Latest news with #DUH
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
German state sued over failing to meet climate targets
German environmentalists have brought charges against the south-western state of Baden-Würrtemberg over allegedly failing to meet its climate targets, the Environmental Action Germany (DUH) group said on Tuesday. The non-profit, which filed the charges at the state administrative court in Mannheim, aims to force state authorities to pass an action programme ahead of the next state elections in March 2026 to reach the self-imposed targets. According to the Climate Protection Act of Baden-Würrtemberg, the state is to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 65% compared to 1990 levels by 2030, with the state to be climate neutral by 2040. But last year, scientists projected that Baden-Würrtemberg, which is home to many of Germany's manufacturing businesses including big players in the car industry like Porsche and Mercedes, is set to miss the 2030 target. The Climate Act also stipulates that further measures are to be implemented if an "imminent significant deviation from targets" is identified, but so far the state government - a coalition of the conservative Christian Democrats and the Greens - has failed to act. DUH managing director Jürgen Resch accused the state government of "deliberately violating the law." He proposed introducing a state-wide speed limit on the Autobahn motorway - a controversial issue in Germany - as well as the energy-efficient refurbishment of schools and daycare centres as additional ways to reduce emissions.
Euronews
13-04-2025
- Business
- Euronews
From airlines to trainers, this German NGO stops companies from greenwashing products
ADVERTISEMENT It's not uncommon to see products sold on shop shelves that market themselves as 'carbon neutral' or 'environmentally friendly'. But these claims are not always clear or backed up by evidence - and courts are forcing companies to take them down. German non-profit Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has been on an anti-greenwashing litigation spree over the last three years, stopping more than 100 firms from advertising their products or corporate activities as good for the environment. These include the makers of shower gel and trainers, and cruise and airline operators. Agnes Sauter, head of ecological market surveillance at DUH, says companies are increasingly advertising their products and services with purported environmental benefits as shoppers become more aware of the impacts of the things they buy. But the claims do not always stand up to scrutiny. A 2020 study by the European Commission found more than half of environmental claims in the EU to be vague, misleading or unfounded and 40 per cent were unsubstantiated. ' Greenwashing has become a growing problem that misleads consumers and hinders real progress in climate protection and the sustainable use of resources,' says Sauter. Related 'Their determination is heroic': Portuguese youth mount fresh climate lawsuit against government Which companies have been accused of greenwashing? Although it has been filing greenwashing claims since May 2022, DUH stepped up its action last year following a judgment by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) against sweet company Katjes. The court ruled that ambiguous terms like 'climate neutral' - which could mean that a company has actually cut its emissions or that it has bought controversial carbon offsets - would only be allowed if they were properly explained within the advert itself. In the last few months alone, DUH has confronted around 20 companies about their advertising claims under Germany's Act against Unfair Competition, arguing that information is missing or challenging companies to show that the climate protection projects they use to achieve neutrality can meet their promises. Sauter says the non-profit sees itself as an advocate for consumers 'because correct information about the quality of a product enables informed purchasing decisions to be made'. Judges have proved sympathetic. Last month, sporting goods brand Adidas was ordered to stop advertising that it would become 'climate neutral by 2050' because it had not clearly explained how it would meet this goal. 'Climate protection is an increasingly important topic for consumers, dominating not only the news but also everyday life,' says Cologne Regional Court. 'And advertising a company or its products with supposed climate neutrality can therefore have a significant impact on the purchasing decision.' In a statement, Adidas says the decision relates exclusively to 'specific wording' on its website, which has since been changed. Related Going round in circularity: Most Brits confused by sustainability language, survey finds Climate neutral promises can confuse or deceive consumers Sauter says corporate announcements that companies would be CO2 or climate neutral in the coming decades convey the impression of acting sustainably and responsibly, 'but in most cases, this is nothing more than blatant consumer deception'. She says these measures are often formulated vaguely and are difficult or even impossible to verify. 