Latest news with #DUH
DW
2 days ago
- Automotive
- DW
German top politicians' cars exceed CO2 targets: study – DW – 08/19/2025
If EU emissions targets for the car industry were applied to top German politicians' official vehicles, the fleet would fail, according to a climate body's new study. DUH said it was "emblematic" of German carmakers. More than half of leading German politicians' work vehicles exceed EU targets for average CO2 emissions and the fleet as a whole would run over its carbon budget, a climate group said on Tuesday. The German non-profit environmental and consumer protection association DUH, known as Environmental Action Germany in English, found only modest improvement over 2024's figures in the 19th annual study of its kind. It drew parallels between the political community and Germany's car industry. "The sluggish progress toward environmentally sustainable official vehicles is emblematic of the entire auto sector, which is lagging behind massively in climate protection," DUH's executive director Barbara Metz said in a statement. "Instead of seriously pursuing the switch to futuristic electric power, the federal government is concentrating on pollutant petrol and diesel limousines." In total, DUH estimated that 151 of 238 cars it evaluated exceeded the EU's average emissions target for the car industry of 93.6 grams of CO2 per kilometer driven. That's 63% of the evaluated vehicles, compared to just under 74% a year ago. A green card was awarded to any vehicle at or below the target, a yellow card to any exceeding it by less than 20 grams per kilometer, and a red card for anything above that. Seven of the 11 federal government ministers included in the study used vehicles earning them a red card, compared to seven of nine in 2024. Seven ministries as a whole were given a green card for their fleets; two were yellow, and seven red. "With this, despite the continuing climate crisis, there was no sign of a consequential switch toward more efficient vehicles in the federal Cabinet, even after the change of government" earlier this year, DUH said on Tuesday. Environment ministries, at the state and federal level, did fare slightly better — with 12 of them being given top marks and only four receiving red cards. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The study was based on global figures seeking to calculate so-called "real world emissions," rather than industry numbers from standardized tests. It also sought to incorporate the environmental impact of electric vehicles by using DUH's data for the average CO2 costs of German electricity generation in 2024. The study noted an increase in the number of wholly electric cars in the federal government's fleet — from 50% last year to 57% — but said that their energy consumption varied considerably, and pledged closer scrutiny of their environmental impact in future as well. Perhaps unsurprisingly, almost all the cars studied were German-manufactured, larger, luxury vehicles made by BMW, Audi or Mercedes — cars suited to having the guest of honor sit in the back and not in the front. This meant that even the plug-in hybrids in the fleet tended to weigh in at roughly double the levels of the EU benchmarks, given their hefty size and weight. However, DUH was estimating these vehicles' emissions when being driven without any electric power, saying "these cars are predominantly driven with empty batteries." Bavarian state premier Markus Söder was singled out for having the most thirsty official vehicle, with his car emissions estimated at 292 grams of CO2 per kilometer, more than three times the EU average target. Germany's only Green state premier, Winfried Kretschmann from the neighboring carmaking southern state of Baden Württemberg, was credited with just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer driven. And perhaps fittingly, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider's vehicle was found to emit the least of any federal minister, at 62 grams per kilometer. But Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder, "who really ought to know better," as DUH put it, was given a red card for his plug-in hybrid's emissions. The city state of Bremen's environment senator, Kathrin Moosdorf, was hailed for her official bicycle, as was Hamburg's traffic senator, Anjes Tjarks, for having no business vehicle of any kind. Both politicians represent the Greens. The DUH said that only the Greens could "demonstrate an acceptable fleet of official vehicles," with average emissions of 85 grams per kilometer. Both the center-left Social Democrats, at 151 grams, and the center-right CDU/CSU, at 160 grams, comfortably exceeded the EU benchmark. If you're wondering how Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other leading lights in national politics fared, DUH's study can't help. The chancellor and deputy chancellor — as well as the ministers for finance, the interior, defense and health — were all excluded from the study. The reason for this is that these vehicles are all armored, meaning that they are sure to be much heavier than standard models and therefore less energy efficient. Given the sensitive nature of the data about exactly how much weight was added and where, DUH elected not to include them. The group also noted that some of its estimates for other politicians in need of armored vehicles could therefore be lower than the real values, with its figures based on a standard-issue model.
Local Germany
16-06-2025
- Climate
- Local Germany
RANKED: The worst German cities to spend a heatwave in
Periods of extreme heat in Germany can be dangerous, and they are becoming both more common and more severe as the planet warms. When the weather gets hot, local temperatures in urban areas are amplified – especially in places with a lot of concrete and few trees – by what's called the 'heat island' effect. More than 12 million people in German cities are exposed to extreme heat where they live, according to a study by the German Environmental Aid (DUH). DUH's "Heat-check" report shows which German cities are more or less prepared for high temperatures, based on average summer surface temperatures, and the proportion of sealed cement areas versus tree cover. Here are the worst German cities to be caught in a heatwave, according to the report published this June. Germany's hottest cities With an average midday surface temperature of 38.4C from June to August, Mannheim may be the worst German city to experience a heatwave. Mannheim is the second most populous city in Baden-Württemberg and is home to a number of universities and a relatively high foreign population, but with about 56 percent of its area covered in concrete and just two percent shaded by trees, it can be sweltering on a summer day. Following Mannheim, and with similar heat stats are the cities of Ludwigshafen am Rhein and Worms in Rhineland-Palatinate. In fourth place is the Hessian city of Rüsselsheim am Main. Germany's business capital, Frankfurt am Main, is also among the country's most heat-affected, ranking 5th in DUH's heat check this year. Southern cities particularly affected According to the study, heat stress is particularly high in southern German cities, where in-land temperatures trend higher in the summer months. Advertisement The states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse in particular have most of the cities that are rated as being severely affected by heat according to DUH's analysis. Bavaria's most affected cities are Aschaffenburg and Nuremberg, ranked 14th and 15th respectively. Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt and Hildesheim in Lower Saxony were the only cities from the northern half of Germany that were grouped among the most at-risk category. READ ALSO: Essential articles to help you survive a heatwave in Germany The best prepared cities for extreme heat Generally cities in the north, and especially those near to the coast, benefit from lower average temperatures in the summer. These include cities like Flensburg, Wilhelmshaven and Kiel. However, the best prepared cities for extreme heat are not those on the coast but instead the North Rhine Westphalian cities of Hattingen, Gummersbach and Witten. These cities have less sealed concrete space (at 40 percent or less of the settlement area) and high proportions of green spaces (at around five percent each). A few other cities that scored well for heat adaptation were Hamburg, Hagen, Wuppertal, Marburg and Solingen, just to name a few. Stuttgart, Leipzig, Hanover, Cologne, Erfurt, Düsseldorf and Berlin all had scores close to the median for German cities. Advertisement Why the heat-check matters The effects of global warming are already noticeable in Germany – according to the German Weather Service (DWD), local average temperatures have already increased by 2.5C compared to pre-industrial times. According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, there were around 3,000 heat-related deaths in Germany in 2023 and 2024, and in 2022 there were even more. Older people in particular suffer from high temperatures, and DUH's heat-check found that socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods tend to be more affected. The Ministry of Health warns that especially days with temperatures above 30C can be harmful. It is important to stay hydrated on these days, also to avoid physical exertion and ventilation during the hot parts of the day, and to cool down with showers or foot baths. READ ALSO: 8 of the coolest places in Germany to visit on hot summer days
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- 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.'
