The PowerShift Media Review will start in 2014. The most recent contributions can be found above. We do not claim to be exhaustive, but would like to present a selection of articles that we have either initiated or in which we have our own say (interviews, quotes, own articles, etc.).
11.12.2024, Land & Climate Review
“Shocking and sad”: how corporations use investment agreements to block decarbonisation in the Global South
Camille Corcoran talks to experts about investor-state dispute settlements, which allow fossil fuel companies to bring multi-billion dollar lawsuits against countries that pass green policies. Read more
10.12.2024, Transnational Institute Dossier
Right to Repair and Circular Economy
This conversation examines the connections between recycling, material reduction, and extractivism, focusing on nickel production in Indonesia. It explores how policies reducing extraction could benefit communities, the limits of recycling, and how reducing material use in Northern economies could alleviate extraction pressure. It also discusses justice in circular economy visions. Read more
10.12.2024, energiezukunft
Den Gashahn abdrehen
Flüssiges Erdgas galt als Rettung in der Gaskrise und wird als saubere Übergangslösung vermarktet. Doch der Ausbau des fossilen Sektors befeuert die Klimakrise und führt in eine neue fossile Abhängigkeit. NGOs protestieren gegen LNG-Summit in Berlin. Read more
09.12.2024, Radio CORAX
„Für uns ist das ein neokoloniales Abkommen“
Die Europäische Union und die MERCOSUR-Staaten Argentinien, Brasilien, Paraguay und Uruguay haben am Freitag die Verhandlungen zum MERCOSUR-Freihandelsabkommen abgeschlossen. Die Einigung erfolgte am Rande eines Gipfels der MERCOSUR-Staaten in Montevideo, Uruguay. Listen
14.11.2024, Deutschlandfunk
How a sovereign wealth fund should secure Germany's supply
Raw materials such as rare earths, copper and lithium are indispensable not only for Europe's climate goals. However, the German economy is still heavily dependent on imports from China. A new federal government fund is designed to reduce dependence. Listen
13.11.2024, FactoryRadio
Hannah Pilgrim: How do you explain fair commodity trading?
How fair are our smartphones and cars actually produced? Raw materials such as lithium, nickel and copper are highly sought after in the industry, but their extraction is often accompanied by human rights violations and environmental damage, explains Hannah Pilgrim. A fairly produced mobile phone or a computer whose materials were obtained without ethical conflicts? Not really in sight yet. That's why PowerShift is committed to making raw material extraction fairer. With Nadine Hadad, she talks about the challenges of the global distribution of raw materials, the danger of deep-sea exploitation and ways to handle raw materials more sustainably. Can we do better? Listen
11/11/2024, Tagesspiegel Background
Lithium: Challenges for EU projects
Lithium is the coveted raw material of the future, especially for electromobility. Promoting and processing are likely to be worthwhile in the next few years. The good prospects also attract companies to Germany and Europe. But the projects are only at the beginning. Whether they are all funded is open. Read more (€)
23.10.2024, Tagesspiegel background
Investor lawsuits against federal government reach billions
The German government estimates that investors are currently suing Germany for at least two billion euros. This is clear from the response to a small question from the Left in the Bundestag. Tagesspiegel Background the document is available. Read more (€)
15.10.2024, n.d.Current
District heating network in Berlin: Affordable heating costs
Berliner Energie und Wärme AG (BEW) relies on hydrogen and biomass for the decarbonisation of the district heating network. The environmental associations point to the potential of geothermal energy. They agree on one point: Consumers should not pay for it. Read more
11.10.2024, Rethinking Trade
EU exits ISDS, kinda....
Rapacious European corporations were top users of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) tribunals. For decades, they extracted billions from taxpayers worldwide, attacking local laws and suing governments before ISDS tribunals of three corporate attorneys. So, it was big news when the European Union recently exited one of the world’s largest ISDS agreements -- the Energy Charter Treaty. In the latest episode of the Rethinking Trade podcast, Lori Wallach is joined by two people who know the inside story: Cecilia Olivet, advisor to the Left Group in the European Parliament, and Fabian Flues, of the German-based organization Powershift. Listen in
09.10.2024, Tagesspiegel background
When lithium security takes precedence over democracy.
Michael Reckordt of Powershift observes with great concern the support of the German government for the lithium mining project in Serbia due to the increasing repression. "The unbroken support of the project by Germany and the EU shows that industrial interests are once again being put above human rights, democracy and participation of those affected," said Reckordt. In the end, this could prove to be a disservice if companies had to withdraw from the project due to reputational risks in the worst case. Read more (€)
06.10.2024, she drives mobility
Raw materials at a turning point? Germany's dependency and the future of security of supply.
In this podcast episode, Katja Diehl, host of the podcast, and Hannah Pilgrim, who coordinates the civil society alliance AK Rohstoffe at PowerShift, dive deep into the world of critical raw materials. They shed light on Germany's dependence on metallic raw materials and the challenges that come with it. Together, they discuss why our modern lives would be hard to imagine without these materials – from cars to smartphones – and how dangerous our import dependency can become. Listen in
21/09/2024, Capital
This is what Germany's new risk fund for raw materials should look like
In order to secure important raw materials for the future, Germany is setting up a fund. In the future, it will enable direct state participation in raw material projects. KfW is responsible. Companies such as Aurubis and K+S are already in the starting blocks. Read more
11.09.2024, JACOBIN
EU makes Serbia a mining colony
People in Serbia are protesting against lithium mining in their country – it pollutes the soil and contaminates the water. The EU has nevertheless adopted the Lithium Pact. Because the German e-automotive industry needs the raw material. Read more
30.08.2024, Table.Briefings
Metallic raw materials: Why Supply Chains Are Intransparent
There is a "big transparency gap" in metallic supply chains, said Vanessa Fischer of the NGO Powershift on Thursday at the publication of the - according to the organization - first study on metallic supply chains in Germany. Read
29.08.2024, n.d.Current
Metals against human rights
The trade in copper and Co is non-transparent, exploitative and hardly regulated, shows a research by the NGO Powershift.Read
09.07.2024, Revista YARUMO International
La politización de las Materias Primas
“Las medidas no cambian, cambia es la retórica” dice Hannah Pilgrim, del Círculo de Trabajo en Materias Primas, que reune numerosas organizaciones de la sociedad civil alemana. Read
01.07.2024, climate reporter
Secret tribunals increasingly attack climate policy
Private ISDS arbitration tribunals allow fossil companies and their investors to override the energy transition measures of entire states. The new Global ISDS Tracker from PowerShift, the Transnational Institute and the Trade Justice Movement has now revealed how big the problem is. A guest contribution from the three NGOs. Read
24.06.2024, freie-radios.net
Javier Milei's visit to Germany and what the political situation in Argentina has to do with the EU
The ultra-right Argentinian president Javier Milei, who describes himself as an anarcho-capitalist, has driven many people further into poverty with his austerity policies over the past six months.% to 55.5% ascended. Basic needs such as food, rent, health insurance etc. many people can no longer afford and homelessness has increased. And of course, Milei's inhumane hate discourse intensifies discrimination against and violence against LGBTQI, women and indigenous groups. Nevertheless, Javier Milei was received in Germany by Chancellor Scholz and even received an honorary medal from the AfD-affiliated Hayek Society. Studio guest Fabiana explains how Javier Milei can also be politically classified internationally and what economic interests Germany and the EU pursue in diplomatic relations with Argentina. In addition to those affected in Argentina, the organizers of the "Anti-Milei Month" of the Asamblea en Solidaridad con Argentina en Berlin also have their say. Listen in
19.06.2024, Deutsche Welle
Argentina's controversial President Milei in Germany
The right-wing populist, libertarian politician and self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist comes to Berlin. What does Javier Milei want to achieve with his visit? Oliver Pieper, DW reporter and editor, talks about this with PowerShift trading officer Bettina Müller, among others. Read more
Also in Spanish, Deutsche Welle has reported.