'Such advertising claims must be credibly substantiated and presented in a way that is understandable to consumers. In our opinion, anything else is massive greenwashing and must be stopped immediately." Aviation group Lufthansa , headquartered in Germany, was also banned by Cologne Regional Court in March from advertising that passengers can 'compensate' for carbon emissions from its flights. The adverts gave the false impression that a payment would make flying completely carbon neutral. ADVERTISEMENT DUH previously won a similar legal victory specifically against airline Eurowings , which Lufthana operates. Lufthansa says it is carefully considering the latest ruling. Last year, Hamburg Regional Court upheld a greenwashing lawsuit against Shell Germany. DUH argued that giving customers the option of offsetting emissions from filling their cars with petrol or diesel gave a misleading impression that they could drive without any environmental impacts, because it was done via carbon credits from forest protection projects in Peru and Indonesia. Shell Germany said the decision obliged it to stop CO2 offsetting and to stop selling Shell Helix bottles with the logo 'CO2-neutral'. ADVERTISEMENT Similarly, Karlsruhe Regional Court found consumers had been misled by cruise line TUI Cruises' advertising promise that its cruise operations would be decarbonised by 2050. Some of DUH's claims target specific products. Following a successful lawsuit, home improvement chain Obi has been told it cannot advertise a wall paint as 'climate-neutral'. Related Oatly found to have 'overstated' environmental claims in adverts Legal action is sending a 'strong signal' to greenwashing companies Some of these cases are still subject to appeal, and DUH will be watching to make sure that any final rulings are followed through. It enforced an injunction it had won in 2023 against drugstore chain dm for misleading consumers with the terms 'climate neutral' and 'environmentally neutral' on particular products. When the company started to readvertise with the new slogan 'act environmentally neutral', DUH started fresh legal proceedings until dm agreed to stop using that too. ADVERTISEMENT A number of DUH's legal claims are still ongoing and some could be appealed. But Sauter says most of the companies it has legally threatened have withdrawn specific advertising claims and made a declaration that they will stop. These include gas suppliers who marketed fossil gas as climate-neutral green gas, a company in the Bauhaus Group that advertised a disposable grill made of '100% natural materials' and Poco furniture stores that marketed a chair as 'environmentally friendly'. Sauter says DUH's activities were having a 'strong signalling effect' and advertising with climate neutrality on the basis of offsetting claims 'has rapidly decreased'. Related Companies will soon have to prove that they really are taking climate action, under draft EU law Fish door bells, plastic-eating fungi and tree hugging: Positive environmental stories from 2025 Regulators are cracking down on greenwashing in Europe too And DUH is not done yet. It recently sent cease-and-desist letters to five companies that it claims advertise environmental benefits without providing information about them: beauty Coty over its 'ocean-friendly' sunscreen; Deichmann and Tchibo about shoes and clothing marketed as 'sustainable'; DIY brand Toom over a laminate marketed as 'good for the environment'; and L'Oreal's over its 'sustainability commitment'. ADVERTISEMENT DUH's victories only apply directly to corporate activities in Germany . But Sauter points out that competition law is regulated at the EU level and so, if a German court finds an advert to be misleading, there is a good chance that a court in another EU country would agree. Regulators have also been cracking down on greenwashing. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), for example, previously banned an advert by Lufthansa for making unjustified climate claims. And both the ASA and the Netherlands' equivalent have ordered Shell and its subsidiaries to take down greenwashed adverts. DUH is now calling on Germany's new federal government to set clearer rules and fines for consumer deception. It is already required to put into law new EU rules aimed at empowering consumers for the green transition. And in future it will likely have to implement a proposed greenwashing law expected to tackle both product and company-level claims. Sauter says sustainability cannot just be a marketing ploy and must lead to real improvements in the design of products. 'After all, honest climate and environmental protection is urgently needed in the face of the climate crisis and can only be strengthened by clear regulations.' ADVERTISEMENT
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From airlines to trainers, this German NGO stops companies from greenwashing products
