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German cities face driving bans for diesel passenger cars in order to meet European Union air quality limit values.

By Joern Kassow

The German Federal Administrative Court recently made a fundamental ruling stating that diesel driving bans are generally admissible. German cities may consider general off-limit areas for diesel fueled cars, as well as partial driving bans on certain heavily used streets.

Currently, approximately 70 German cities do not meet the EU’s nitrogen dioxide air quality limit values. To tackle…

A coalition government would likely focus on energy, transportation, and the automotive industry to meet Paris Agreement targets.

By Joern Kassow and Patrick Braasch

Background

After the 2017 German parliamentary elections, the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) faced difficulties in forming a new government. However, the parties have now agreed on preliminary key terms for the government’s 2018-2021 policy in a 28-page memorandum. The key terms will serve as the basis of formal coalition negotiations, which the parties likely will conclude in February or March 2018. Whether the parties will form a new government at the end of these negotiations still remains to be decided, however, based on the current election results, a so-called “grand coalition” between the two largest parliamentary groups is the most probable outcome. Therefore, the key terms will likely form the cornerstones of the next government’s political agenda.

The memorandum provides insight into German environmental policy, which will have significant impact, particularly on the energy and automotive industries. This blog highlights two key terms of the memorandum, and considers the potential outcome for German energy and automotive industries.

Long-awaited 25-year environment plan aims to “restore” nature and eliminate plastic waste.

By Paul Davies and Michael Green

The UK government has announced its long-awaited 25-year environment plan (the ‘Plan’).

Having originally said it would publish the Plan by the end of 2016, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) subsequently delayed the release, raising concerns that the Plan might not come to fruition until after Brexit. In 2017, Defra requested input from the Natural Capital Committee (NCC), which was duly published in September of last year. The NCC suggested a number of ambitious goals that should be included in the Plan, such as the remediation of all historical land contamination and that air quality throughout the UK should meet international health-based standards.

By Michael Green and Paul Davies

The UK will need to revisit its strategy to improve air quality following a recent court judgment determining that the Government’s existing plans are insufficient.  With air pollution reportedly responsible for 9,500 premature deaths in London each year, according to a study commissioned by the Greater London Transport Authority and Transport for London, the implications of this judgment are likely to have significant impact on the country’s transport infrastructure.

By Paul Davies and Andrew Westgate

Now in its eleventh year, The G20 Summit heads to the city of Hangzhou, China – the first time a G20 summit has been held for heads of state in China. As this years’ destination, China is maximising its role as the host nation to not only highlight its position as an economic superpower, but also to push for continued commitment to climate change and showcase its market-leading role in green finance.

In preparation for the summit, China has not only spruced-up its host city, but has cleaned up its skies. Chinese authorities implemented strict controls on factories operating in the provinces of Zhejiang (where Hangzhou is located), Jiangsu and the city of Shanghai, as part of its short-term air quality plan to ensure blue skies during the G20. As significant industrial centres, the restrictions introduced impact global supply chains across various industries, yet such impact has not deterred the priority of air quality.

By Paul Davies and Andrew Westgate

In advance of the first ever G20 summit to be hosted in China this year, the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau issued a revised, short-term air quality plan to improve local air conditions ahead of the summit. China has undertaken similar efforts to achieve a temporary smog lift in advance of other high profile events such as the Olympics in 2008, the Shanghai World’s Fair in 2010 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2014 – during which the rare blue skies experienced were referred to as “APEC blue.”

The G20 summit will be held September in Hangzhou, a city situated 150 miles south-west of Shanghai. As China’s largest city, and a city with significant construction, operational and residential emissions, Shanghai impacts upon the air quality of its neighbouring cities, including Hangzhou.