14.06.2024, energy future
Critical view of the Critical Raw Materials Regulation
The European Raw Materials Regulation Critical Raw Materials Act aims to secure resources for the green transition and make the EU more independent of imports. But crucial aspects such as the high consumption of raw materials are missing, explains PowerShift raw materials officer Michael Reckordt. Read more
11.06.2024, The raven Ralf June/July 2024
Connected Turning in Berlin
Like all major cities, Berlin consumes far more resources than the city itself can provide. This destroys the environment, fuels the climate crisis and exacerbates injustices, both within urban society and on a global scale. How can we create a sustainable, globally and locally just city? By understanding how the raw materials, energy, heating and mobility transitions are interrelated and by tackling them together. Read more
10.06.2024, energy future
Investment protection is fuelling the climate crisis
Lawsuits by investors against states, also known as ISDS (Investor-state Dispute Settlement), have risen rapidly over the past three decades. This is shown by the Global ISDS Tracker database presented last week by the non-governmental organization PowerShift, the Transnational Institute and the Trade Justice Movement. Both the number and the amount of compensation demanded has increased significantly, including in dispute settlements between states and fossil companies. Read more
07.06.2024, RFI
Environment: un mécanisme juridique peu connu profite aux sociétés de combustibles fossiles
Près de 114 billions de dollars, c'est la somme totale que des tribunaux d'arbitrage ont fait payer par des États à des entreprises privées à ce jour. Pour parvenir à ce chiffre, plusieurs ONG ou groupement d'organisations, dont Trade Justice Movement et Powershift, ont compilé des années de données et les ont synthétisées sur un site lancé jeudi 6 juin. Le nombre d'affaires s'est accru à partir des années 2000 et a explosé depuis une quinzaine d'années. Parmi les requérants les plus gourmands figurent les compagnies du secteur fossile. Read more
06.06.2024, taz
Argentina's President Milei in Hamburg: The Chainsaw Man is Coming
The self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei comes to Hamburg. The Argentine President is awarded the Hayek Medal by the right-wing libertarian Friedrich August von Hayek Society. He will also meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Protests are raging against the visit of the market-radical political rebel. Read more
06.06.2024, courier
So far, corporations have sued states for $857 billion.
A total of 857 billion dollars (788 billion euros) have so far been claimed by corporations before international arbitration tribunals of states, reports the non-governmental organization Attac. It relies on the transparency database Global ISDS Tracker, which was created by the non-governmental organizations PowerShift, Transnational Institute and Trade Justice Movement. Read more
06.06.2024, The Guardian
Secretive court system has been awarded over $100bn public money to corporations, finds new analysis
More than $100bn of public money has been awarded to private investors in investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) courts, according to the most comprehensive analysis yet. The controversial arbitration system which allows corporations to sue governments for compensation over decisions they argue affect their profits is largely carried out behind closed doors, with some judgments kept secret. But, according to a global ISDS tracker which launches today, $114bn has been so far paid out of the public purse to investors.
The Global ISDS Tracker was developed and published by PowerShift, the Transnational Institute and the Trade Justice Movement and in collaboration with the International Accountability Project and the Institute for Policy Studies. Read more
The Global ISDS Tracker has also been reported in other international media: Mother Jones, Counterpunch, Common dreams, One green planet, Wirenew's fax.
03.06.2024, EU RENEW
Critical Raw Materials Act – a regulation in the interests of the European economy?
European industry accounts for more than 20 per cent of total European value added and “generates over 80 per cent of EU exports”, writes the German Ministry of Economic Affairs. This shows the production and economic systems in the EU are designed to import raw materials, process them further and then export the finished products. Between 25 and 30 per cent of the metals produced globally are used or consumed in Europe. But most of these metals and minerals are primarily extracted outside the EU. That was not always the case. At the beginning of the last century, Europe was still responsible for 40 per cent of global mining production; Today it is around three per cent. Read more
30.05.2024, Deutschlandfunk
Controversial agreement - EU decides to withdraw from the Energy Charter
With its approval of the EU's withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty, the European Council has finalised this. Fabian Flues, Trade and Investment Policy Officer at PowerShift, spoke with Jule Reimer about what this exit means for the EU and the other European member states. Listen
30.05.2024, News pool Latin America
Investment protection: Human rights don't matter
In spring 2023, Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck travelled to Colombia. Shortly thereafter, Germany agreed a climate and energy partnership with Colombia. But what is the reality on the ground? And what if corporate lawsuits hinder attempts to improve the human rights and environmental situation? Newspool Latin America spoke about this with Fabian Flues, speaker for trade and investment policy at PowerShift, among others. Listen
21.05.2024, News pool Latin America
Parallel Justice for Coal
The Investment Protection Act enables companies to undermine the work of environmental protection. Fabian Flues, Trade and Investment Policy Officer at PowerShift, explains what the Investment Protection Act is all about. Read more
02.05.2024, Agricultural talks
FTA
Bettina Müller, Trade Officer at PowerShift, talks about free trade agreements and their dangers for people and the environment in the podcast "Agricultural Talks". Read more
02.05.2024, taz
Resources consumed for 2024
This year, Germans are already living with their raw material consumption from 2 May at the expense of other countries. There are ideas to save resources. One of them is raw material reduction. PowerShift has commissioned the ifeu Institute to calculate concrete savings potentials. Read more
31.03.2024, zdf Today
Investment Protection Agreement: How companies complain about environmental protection
Investment protection agreements allow companies to sue countries in which they invest before arbitration tribunals. In environmental matters, multi-million-dollar lawsuits against states are increasing. Fabian Flues, Trade and Investment Policy Officer, criticises, among other things, the composition of these arbitration tribunals and calls for arbitration tribunals to be excluded from commercial contracts. Read more
28.03.2024, Table.Media
Metals: Mobility and construction are levers for savings
Due to the increasing demand for raw materials for the energy transition, it is necessary to reduce consumption. This should make Germany more independent of imports and conserve resources. A new study commissioned by PowerShift at the ifeu Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in Heidelberg looks at the potential of the most important metals. Read more
27.03.2024, DER SPIEGEL
Researchers see great potential in raw material recycling
Copper, aluminum, iron, nickel and other raw materials are critical to the development of the domestic economy. Germany's dependence on raw material imports could be significantly reduced through more recycling. This is the result of a study by the Ifeu Institute on behalf of the non-governmental organization Powershift, which is available to SPIEGEL. Read more
25.03.2024, oekonews.at
CETA failed in France / Studies: Agreement undermines climate targets
The French Senate clearly rejected the ratification of the EU-Canada Trade Agreement (CETA) by 211 votes to 44. This is good news, because recent studies by the German NGO PowerShift and the French Veblen Institute show that CETA is undermining the Paris climate targets and harming the environment. Read more
13.03.2024, Europe – Table.Media
Surprising verdict: Romania does not have to pay compensation to mining company
Romania faced high claims for damages due to a withdrawn concession for gold mining. Now an international arbitral tribunal has decided the investor protection procedure differently. Read more
06.03.2024, ESG - Table.Media
European Commission: Reforming the Energy Charter, then withdrawing
Shortly before the end of the legislature, the Commission is trying to resolve a dispute over reform or withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty. Both are now to be made possible. Investor protection should no longer hinder climate policy. Read more
04.03.2024, NANO
Contribution on Investor-State Arbitration
In the show NANO, 3sat discusses investor-state arbitration and speaks for it with our speaker for trade and investment policy, Fabian Flues. An interesting article about the madness and dangers of ISDS lawsuits. From 6:10. View
29/02/2024, Tagesspiegel
Wood instead of coal: Environmental groups criticize district heating plans of Vattenfall and Berlin Senate
In order to reduce the share of coal in district heating and electricity production to zero, Vattenfall relies on renewable wood plantations. A mistake at the expense of the climate, critics say. Read more
Other articles on this report have appeared, among others, in the Taz, in which Frankfurter Rundschau and in the case of Climate reporter.
29.02.2024, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
EU Supply Chain Act Fails at Federal Government
The EU Supply Chain Act is failing the Federal Government. The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation spoke with Hannah Pilgrim, coordinator of the AK Rohstoffe at PowerShift, about the turnaround of the traffic light coalition and the effects of the failure of the draft law. Read more
20.02.2024, JACOBIN Magazin
Human rights along supply chains – not with the FDP
The FDP wants to prevent the EU Supply Chain Directive, which would make it possible to prosecute companies for misdemeanors in their global production networks. Merle Groneweg, a freelancer at PowerShift, writes about the blockade of the bill. Read more
20.02.2024, Table.Media
More and more lawsuits based on investment protection agreements are directed against climate and environmental legislation
A Canadian mining company has sued Romania for several billion euros in damages for an unissued mining license. The lawsuit is based on international treaties, which are intended to protect investments of companies abroad. One consequence of this process is that states shy away from ambitious environmental regulation. Our trade officer Fabian Fluss spoke with Table.Media about this challenge for climate protection. Read more
16.02.2024, POLICY
When it comes to primary materials, we need to think more about reduction.