It's not uncommon to see products sold on shop shelves that market themselves as 'carbon neutral' or 'environmentally friendly'. But these claims are not always clear or backed up by evidence - and courts are forcing companies to take them down. German non-profit Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has been on an anti-greenwashing litigation spree over the last three years, stopping more than 100 firms from advertising their products or corporate activities as good for the environment. These include the makers of shower gel and trainers, and cruise and airline operators. Agnes Sauter, head of ecological market surveillance at DUH, says companies are increasingly advertising their products and services with purported environmental benefits as shoppers become more aware of the impacts of the things they buy. But the claims do not always stand up to scrutiny. A 2020 study by the European Commission found more than half of environmental claims in the EU to be vague, misleading or unfounded and 40 per cent were unsubstantiated. 'Greenwashing has become a growing problem that misleads consumers and hinders real progress in climate protection and the sustainable use of resources,' says Sauter. Related 'Their determination is heroic': Portuguese youth mount fresh climate lawsuit against government Although it has been filing greenwashing claims since May 2022, DUH stepped up its action last year following a judgment by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) against sweet company Katjes. The court ruled that ambiguous terms like 'climate neutral' - which could mean that a company has actually cut its emissions or that it has bought controversial carbon offsets - would only be allowed if they were properly explained within the advert itself. In the last few months alone, DUH has confronted around 20 companies about their advertising claims under Germany's Act against Unfair Competition, arguing that information is missing or challenging companies to show that the climate protection projects they use to achieve neutrality can meet their promises. Sauter says the non-profit sees itself as an advocate for consumers 'because correct information about the quality of a product enables informed purchasing decisions to be made'. Judges have proved sympathetic. Last month, sporting goods brand Adidas was ordered to stop advertising that it would become 'climate neutral by 2050' because it had not clearly explained how it would meet this goal. 'Climate protection is an increasingly important topic for consumers, dominating not only the news but also everyday life,' says Cologne Regional Court. 'And advertising a company or its products with supposed climate neutrality can therefore have a significant impact on the purchasing decision.' In a statement, Adidas says the decision relates exclusively to 'specific wording' on its website, which has since been changed. Related Going round in circularity: Most Brits confused by sustainability language, survey finds Sauter says corporate announcements that companies would be CO2 or climate neutral in the coming decades convey the impression of acting sustainably and responsibly, 'but in most cases, this is nothing more than blatant consumer deception'. She says these measures are often formulated vaguely and are difficult or even impossible to verify. 'Such advertising claims must be credibly substantiated and presented in a way that is understandable to consumers. In our opinion, anything else is massive greenwashing and must be stopped immediately." Aviation group Lufthansa, headquartered in Germany, was also banned by Cologne Regional Court in March from advertising that passengers can 'compensate' for carbon emissions from its flights. The adverts gave the false impression that a payment would make flying completely carbon neutral. DUH previously won a similar legal victory specifically against airline Eurowings, which Lufthana operates. Lufthansa says it is carefully considering the latest ruling. Last year, Hamburg Regional Court upheld a greenwashing lawsuit against Shell Germany. DUH argued that giving customers the option of offsetting emissions from filling their cars with petrol or diesel gave a misleading impression that they could drive without any environmental impacts, because it was done via carbon credits from forest protection projects in Peru and Indonesia. Shell Germany said the decision obliged it to stop CO2 offsetting and to stop selling Shell Helix bottles with the logo 'CO2-neutral'. Similarly, Karlsruhe Regional Court found consumers had been misled by cruise line TUI Cruises' advertising promise that its cruise operations would be decarbonised by 2050. Some of DUH's claims target specific products. Following a successful lawsuit, home improvement chain Obi has been told it cannot advertise a wall paint as 'climate-neutral'. Related Oatly found to have 'overstated' environmental claims in adverts Some of these cases are still subject to appeal, and DUH will be watching to make sure that any final rulings are followed through. It enforced an injunction it had won in 2023 against drugstore chain dm for misleading consumers with the terms 'climate neutral' and 'environmentally neutral' on particular products. When the company started to readvertise with the new slogan 'act environmentally neutral', DUH started fresh legal proceedings until dm agreed to stop using that too. A number of DUH's legal claims are