to the acting individual, they are "private goods" rather than public ones; (ii) the evidence base for, and magnitude of health co-benefits is well-established; and (iii) the idea of a healthy life-style is well-engrained in public discourse, much more so than that of a climate-friendly life-style. In previous research, assessing the influence of information on health effects on people's motivation to adopt mitigation actions, health co-benefits for the individual were typically confounded with collective health co-benefits, for example from pollution reduction. The present research aims to overcome this limitation by providing information on individual health co-benefits that are unconditional on the actions of others (direct health co-benefits). We report effects of this kind of health information on stated willingness to adopt mitigation actions as well as on simulation-based carbon emission reductions in a pre-registered experimental setting among 308 households in 4 mid-size case-study cities in 4 European high-income countries: France, Germany, Norway and Sweden. For each mitigation action from the sectors food, housing, and mobility, half of the sample received the amount of CO 2 equivalents (CO 2 -eq) saved and the financial costs or savings the respective action generated. The other half additionally received information on direct health co-benefits, where applicable. For households receiving information on direct health co-benefits, we find a higher mean willingness to adopt food and housing actions, and a greater proportion very willing to adopt one or more mitigation actions (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.1, 3.12); and a greater simulated reduction in overall carbon footprint: difference in percent reduction -2.70%, (95% CI -5.34, -0.04) overall and -4.45%, (95% CI -8.26, -0.64) for food. Our study is the first to show that providing information on strictly unconditional, individual health co-benefits can motivate households in high-income countries to adopt mitigation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 10 km2 of new green roofs are built in Germany every year. About 85% of these are Extensive Green Roofs (EGR). An EGR with several research features was installed on new buildings belonging to the University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg in 1999. The results of the almost 20-year permanent survey of the climate effects of the green roof in contrast to gravel roofs are presented here. High-quality sensors, similar to those used by official weather stations, are in use, and data is collected every 10 s and aggregated to hourly values which enable comparisons to official measurements made by the DWD in Neubrandenburg and Berlin. The results show the typical urban heat island effect (UHI) and the mitigation effect of EGR. Whilst the temperature increased over the years due to the urban heat island effect, the temperature within the growing media in the green roof remained constant. The EGR has a stabilization effect of 1.5 K. This is good news for all those seeking a UHI mitigation solution for city centers. In a best-case scenario, the green roof potential of cities in Germany is between 3 and 8%. A value of 50% can be achieved for all buildings; roofs represent about ¼ of urban surfaces, and the cooling effect of 1.5 K in 20 years is a reasonable contribution to cooling cities and achieving environmental goals by greening urban surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphagnum farming is paludiculture on rewetted bogs. It allows to use abandoned cut-over bogs and degraded bog grasslands with benefits for climate change mitigation, nutrient retention, and biodiversity. Sphagnum farming aims to cultivate Sphagnum biomass for harvest as an agricultural crop, e.g. to provide raw material for growing media. This new type of peatland agriculture includes the selection of highly productive species and active management to maximise yields.A production system with Sphagnum production fields, irrigation system and causeways is successfully tested on ca. 14 ha pilot study site in NW Germany on former bog grassland. To convert the bog grassland into a Sphagnum farming site firstly the sod was removed and used for constructing bunds used as causeways, before Sphagnum fragments were spread on the bare even peat surface to ensure optimal water levels over the entire Sphagnum production field after rewetting. Commercial Sphagnum farming involves regular on-site controls, precise water management, weed management of production fields, cleaning of irrigation ditches and mowing of causeways.For the fast establishment and optimal growth of a dense Sphagnum lawn water tables just below Sphagnum surface has to be secured permanently by regular adjustment of water table, irrigation of the Sphagnum production fields, and cleaning of the irrigation system. At our study site there is a water surplus in winter, whereas in spring and summer evapotranspiration exceeded precipitation, creating a water deficit which is compensated by a mean annual irrigation amount of 160 mm (i.e. 1,600 m³ ha-1 yr-1), differing between the years up to 360 mm. Next to the cultivated Sphagnum also vascular plants are establishing and may retard Sphagnum growth by shading, litterfall, and competition for water and nutrients. Thus, the vascular plant cover on Sphagnum production fields should be managed to be low. Regular mowing every three weeks during the vegetation period retained vascular plant cover below 30 %.With the management at our Sphagnum farming study site Sphagnum produced dry masses up to 9 t ha-1 yr-1. However, since Sphagnum farming is still in its infancy more research is necessary to reach technological maturity and to reduce costs for large-scale implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]