In an interview with POLITIKUM, our raw material expert Michael Reckordt explains why the concept of reduction is not yet sufficiently anchored in the consumption of primary materials - and how this could be changed. Buy a magazine
15.02.2024, capital
How Germany wants to secure raw materials with a sovereign wealth fund
As part of the Raw Materials Fund, the Federal Government has commissioned the State Bank KfW to invest in raw materials projects. But what the procurement procedures will look like is still unclear. One thing is certain: Germany must ensure human rights and environmental standards, according to our raw materials expert Hannah Pilgrim. Read more
24.01.2024, Deutschlandfunk
Lithium, Cobalt and Co. – What about the new mining?
Lithium, cobalt or nickel are irreplaceable for the energy transition. So far, China controls much of the global production. That's supposed to change. These and other raw materials are to be promoted in Germany and Europe in the future. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, our raw material expert Michael Reckordt classifies these efforts and their consequences. Read more
31.12.2023, Latin America news pool
Decisive year 2024 for EU trade agreement with South America
The main criticisms of the various EU agreements with Mexico, Chile and Mercosur are similar. What dangers do civil society actors see and how do activists worldwide organize to take action against these trade agreements? More on this in this article. Read more
06.12.2023, young world
Exploitation of the Global South: Lula is surrounded by market radicals.
The EU-Mercosur agreement between the states of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and the European Union has long been criticized for endangering nature and human rights. Nevertheless, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is pushing for a conclusion of the negotiations during his visit to Berlin. Our trade expert Bettina Müller explains how these ambitions should be assessed, the role played by the presidential elections in Argentina and the background to civil society's criticism of the agreement. Read more
04.12.2023, Frankfurter Rundschau
Against ‘cow trade with Mercosur’
NGOs are appealing to the German government to renegotiate the agreement with the South American Mercosur states. They see the deal as a fire accelerator for climate crisis and species extinction and warn of consequences for indigenous communities. The FR reports on our criticism of the Mercosur agreement and our protest against the visit to Berlin by Brazilian President Lula da Silvas, together with other civil society organisations. Read more
24.11.2023, iz3w
More mining in and for Europe?
The extraction of raw materials is usually only feasible with enormous ecological and social consequences. However, they are indispensable for the European climate protection goals and the energy transition. How much mining is fair? The new EU law on critical raw materials now sets the course for the future of raw materials policy. What does this mean for the resource-rich countries of the Global South? Does it even help the climate? These questions are addressed in a guest article on our raw material expert Michael Reckordt. Read more
23/11/2023, Tagesspiegel Background
Indigenous peoples and affected communities will have a say in the future
In record time, the EU has agreed on a commodity regulation. Industry is cautiously optimistic, while civil society organisations lack concrete targets to reduce the consumption of raw materials or reject the regulation altogether. One expert doubts the EU's ability to act on commodity markets. Read more
15.11.2023, Tagesspiegel background
Europe builds on itself
The EU's dependence on individual countries for the supply of rare materials is to be reduced. This is ensured by the Critical Raw Materials Act, on which the EU Council and Parliament have agreed. First reactions are positive. Our raw material expert Michael Reckordt comments: "It is to be welcomed that the EU has agreed on higher recycling targets". Read more
15.11.2023, energy future
Producing more raw materials for Europe in Europe
The EU is agreeing on a new raw materials law at a record pace. The aim is to produce more raw materials for Europe, including in Europe. The agreement on higher recycling targets in this framework is to be welcomed. At the same time, it is unclear to what extent the globally unjust and ecologically destructive consumption of raw materials is also being addressed. Our raw material expert Michael Reckordt comments: “This is where the European Commission has so far refused to work. This high consumption is the starting point for the violation of human and labour rights, indigenous rights and environmental standards. Read more
15.11.2023, The Jolt
We are living in a raw material world
The race for raw materials is gaining momentum and is becoming more complicated as a result. This edition of FORESIGHT Climate & Energy’s The Jolt podcast takes a look at global commodity racing and the role of the US in it, hosted by our commodities expert Michael Reckordt. Listen in
14.11.2023, Edition Le Monde diplomatique
Green colonialism
According to the United Nations, global consumption of raw materials has increased from 43 billion tonnes in 1990 to 95 billion tonnes in 2019. And with it the global energy consumption: It has roughly doubled since 1980. Is this development to be stopped or even reversed? What are the alternatives to disposable consumption and unbridled growth? This LMd editing booklet deals with these and many other questions. In the article, our raw materials expert Hannah Pilgrim refers to the role of the German law on business due diligence in supply chains, which has been in force since the beginning of 2023, the EU supply chain law on the home stretch and the so-called UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights, which has been negotiated for years. Read more
14.11.2023, taz
Metals from domestic mining
More mining in Europe, less dependence on resource-rich countries, more recycling: The EU is responding to the new geopolitical situation. Read more
09.11.2023, Radio Dreyeckland
Indigenous and smallholder farmers will be particularly affected
Alarmed by the demolition of supply chains during the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the tensions with China, the EU Commission has adopted a draft "Critical Raw Materials Act". Michael Reckordt of the association PowerShift criticizes that it is only about supplying the industry with raw materials, while human rights are not respected. Listen in
06.11.2023, Tagesspiegel background
Withdrawal of the RWE arbitration suit meets with approval
RWE has now withdrawn a lawsuit under the Energy Charter Treaty. Read more
03.11.2023, EnergyFuture
RWE withdraws lawsuit against Dutch coal phasing out
Another lawsuit by a German company under the controversial Energy Charter Treaty is history. RWE does not want to pursue a lawsuit against the coal phase-out of the Netherlands. The withdrawal does not appear to be entirely voluntary. Read more
02.11.2023, taz
"An important victory for the state"
Following a BGH ruling, RWE is withdrawing its billion-dollar lawsuit against the Netherlands. This is a great success, especially for the climate movement. Read more
26/10/2023, Tagesspiegel Background
Several Energy Charter lawsuits against Germany
The British refinery operator Klesch, together with the German Heide Raffinerie belonging to the group of companies, filed a lawsuit against Germany under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). This is the second time in a few days that a company wants to bring Germany before an international arbitral tribunal. Last week, a public energy company from Switzerland had already filed its lawsuit against the Federal Republic of Germany. Read more
24.10.2023, Frankly speaking
#32 Michael Reckordt: Critical Raw Materials Act
In this episode of the Franky speaking podcast, Frank Bold talks to our resource expert Michael Reckordt about the emergence and impact of Critical Raw Materials Acts (CRMA). Listen in
01.10.2023, rbb inforadio
What about EU-Latin America relations?
The German government is currently striving for better relations with Latin America. Spain is also looking across the Atlantic as part of its presidency of the Council of the European Union. But what could a common European strategy for Latin American relations look like? Sandra Schwarte discusses this with her guests. Listen in
01.10.2023, Sheets
Hydrogen from Africa: Hope for whom?
The energy sector accounts for more than three quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions. In the discussion about the energy transition, hydrogen is also constantly coming into focus. What are the conditions for fair hydrogen production in Africa? Read more
29.09.2023, Leaves podcast
Hydrogen from Africa: Hope for whom?