still ongoing and some could be appealed. But Sauter says most of the companies it has legally threatened have withdrawn specific advertising claims and made a declaration that they will stop. These include gas suppliers who marketed fossil gas as climate-neutral green gas, a company in the Bauhaus Group that advertised a disposable grill made of '100% natural materials' and Poco furniture stores that marketed a chair as 'environmentally friendly'. Sauter says DUH's activities were having a 'strong signalling effect' and advertising with climate neutrality on the basis of offsetting claims 'has rapidly decreased'. Related Companies will soon have to prove that they really are taking climate action, under draft EU law Fish door bells, plastic-eating fungi and tree hugging: Positive environmental stories from 2025 And DUH is not done yet. It recently sent cease-and-desist letters to five companies that it claims advertise environmental benefits without providing information about them: beauty Coty over its 'ocean-friendly' sunscreen; Deichmann and Tchibo about shoes and clothing marketed as 'sustainable'; DIY brand Toom over a laminate marketed as 'good for the environment'; and L'Oreal's over its 'sustainability commitment'. DUH's victories only apply directly to corporate activities in Germany. But Sauter points out that competition law is regulated at the EU level and so, if a German court finds an advert to be misleading, there is a good chance that a court in another EU country would agree. Regulators have also been cracking down on greenwashing. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), for example, previously banned an advert by Lufthansa for making unjustified climate claims. And both the ASA and the Netherlands' equivalent have ordered Shell and its subsidiaries to take down greenwashed adverts. DUH is now calling on Germany's new federal government to set clearer rules and fines for consumer deception. It is already required to put into law new EU rules aimed at empowering consumers for the green transition. And in future it will likely have to implement a proposed greenwashing law expected to tackle both product and company-level claims. Sauter says sustainability cannot just be a marketing ploy and must lead to real improvements in the design of products. 'After all, honest climate and environmental protection is urgently needed in the face of the climate crisis and can only be strengthened by clear regulations.'
Reuters
07-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Germany's Mukran LNG terminal at 5% utilisation in Q1, says DUH
BERLIN, April 7 (Reuters) - Germany's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Baltic Sea port of Mukran operated at 5% capacity in the first quarter of 2025, an analysis showed on Monday, amid local opposition and criticism over its environmental impact and excess capacity. Germany has expanded its natural gas import options to replace Russian pipeline supply and deployed floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), raising overcapacity concerns. here. Utilisation of the Mukran LNG terminal dropped to 5% in the first quarter from 14% a year earlier, when it was still operating in Lubmin, a port town near the border with Poland, according to German Environmental Aid (DUH) analysis of data by Gas Infrastructure Europe. This compares with 49% and 83% utilisation rates at North Sea LNG terminals Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbuettel, operated by state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET). Marking its approval anniversary on April 9, DUH said the terminal fed only 1.3 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas into the grid last year, about 1.5% of Germany's total gas consumption. "The Ruegen LNG terminal is not just a fossil dead end that seriously threatens the climate and our future, it is a bad investment that was foreseeable," Sascha Mueller-Kraenner, DUH managing director, said in a statement. The project has triggered local opposition from the resort town of Binz, saying it was hurting tourism in one of top tourist attractions for Germans and harming marine life, but legal challenges have been thrown out. Deutsche Regas, which operates the Mukran terminal, said the terminal was feeding 120–150 gigawatt hours per day into the German grid, adding it expects the volume to remain stable. "The relevance of critical energy infrastructure is not determined by short-term utilization, but rather by available capacity, utilization during periods of high demand or crises, and at most by long-term utilization," the company said. It said it offers regasification services through "take-or-pay" slot contracts, ensuring terminal fees regardless of usage. In February, Deutsche Regas announced the termination of the charter contract for Energos Power FSRU, citing competitive disadvantages to terminals operated by DET. On Friday, Deutsche Regas launched a bidding round for long-term regasification capacity in Mukran, offering an additional 5 bcm per year from 2027 to 2043. It also said it plans to restart a second FSRU, aiming to restore the terminal's full exit capacity of 13.5 bcm annually by 2027.