The energy sector accounts for more than three quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions. In the discussion about the energy transition, hydrogen is also constantly coming into focus. What are the conditions for fair hydrogen production in Africa? Listen in
23/09/2023, Deutschlandfunk
Mineral raw materials for a climate-friendly economy
For the energy transition and e-mobility, Germany and the EU need mineral raw materials. Increasingly, domestic funding is now also coming back into focus. What kind of projects are there, how calculable are the risks? Read more
22/09/2023, Tagesspiegel
Climate protection softened in Ceta supplementary declaration
Additional declarations to the free trade agreement Ceta do not protect states from claims for damages from corporations, warn Powershift and the Environmental Institute Munich. The environmental associations have presented a previously secret version of an interpretation aid, according to which climate protection states could be expensive. Politicians disagree with the allegations. Read more
21.09.2023, Globalmagazin
PowerShift and Environmental Institute publish secret CETA interpretation statement
With a “Declaration of Interpretation”, the contracting parties want to dispel the ongoing criticism of the investment protection chapter in the European-Canadian free trade agreement CETA. PowerShift and the Munich Environmental Institute today published the consolidated text of this interpretative statement, as well as a detailed analysis. Read more
21.09.2023, endseurope
‘Countries can still say no’: Climate backstop weakened in draft CETA add-on
An interpretative text on investor-state dispute settlement under the 2014 EU-Canada trade deal has been watered down, according to a leaked draft, compounding doubts about the climate compatibility of the partly ratified agreement. Read more
18.09.2023, Rhein-Neckar newspaper
Germany is dependent on raw materials from other countries
"Reflecting on Savings Opportunities": The social scientist Hannah Pilgrim in an interview. Read more
10.09.2023, podcast: she drives mobility
The climate and raw materials crisis will not be driven away with the electric car!
The relevance of responsible raw material procurement by car companies has only received more attention in connection with the drivetrain turnaround. The massive increase in demand for metals as a result of electromobility has brought the human rights, social and environmental problems associated with the extraction of these raw materials into focus. Listen
04.09.2023, oekonews.at
PowerShift: Consequences of the EU withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty
A study by PowerShift examines the responsibility of EU member states under the Energy Charter Treaty if the EU, but not the member state, withdraws from the ECT. Read more
29.08.2023, Table.Europe
Tine Laufer - lobbying for climate action in a fairer world
Portrait of Tine Laufer and PowerShift at Table.Europe Read more
July.2023, Policy Dispatch Podcast-Sam Morgan
Charting a new energy course
A controversial international energy pact could soon be a thing of the past after the EU unveiled a plan to exit the agreement. Fabian Flues joins the show to explain what the Energy Charter Treaty is and why it is so divisive Listen to the podcast
27.07.2023, Tagesspiegel
Federal Government adjusts hydrogen strategy
For some it is a scandal, for others it does not go far enough: The revision of the National Hydrogen Strategy is a decided matter. Economy Minister Robert Habeck emphasized that blue H2 is promoted in the meantime. Much now depends on the laws on the heat transition. Read more
11.07.2023, German daily newspaper Tagesspiegel
What is the use of the EU Battery Regulation for child workers in the Congo?
The EU Council of Ministers has adopted the new battery regulation. It also provides for grievance and redress mechanisms, for example for miners in the Congo. However, these rights are difficult to enforce in practice, criticise experts. Read more
04.07.2023, Plusminus (ARD)
Fewer electric cars without cobalt
Cobalt is a central raw material for the lithium-ion batteries of electric cars. 70 percent of the world's production comes from the Central African country of Congo. German companies have little direct access to this important mineral. This is partly due to the Supply Chain Act, which has been in force since the beginning of the year. It obliges companies to respect human rights in global supply chains. However, the mining conditions in the Congo are not determined by protection against child labour, fair wages and environmental aspects. Read more
04.07.2023, Bonner Umweltzeitung
Raw materials turnaround is resource protection
In this interview, Michael Reckordt (PowerShift) answers questions about raw materials in the EU and worldwide contexts as well as the campaign work of PowerShift for a raw materials turnaround. Read more
03.07.2023, ENDS europe
Member states set out negotiating position on critical raw materials
National capitals have reached a compromise on the Critical Raw Materials Act with a raised overall ambition, more flexible timelines for environmental impact assessments and a slightly wider list of materials covered. Read more
29.06.2023, Bread for the World Blog
Access to raw materials - In the name of sustainability
The European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050 and promote sustainable growth. However, there is a lack of concrete strategies to decouple economic growth from resource use. A comprehensive turnaround in raw materials is needed to change global consumption patterns and enable equitable and sustainable development.Read more
23.05.2023, TableEurope
CRMA: Council and Parliament in a hurry
The Competitiveness Council and the European Parliament's Industry Committee discussed the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) yesterday. Before the summer, both institutions want to agree on their positions. Above all, the debate on mining in nature reserves could get in the way of the ambitious timetable. Read more
02.05.2023, Tagesspiegel
Hannah Pilgrim – Head of the Raw Materials Policy Network at Powershift
Hannah Pilgrim heads the Raw Materials Working Group at Powershift and is committed to a sustainable and socially fairer raw materials transition. She sees the decisive levers for this in politics. Read more
03.04.2023, TableMedia
Hannah Pilgrim – Raw materials as a life theme
There is no responsible mining for them: Hannah Pilgrim coordinates the network of the Working Group on Raw Materials at the NGO Powershift. Read more
30.03.2023, Deutschlandfunk
Organisations criticise ‘leaked’ documents on addendum to the EU-Mercosur Treaty
The proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Economic Community of Mercosur suggests a new dispute. The reason is a previously secret supplementary agreement, which became public on the occasion of the EU summit in Brussels. Read more
29.03.2023, Latin America21
Free Trade Agreement with the EU: Mercosur rejects environmental regulations as too harsh and unbalanced
Additional chapter leaked. Environmental organizations criticize "lip confessions" and unrealistic measures in climate protection and human rights. Read more
17.03.2023, Deutschlandfunk
The EU Raw Materials Strategy: Great ambitions, few instruments
For some commodities, the EU is almost entirely dependent on China. With its own raw materials strategy, Brussels wants to change this and strengthen self-sufficiency. However, raw material expert Michael Reckordt is ‘very sceptical’ about the targets. Read more
16.03.2023, climate reporter
EU Raw Materials Act with blanks
The European Union wants to improve self-sufficiency with critical raw materials for the energy transition and digitalisation. In today's law, critics miss the further development of environmental and human rights standards. Read more
15.03.2023, Frankfurter Rundschau
EU draft: More raw materials to come from Europe's mines
The European Union wants to become more independent of imports and to increase its own production of more minerals such as lithium. Critics: there is a lack of strengthening of human rights in traditional supplier countries. Read more
15.03.2023, TableMedia
Chile's long road to sustainable copper
Germany is increasingly relying on copper from Chile. The step is inevitable, as it is one of the most important raw materials of the transformation. But mining harms people's health and the environment. Read more
13 March 2023, Tagesspiegel
EU for more raw material recycling and extraction
The European Commission wants to set minimum quotas for the extraction, processing and recycling of critical raw materials. That's according to a leaked draft of the Critical Raw Materials Strategy, which is due to be officially unveiled this week. The reactions are mixed. Read more
03.2023, commondreams.org
US and EU Groups Call for 'Ceasefire' on Trade Challenges to Climate Policies
A coalition of more than three dozen progressive advocacy groups based in the United States and the European Union on Monday implored E.U. policymakers to stop pursuing challenges to the Inflation Reduction Act and urged governments on both sides of the Atlantic to start prioritizing decarbonization over corporate-friendly trade rules. Continue reading
09.03.2023, Tagesspiegel Background Traffic & Smart Mobility
Industry praises draft European raw materials law, blames NGOs and the Greens
The European Commission wants to set minimum quotas for the extraction, processing and recycling of critical raw materials. This emerges from a leak of the Critical Raw Materials Strategy, which is due to be officially unveiled next week. The reactions are mixed. Read more
17 January 2023, Frankfurter Rundschau
Energy transition needs a lot of metal
The demand for lithium and cobalt, for example, will increase sharply. But that's not dramatic, according to a recent study. Read more
05/01/2022, Deutschlandfunk
Study: Metal consumption for the energy transition
The Federal Government's raw materials strategy also states that the demand for metals for the energy transition will increase. Experts at the Energy Policy Association PowerShift have looked at the connections between the expansion of renewables and metal consumption. Listen
1.12.2022, ZDF Morgenmagazin
Bundestag votes on Ceta agreement
The controversial EU trade agreement with Canada has been provisionally in force since September 2017. After years of debate, the Bundestag is now voting on a ratification of CETA. Watch
30.11.2022, German Bundestag
Measures to safeguard raw materials discussed in the Economic Committee
How to securely supply Germany with raw materials was the subject of a public hearing of the Economic Committee on Wednesday, 30 November 2022. Specifically, the experts commented on requests from the CDU/CSU (20/4042) and the AfD Group (20/4065). Hannah Pilgrim was on the committee for PowerShift/AK Raw Materials. Read more and watch
28.11.2022, taz
Ceta is wrong.
This week, the Bundestag is to give the green light for Ceta. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets rightly against the EU-Canada trade agreement. Read more
25.11.2022, Energy Future
Metals for energy production
The production of energy, whether fossil or renewable, requires large quantities of metals, but the demand for wind power and photovoltaics is lower than for gas or coal-fired power plants. Renewable energy is also not a driver for mining. Read more
25.11.2022, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Treasure Island of Japan
The concern about the availability of scarce raw materials is justified. What Germany could learn from Japan's strategic raw materials policy. Read more
23.11.2022, Energy Future
Is the Energy Charter Treaty coming to an end?
The reform of the Energy Charter Treaty has not found a majority among the EU member states in a landmark vote. A withdrawal of the EU significantly reduces the risk of lawsuits by foreign investors. Good for climate protection. Read more
22/11/2022, n.e.c.
Long way out of fossil gagging
When the members of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) meet in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator on Tuesday, it's about the sausage: A decision is to be taken here on a reform of the agreement, which entered into force in 1998 and which was joined by more than 50 countries, especially in Europe. Read more
14.11.2022, The Guardian
Revealed: secret courts that allow energy firms to sue for billions accused of ‘bias’ as governments exit
Secret Court Set Up Under Energy Charter Treaty Accused of Conflicts of Interest, Self-Regulation Issues and Institutional Bias Continue
13.11.2022, taz
Goodbye, Energy Charter!
Germany is withdrawing from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty, whose members guarantee companies special investment protection. Read more
12.11.2022, Wind power journal
Germany announces withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty
After years of protests by climate activists against the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and two years of unsuccessful negotiations on its reform, the German government is now announcing: Germany will withdraw from the ECT anti-climate agreement. Read more
10/11/2022, n.e.c.
Cycle instead of exploitation
The increased use of renewable energies is without alternative – but must be accompanied by a change in the use of raw materials. Read more
2.11.2022, Europe Calling
“ECT: Reform or Exit?
Note from the 137th edition of Europe Calling of 2 November 2022 in cooperation with Anna Cavazzini MEP on “ECT: Reform or Exit? – What happens next for the climate-damaging Energy Charter Treaty”, guests: Anna Cavazzini, Christina Eckes and Fabian Flues Watch on YouTube
26/10/2022, taz
Fracking is not allowed
Open letter from 50 organizations: Fifty organizations are calling for a clear positioning of the federal government. Fracking should remain prohibited, even if calls for it become louder.
Read more
20.10.2022, taz
The Way Out of the China Trap
The energy transition depends to a large extent on raw materials. Minister of Economic Affairs Habeck focuses on cooperation and the circular economy.
Read more
17/10/2022, n.e.c.
Long way to the raw material turnaround
The need for metals is increasing. NGOs are calling for a rethink in procurement and consumption.
Read more
06/10/2022, taz
Lawsuits against climate protection expected
Strong protection for investors is the major point of contention in the Ceta free trade agreement. An expert opinion shows that lawsuits against climate protection measures threaten. Read more
26.09.2022, odysso - Knowledge in SWR, SWR Television
How sustainable is the raw material transition?
As an NGO, the Berlin-based association PowerShift fights for the rights of people who lose their livelihoods through the extraction of raw materials. Watch
24.08.2022, Table Europe
Sanctions against Russia must include imports of metals
Europe continues to import metals such as nickel, copper and aluminium from Russia on a large scale – from companies owned by Putin-affiliated oligarchs. The EU and the German government must stop these imports and drastically change the raw materials policy, writes Michael Reckordt of the NGO PowerShift.Read more)
10.08.2022, energy future
Recycle raw materials and promote them sustainably
The overexploitation of raw materials worldwide is destroying the environment and habitats. For a green future, significantly more raw materials must be recycled, used sustainably and promoted. Instead of raw material hunger, a raw material turnaround is needed.(Read more)
28.07.2022, climate reporter
Almost two earths needed
The "Earth Overshoot Day" was reached again a day earlier. A part of humanity continues to live on far too large a foot. Metal consumption must be reduced urgently, NGOs warn. (Read more)
27.07.2022, Frankfurter Rundschau
From now on the earth is overloaded
For the rest of the year, humanity lives on pump when it comes to resource consumption. That is why environmental organisations are calling for a change in raw materials from traffic lights. (Read more)
15.07.2022, Guest Post in the Forum Newsletter
Insurance for Fossils
Following the arbitration actions by RWE and Uniper against the Dutch coal phase-out, the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) has come under heavy criticism. Now his reform is entering its final phase: In the coming weeks, it will be decided whether Germany and other countries will leave the agreement. But regardless of how the reform process ends, the conflict between investment protection treaties and climate protection will continue if the German government and the EU do not initiate a U-turn. (Read more)
14.07.2022, Table China
Germany remains dependent on raw materials from China
German imports of raw materials from the People's Republic have not decreased, despite appeals to reduce dependencies. It is difficult to turn away as long as prices are low and trade relations are reliable. Comparisons with Russian gas are pressing. (Read more)
07.07.2022, tagesspiegel
neighbourhood
Why the traffic turnaround in Berlin Pankow is stalling and how it goes on with our parklets. (Read more)
05.07.2022, taz
Ratification at gallop
The Greens want to ratify the Ceta economic agreement quickly, despite the controversial arbitration tribunals and the legal privileges for corporations. (Read more)
05.07.2022, Frankfurter Rundschau
Do not approve trade agreements with Canada
Anyone who is serious about climate protection must not ratify Ceta! (Read more)
30.06.2022, Energy future
The end of reform
The outcome of the reform negotiations of the Energy Charter Treaty is disappointing. Key points of the anti-climate agreement remain. Civil society organisations, academics and politicians from several countries are calling for the withdrawal. (Read more)
29.06.2022, Telepolis
Back to Coal
Last week was not good for climate protection. The energy policy role backwards in Germany (and not only there) continues. (Read more)
25 June 2022, Handelsblatt
Success for climate activists: Investment protection for coal, oil and gas should be eliminated
For years, the Energy Charter Treaty has been sharply criticized for protecting dirty power plants and pipelines. Now there will be a reform. (Read more)
24.06.2022, Tagesspiegel background
The EU's withdrawal from the Energy Charter is more likely
(Read more)
23.06.2022, Guest article in the Climate Reporter
Why the EU should withdraw from the Energy Charter
At the end of this week, the reform of the Energy Charter Treaty is to be in dry cloths. But the EU will not achieve its self-imposed reform goals. If it wants to pursue a Paris-compliant climate policy in the next few years, it must now withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty. (Read more)
21.06.2022, Tagesspiegel background
Struggling for the Energy Charter
A decision on the reform of the Energy Charter Treaty is pending. Climate activists are sounding the alarm and calling for an exit of the EU from the arbitration system. Meanwhile, the EU is trying to push through a special clause to exclude fossil projects. (Read more)
19.06.2022, Reutlinger General-Anzeiger
Tübingen Human Rights Week begins
Discussion events, workshops and a cooking evening are planned. The keynote speech will be delivered by Hannah Pilgrim, PowerShift Policy Officer for Raw Materials and Head of the Working Group on Raw Materials. (Read more)
07.06.2022, macronome
Without a raw material transition, we will not achieve the climate targets
It is often pretended that the fight against climate change "only" requires a transformation of the previous economy. But the climate crisis is a crisis of the prevailing production model – and the resources needed for it. (Read more)
02.06.2022, taz
Free track for combustion engines
According to a study, the auto lobby has acted on a trade agreement between the EU and South America. She wants to continue selling burners there. (Read more)
01.06.2022, Tagesspiegel (paywall)
Spain's solar debacle takes effect
When the reform of the Energy Charter Treaty is voted on in three weeks' time, Spanish government officials are expected to pay particular attention to what is happening. No other EU country has been so often sued on the basis of this treaty. But renewable investors are also taking action against Germany. (Read more)
23.05.2022, Business & Human Rights Resource Center
Billions paid out to coal companies show how investment rules are obstructing the green transition
The transition away from fossil fuels is urgent. But existing investment agreements mean this transition will be pricey and difficult, as illustrated by German coal companies using the Energy Charter Treaty to get rich on taxpayer money. (Continue)
23.05.2022, climate reporter
Failed to reform the Energy Charter?