Miami Herald
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
These German eco-activists are fighting to stop big American trucks
On April 2nd, U.S. President Donald J. Trump plans to sign executive orders imposing reciprocal tariffs on goods from many important regions, including the European Union. A common argument that prominent politicians like U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters use to defend these measures is that while Americans purchase certain European products like cars, Europeans do not buy the same goods at the same rate. "The European Union was formed to screw the United States, that's the purpose of it, and they've done a good job of it," Trump told reporters at a cabinet meeting in the White House in February 2024. "They've really taken advantage of us. They don't accept our cars, [...] They use all sorts of reasons why not, and we accept everything of them." Get expert insights and actionable trade alerts from veteran investing experts and hedge fund managers. Join TheStreet Pro today and get first month FREE In the same vein, Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo asked a question in response to an interview that aired with the owner of a Pennsylvania Dodge/Ram dealer who expressed concern about the administration's tariffs. "How many Dodge Rams do you see driving around Europe?" she asked. "How many Dodge Rams do you see driving around India? I mean, not many, I bet. Why? Because they don't buy our cars, and that's what President Trump is trying to change." Despite some Americans' instances that other countries go tit-for-tat on trade, a German consumer association is making it their mission to make it harder for big, American pickup trucks to find their way on their roads. In a lawsuit against Germany's Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) or Federal Motor Transport Authority in English, the pro-environmentalist and consumer protection group Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. (DUH) is looking to release information about the trucks that are being imported into Germany. The group, which is better known as Environmental Action Germany in English-speaking countries, says that importers of popular American pickup trucks like the Ford F-Series, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado must apply for special permits to sell and operate such vehicles in the EU. Related: General Motors made a covert move to disappoint loyal fans The group finds that such vehicles are incompatible with European roads from a safety and emissions perspective. According to DUH, these big machines emit up to nine times more CO2 than most EU-market cars and often lack mandatory safety systems. Additionally, these trucks eclipse typical European-market runabouts in size. According to measurements compiled by car-size, the typical Ram 1500 is about 64.2 inches longer, nearly a foot wider, and nearly 19 inches taller than the best-selling car in Germany in 2024: the Volkswagen Golf. To circumvent these pesky rules, importers and individuals apply for an "Individual Vehicle Approval" (IVA), which allows certain vehicles to bypass some basic EU regulations. Initially, this was intended for specialty vehicles like converted vans for people with disabilities. More Automotive: The most reliable new hybrids in 2025New car buyers are in for good news about inflated pricesBMW's newest Mini Cooper is a cool car for buyers on a budget However, DUH finds that some German motorists are exploiting this loophole. They note that 80% of the 4,025 registrations for IVA exemptions for pickup trucks in all of the 27 countries of the European Union during 2023 were made by Germans and that 3,000 such registrations alone were for one specific make: Stellantis's (STLA) Ram. By allowing these trucks to circumvent these regulations, DUH Federal Managing Director Jürgen Resch warns that Germans accept "Immense climate damage and an increased risk of serious traffic accidents." The environmental group previously asked the Federal Motor Transport Authority for more information about specific approval permits for these trucks. In court, they want the agency to release more data. Ultimately, the group urges the German government to increase tax and parking restrictions on these imported pickup trucks and reduce the number roaming German streets. Related: Veteran fund manager issues dire S&P 500 warning for 2025 The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