Without tangible progress, the latest round of negotiations on the Energy Charter Treaty seems to have come to an end in Brussels. Environmentalists now speak of a final failure of the desired reform. The co-negotiating EU has so far been covered. (Read more)
19.05.2022, the Friday
Energy Charter Treaty: Three business lawyers determine global climate policy
Will Germany finally withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty? It protects corporations from democratic climate policy. A decision will be made in June. (Read more)
04.05.2022, taz
The ‘fossil dino’ is to be removed
The Energy Charter Treaty is intended to provide investment protection for companies. Klimaschützer:innen see it as a means by corporations against climate policy. (Read more)
25.04.2022, Green Phase - the sustainability podcast of ARD
E-car sharing vs. public transport How to reach your destination more sustainably and quickly?
In the Pulse podcast, Merle Groneweg (PowerShift) explains whether electric cars are really the solution for sustainable mobility and why the production of batteries for electric cars is still a big problem at the moment. (Listen)
15.04.2022, Frankfurter Allgemeine
High recycling rate: Where gold comes from in Germany
With the change in the fashion industry, something has also happened in the gold sector: The gold produced in Germany comes almost 100 percent from recycling. At least that's what the Association of Precious Metals says. (Read more)
14.04.2022, Future Moves - New Mobility Podcast
FUTURE MOVES #13 – Merle Groneweg, Project Lead Sustainability at Power Shift
Merle Groneweg, Project Lead Sustainability at the NGO Power Shift, deals with raw materials. In the podcast, she explains in which metals there are environmental and human rights conflicts – but also how the car industry can use its purchasing power to advocate for a fairer global economy. (Listen)
24 March 2022, Deutschlandfunk
Too much coal for the coal phase-out? Interview with Fabian Flues, Powershift
As part of the lignite phase-out, the two lignite companies RWE and LEAG will receive compensation payments of EUR 4.35 billion. Together with two other NGOs, PowerShift has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection at the Administrative Court in Berlin. (Read more)
03.03.2022, Europe Table
Raw material imports: Industry fears rising prices
A part of European industry relies on Russian raw materials. In the future, deliveries could be more sparse or even stopped altogether, and price increases would be inevitable. Where problems threaten. (Read more)
02.02.2022, Climate reporter
Reform of the Energy Charter is not progressing: Fossil investors should be protected at state expense
The fossil fuel industry is the most suing internationally, especially thanks to the Energy Charter, a new report by the think tank IISD shows. Despite all the reform debates, the Charter will continue to hold its protective hand over fossil investments for years to come and will also make the German coal phase-out even more expensive. (Read more)
01.02.2022, n.e.c.
Continued protection of investments in fossil fuels
On the basis of the Energy Charter, the Nord Stream 2 company sued the EU before an arbitral tribunal in September 2019. Reason: Gas suppliers on EU territory and thus also in Germany are required to produce, transport and distribute in legally separate, "unbundled" companies. Under certain circumstances, Nord Stream 2 would have to involve third parties in the business. The supplier considers this to be a violation of the Energy Charter.(Read more)
30/01/2022, Taz
Circular economy and climate crisis: The potential of the garbage dump
Getting our waste problem under control would also be good for the climate. It's not just waste management that needs to change. (Read more)
26 January 2022, Salzburger Nachrichten
Investment protection hinders phase-out of fossil energy
International agreements on investment protection could slow down the phase-out of fossil fuels or make it much more expensive. This applies in particular to the Energy Charter Agreement (ECT), criticized attac and the German environmental organization PowerShift on Wednesday in a press conference. These agreements guarantee companies compensation if their investments suffer losses as a result of changes in the law - or even if they fail to make any expected profits.Read more)
25.01.2022, Energy future
Hot iron – mining drives climate crisis
Iron, copper, aluminium – the economy’s hunger for raw materials remains unabated. But mining and ore processing use a lot of energy. The climate crisis is forcing a turnaround in raw materials. We need to use valuable resources for a long time and keep them in circulation.(Read more)
12.2021, Environment & Development Forum - Circular 3/2021
ECJ versus Energy Charter Treaty
On 2 September, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty between investors from the EU and EU Member States violates European law and is therefore illegal. However, while the CJEU judges left no doubt about their point of view, the impact of the ruling on current and future arbitration proceedings is difficult to foresee.Read more)
20.12.2021, Energy future
‘Individual mobility consumes large quantities of raw materials’
Metals and minerals are needed for electric cars, wind turbines and solar systems. However, industrial societies' hunger for raw materials has been growing for half a century. In conversation, Michael Reckordt sets the stage for a raw material turnaround. (Read more)
14/12/2021, Worldviews
Beijing also regulates weakly.
China's communist government is addressing grievances in global supply chains. However, it has not yet introduced binding standards for companies and foreign investors. (Read more)
10/12/2021, young world
China is no longer an excuse.
Beijing pays no less attention to standards in international supply chains than Western countries. (Read more)
06/12/2021, Deutschlandfunk
How the Coal Compromise Has Been Increased Without Need
By 2038, Germany wants to phase out coal burning, for which companies will receive 4.35 billion euros in compensation. This is contractually stipulated. This is not a good thing for the new government and the climate. (Listen)
25.11.2021, taz
More mining, less waste
The Traffic Light Coalition focuses on the circular economy with specific specifications. Conflicts between raw material extraction and nature conservation remain. (Read more)
16.11.2021, ak analyse & kritik
Values are not at stake here
The investment agreement between China and the EU continues the rules of global trade – labour rights are not part of it. (Read more)
02.11.2021, Change my Climate
#7 Technology
In this episode of the podcast on the project "Sustainable goals. Sustainable Cities" by Soned e.V. is about smartphones and the metallic raw materials needed for production. In this interview, Michael Reckordt (PowerShift) explains how and where metallic raw materials are mined, how the ecological costs are externalized so far and how the global trade of these raw materials works. (Listen)
15.10.2021, Wide angle
The raw material crisis will not be driven away with an electric car
When we talk about electromobility, there is usually no lack of criticism. But whether combustion engines or electric cars, both need raw materials that are mined at the expense of people and the environment. One way out of this can only be a climate- and raw material-friendly mobility turnaround. (Read more)
08.10.2021, Tagesspiegel Background
The forgotten raw materials
The new EU Battery Regulation is intended to set wide-ranging standards. But it could already be obsolete when it comes into force, environmental and human rights organizations warn. One point of criticism: The new due diligence requirements do not yet apply to the ‘trend raw materials’ copper, bauxite, iron and manganese. (Read more)
30/09/2021, Tagesspiegel Background
Energy Charter is a dispute for a new coalition
The safeguard clauses of the International Energy Charter Treaty are seen as an obstacle to the phasing out of fossil fuels. If the Greens come into government responsibility, they want to lead Germany out of the treaty. For the potential coalition partner FDP, this would be a problem. (Read more)
13/09/2021, n.e.c.
Solidarity through the East
Activists campaigned for an open society on a bike tour through Brandenburg. (Read more)
03.09.2021, Deutschlandfunk
Judgment of the General Court: RWE lawsuit against Dutch coal phasing out?
RWE has sued the Netherlands for the planned coal phase-out in an international arbitration court in the USA. It is based on the Energy Charter Treaty of 1991. In an interview, Fabian Flues (PowerShift e.V.) talks about the problems of the agreement and explains why non-governmental organisations and environmental associations are calling for a withdrawal from the treaty. (Read more)
03/09/2021, Süddeutsche Zeitung
How big is the ecological footprint of German cars
German cars are getting bigger and heavier, but this also increases the demand for raw materials from all over the world. A study investigates their origins - and demands a radical change of course. (Read more)
05.08.2021, RiffReporter
Extraction of raw materials: The Wounded Point of the Energy Transition
Fair raw materials for the energy transition: What needs to change so that mineral mining does not harm humans and nature. (Read more)
06.07.2021, climate reporter
EU threatens to surrender to Energy Charter
As of today, more than 50 countries are once again negotiating a modernisation of the controversial Energy Charter Treaty in Brussels. The climate and environmental movement is calling for the legal fossil to be buried – the EU seems more inclined to capitulate. (Read more)
16.06.2021, Jacobin magazine
A supply chain law does not yet make fair trade in raw materials
The recently adopted Supply Chain Act is intended to hold companies accountable for serious human rights violations. But it is precisely in the brutal raw materials sector that the pro-business law will have little effect. (Read more)
15/06/2021, Deutschlandfunk
Is the EU-Canada Free Trade Agreement (CETA) all right?
In this interview, Alessa Hartmann (PowerShift e.V.) talks about a lack of transparency, a lack of climate protection and human rights standards. (Read more)
02.06.2021, n.e.c.
No more deals for German companies
One million people and an alliance of 50 non-governmental organizations are calling for the termination of the Energy Charter Treaty. (Read more)
25.05.2021, Free radio Stuttgart
EU-Mercosur Agreement
The trade experts Regine Kretschmer and Bettina Müller as well as a Greenpeace campaigner have their say in the broadcast of the Inforedaktion im Freien Radio für Stuttgart. (Read more)
17.05.2021, taz
State money only for fair companies
Foreign trade promotion must be in the supply chain law, say development organizations. This is the only way to strengthen human rights. (Read more)
05/2021, The newspaper Paraguay
EU-Mercosur deal bad for Paraguay?
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement is controversial. In this interview Bettina Müller (PowerShift e.V.) sheds light on the effects and possible dangers. (Read more)
06.05.2021, left-hand traffic
Raw materials policy is everyone's concern
For a long time, commodity policy was a niche issue. But awareness campaigns about the smartphone or the debate about electromobility are sharpening the eye. (Read more)
03.05.2021, Enviro News Nigeria
Germany responsible for mining related displacements in Guinea
A team of campaigners has said that Germany should be held responsible for large scale loss of livelihood and displacement of farmers in Guinea. According to them, besides being a buyer of bauxite, Germany is also a financier by providing a $293 million loan guarantee for the expansion of the Sangaredi open-pit bauxite mine in the West African nation. (Read more)
25/04/2021, Spectrum
The high price of aluminum
Aluminium is one of the most important industrial metals. The largest reserves are in West Africa. There, the environment and the population pay an enormous price for the supply of raw materials to the industrialized countries. (Read more)
04.2021, Verso Books
Beyond the Ruins - The Fight Against Environmental Breakdown
We are hurtling towards total climate breakdown. Extractive capitalism has wreaked havoc on our planet, and countries in the global south pay the heaviest price for a crisis they contribute to the least. But we are far from powerless in the face of this catastrophe. How can the left build a more sustainable future, and win back a world fit for life? This collection brings together key thinkers, activists, researchers and writers who are leading the conversation on the urgent, global response that is required.
Contributors include Adrienne Buller, Pia Eberhardt, Fabian Flues, Dalia Gebrial, Antonia Jennings, Harpreet Kaur, Laurie Laybourn-Langton, Mathew Lawrence, Cecilia Olivet, Julia Steinberger and Olúfémi Táíwò. (free download)
04.2021, Career guide - Engineers
Saving raw materials: "Driver of change"
Germany is the world export champion. But: In order to be able to export a lot, German companies also import an enormous amount of raw materials for production. We are one of the world's largest consumers of metallic raw materials. Not only do we import the metals, but we also consume the land and water locally and emit CO2. Mining destroys enormously large areas, thus very often leading to land conflicts, pollution, human rights violations, for example through child labour, non-compliance with international labour rights, repression or the criminalization of environmentalists. At the same time, we are a true throwaway society, especially in the electronics sector. As a result, enormous amounts of raw materials are lost or no longer used. In electronic devices such as mobile phones or laptops alone, up to 50 or 60 different metallic raw materials are processed. (Read more)
26/03/2021, Jacobin
The EU-Mercosur deal cannot be saved
The free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur states is controversial. Even within the EU. An additional document on climate targets is intended to appease the criticism. But that doesn't change the neocolonial structure of the deal either. (Read more)
16.03.2021, analysis & review
Gold mine for RWE & Co
With the Energy Charter, companies can earn billions more in fossil fuels despite the climate crisis. The energy company RWE is demanding a total of 1.4 billion euros from the Netherlands as "compensation" for the coal phase-out decided by 2030. RWE operates two coal-fired power plants in the Netherlands, which will no longer be allowed to produce electricity from 2025 and 2030, respectively. One of these power plants was not put into operation until 2015, the year of the Paris Climate Agreement. Now a company spokesman claims that at that time it was not foreseeable that coal-fired power generation could not continue for several decades. In addition to RWE, the German energy group Uniper, which commissioned a coal-fired power plant in 2016, also threatens to sue the Netherlands. (Read more)
16.03.2021, taz
Criticism of the Mercosur Agreement: Cars against beef
Opposition to the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur states of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay is growing. A coalition of 450 European and South American organizations issued a statement on Monday calling for the agreement to be halted. The EU and South America already agreed on the treaty in 2019. This is to remove four billion euros of tariffs annually and thus increase the import of meat and soy into the EU as well as the export of cars to South America. With dramatic consequences for human rights and the environment. (Read more)
10.03.2021 Radio Dreyeckland
Supply Chain Act in Germany: "Implementing an effective supply chain law now"
On 3 March 2021, the Federal Cabinet adopted a draft of the Supply Chain Act. Germany is dependent on supplies of metallic-mineral raw materials, because the automotive and electronics industry is based on materials such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earths. Mining is still quite a dirty business on several levels. There is a massive lack of transparency in many areas. Hannah Pilgrim on the legal side of metallic-mineral supply chains and an assessment of the adopted draft. (Listening)
05.03.2021, mdr Podcast
Our electrical appliances are true gold mines
Year after year, the world's mountain of e-waste is growing by more than 50 million tons. This garbage contains many valuable resources, precious metals and rare earths, which can be a real goldmine – if we were to recycle them better, including an interview with Michael Reckordt. (Listen)
04.03.2021, Radio Dreyeckland
Implement an effective supply chain law
The Supply Chain Act is before the Bundestag and was adopted by the parliamentary groups on 3 March 2021. In an interview with Hannah Pilgrim, we sort out the developments on the legal side of supply chains. (Read more)
04.03.2021, Ende Gelände news
What does South American lithium have to do with the energy transition?
Electromobility is to become one of the central pillars of Germany's energy transition, even though the mining of lithium is destroying the livelihoods of indigenous communities in South America. Instead of facing up to their global responsibilities, German industrial companies are diligently securing mining rights. This exploitation of raw materials does not lead to long-term social prosperity, nor is it environmentally friendly. (Read more)
03.03.2021, New Germany
No trace of prevention
The federal government approved a draft supply chain law on Wednesday. This is intended to force companies to assume their responsibility for upholding human rights. The draft law is problematic because it will not prevent many violations, especially in the area of metallic raw materials. The protection of the environment and human rights cannot be achieved in this way. (Read more)
02.03.2021, New Germany
The Left Fails in Karlsruhe
Federal Constitutional Court rejects lawsuit against EU free trade agreements with Canada. Specifically, the complaint concerned the right of the Bundestag to participate in the entry into force of the agreement. Ceta has been partially in force since 2017, but only in the areas of undisputed EU competence. The Left Party had accused the Bundestag of having decided only a statement on Ceta, and no law. The judges in Karlsruhe rejected the lawsuit on Tuesday as inadmissible. (Read more)
23.02.2021, open Democracy
This obscure energy treaty is the greatest threat to the planet you’ve never heard of
The Energy Charter Treaty allows fossil fuel companies to sue governments for taking action on climate change. It must be stopped before it’s too late. On 4 February the German energy giant RWE announced it was suing the government of the Netherlands. The crime? Proposing to phase out coal from the country’s electricity mix. The company, which is Europe’s largest emitter of carbon, is demanding €1.4bn in ‘compensation’ from the country for loss of potential earnings, because the Dutch government has banned the burning of coal for electricity from 2030. (Continue reading, English only)
10.02.2021, Clean Energy Wire
Energy transition's resource needs difficult to reconcile with clean supply chain ambitions
The appetite for metals and minerals that sustain the mass rollout of renewables, e-cars and storage units raises questions whether greening one country's economy comes with social and environmental damage in others. The conflict between clean energy production and a clean supply chain Germany is faced with showcases what other countries set to ramp up their renewable power capacity will have to eventually deal with too. (Read more)
02/04/2021, Handelsblatt
RWE sues the Netherlands for phasing out coal for billions in compensation
RWE is demanding billions in compensation from the Netherlands for the coal phase-out initiated there. The energy company has now filed a lawsuit with the World Bank's International Arbitration Court, the arbitral tribunal announced on its website. RWE confirmed the complaint on request. The group emphasized its explicit support for the energy transition in the Netherlands. (Read more)
04.02.2021, taz
RWE sues the Netherlands
The German energy company RWE is suing the Netherlands for phasing out coal. In 2019, the Dutch government decided to end coal-fired power generation by 2030. RWE operates two coal-fired power plants in the Netherlands, one in Geertruidenberg and one in Eemshaven. They will no longer be allowed to burn coal from 2025 or 2030. (Read more)
18.01.2021, New Germany
It's important, but please don't go too fast.
In Germany, the implementation of an effective supply chain law is a long way off. There is an urgent need for this. The human rights and environmental organizations, trade unions and church institutions that are united within the framework of the "Initiative Supply Chain Act" have long called for a binding legal framework. The coalition agreement also provides for the introduction of a corresponding law if voluntary measures by companies are not sufficient. That is obviously the case. Discussion and adoption in the cabinet are repeatedly postponed, and there was always a certain discrepancy between Merkel's statements in public and actions behind closed doors. (Read more)
09.12.2020, Handelsblatt
Final call for controversial supply chain law
Companies should be liable for human rights violations - this is what the coalition wants. But there is a dispute about the details. The government is now making a final attempt to reach an agreement. Human rights organizations are also increasing the pressure. The Supply Chain Act initiative, which brings together NGOs such as Oxfam, Powershift and Misereor, published a report on Wednesday documenting human rights abuses in German companies' foreign business. Bank ING Diba has therefore financed the expansion of a bauxite mine in Guinea with a million-dollar loan, in which people were forcibly relocated. ... But Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier (CDU) is skeptical. He fears additional bureaucratic burdens for companies already suffering from the corona crisis. A central point of contention is the issue of liability. (Read more)
09.12.2020, Deutsche Welle
Guinée : the entreprises allemandes épinglées
En Guinée, la banque allemande ING DiBa est accusée d’avoir fait un prêt d’un million d’euros à la Compagnie de bauxite de Guinée, pour financer l'expansion d'une mine qui aurait provoqué des réinstallations forcées de population et la pollution des eaux locales. ... Qu'il s'agisse de bananes en Equateur, de ciment en Indonésie ou de bauxite en Guinée, il n'est plus acceptable, selon l’ONG Fian, que des entreprises allemandes acceptent que leurs profits nuisent à la population et à l'environnement. “Nous demandons au gouvernement allemand l’adoption d'une loi qui obligerait les banques à examiner si les crédits qu’elles veulent accorder à certains projets ne risquent par de violer les droits de l’homme et provoquer la pollution et la dégradation du climat dans les pays bénéficiaires. Et si c’est le cas, elles ne doivent pas accorder ces crédits", préconise Gertrud Falk. ... "Initiative Supply Chain Law" est une association de 118 organisations de la société civile, dont Oxfam Allemagne, FIAN, PowerShift et Misereor, ainsi que de nombreuses autres organisations de défense des droits de l'homme, de développement et de l'environnement, des syndicats et des acteurs religieux. (Read more)
04/12/2020, Watson
"Need a raw material turnaround": Study reveals serious gaps in supply chains of VW, BMW and Daimler - how companies react
It requires a lot of energy, emits a lot of emissions, takes up a lot of space: This auto is a relatively polluting means of transport – this has been widely discussed in recent years. What has often been forgotten: The production of the body, equipment and engine also requires resources, and these are often mined in ecologically and socially poor conditions in mines on the other side of the world. The development policy Inkota network and Powershift, an association for an ecologically-solidary energy and world economy, wanted to know this. Both have taken a close look at the sustainability reports from Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler - as well as the raw materials initiatives to which the companies have joined. The conclusion: The problem awareness is there, the implementation is inadequate. Only "slowly and selectively do companies translate their responsibility into individual concrete measures", It says in the publication. Moreover, its effectiveness remains questionable. (Read more)
28.11.2020, The mirror
Car companies have catching up to do
BWM, Daimler and Volkswagen do not seem to be sufficiently complying with their due diligence obligations to ensure human rights, social and environmental standards in the procurement of raw materials. This is the result of an analysis by the organizations PowerShift and Inkota. No group therefore has a detailed due diligence report that makes all risks transparent. Nor is it sufficiently documented with which measures the companies remedy the situation and how effective they are. (Der Spiegel, No. 49, 28.11.2020)
19/11/2020, Jacobin
Mercosur agreement pushes Latin America into dependence
Monocultures, empty factories, unemployment – the expected consequences of the EU-Mercosur agreement are devastating for the countries of South America. Nevertheless, the EU remains committed to the agreement. European industry is benefiting from the deal. (Read more)
06/11/2020, Telepolis
Oil in the fire of climate activists
More than 250 parliamentarians from the European Parliament and parliaments of the EU member states have spoken out against a recast of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) of the Union. The planned – but hardly publicly discussed – revision of the agreement from the 1990s would massively benefit companies and investors in the fossil energy industry. "To defuse the climate-killer Energy Charter Treaty, it would have to be fundamentally reformed," Fabian Flues of PowerShift told Telepolis. However, the chances of such a reform are extremely poor. "Germany and the EU should therefore take steps to withdraw from the treaty rather than engage in endless negotiations," Flues said. (Read more)
29.10.2020, evangelisch.de
New criticism of EU-Mercusor trade pact
Civil society organisations have renewed their criticism of the planned EU-Mercosur trade agreement. The pact is in blatant contradiction to the EU's own goals such as climate neutrality by 2050 and a more sustainable food system, according to a paper published on Thursday by PowerShift in Berlin, in which the German Federal Government for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), Attac Germany and others are also involved. (Read more)
28/10/2020, Süddeutsche Zeitung
Criticism of the Mercosur Treaty
Environmental organizations and anti-globalization activists have reiterated their criticism of the controversial Mercosur trade deal. The EU Commission is trying to conclude additional agreements on climate protection with the four South American Mercosur states in order to counter accusations that the agreement harms the environment and climate. But Bettina Müller, trade adviser to Powershift's globalization critics, said on Wednesday that such agreements would not change the negative effects of the treaty. (To the article)
28/10/2020, OU24
Critics of Mercosur: Planned additional documents do not improve agreements
The EU Commission has been working on additional protocols to the planned EU-Mercosur agreement since mid-October. This is intended to retune countries with a negative attitude such as Austria or France, say representatives of organisations critical of globalisation and agreements such as Attac Austria and PowerShift Germany. However, it is not known which additional documents are being negotiated. "This is as non-transparent as the whole agreement," says Bettina Müller of PowerShift. In any case, environmental and climate protection are not central elements in the agreement. However, additional protocols would not make the agreement more sustainable and counteract deforestation and environmental degradation. If there are violations on these issues, unlike in the case of the human rights clause, no suspension of the agreement is possible, criticize the agreement opponents. (OE24, 28.10.2020)
20/10/2020, Stadtanzeiger
Controversial free trade agreement CETA: Not decided yet
Alessa Hartmann, trade expert at the non-governmental organisation PowerShift, criticises: "Corporate lawsuits lead governments to think twice about enacting effective climate laws - out of fear of expensive corporate claims for damages. Climate protection must be placed at the heart of all political efforts. This includes stopping corporate complaints and not signing new trade agreements such as CETA, which explicitly promote the trade in fossil fuels.Read more)
13.10.2020, Le Monde Diplomatique special issue on "Mobility and its future"
Kilograms of lithium
What are the consequences of the mining of lithium - which will be installed in large quantities in the batteries for electric cars in the future - in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile? Among other things, the special edition takes a look at forecasts, prices and energy geopolitics around the white metal. (Read more)
III/2020, Newsletter Forum Environment and Development
An experience of the possible: The Corona Crisis and the Transport Transition
In times of crisis, there is always talk of winners and losers – and of opportunities. Hope and despair are close together. The joy of one is the suffering of the other. This also applies to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individual mobility behaviour and on overall transport policy. (Read more).
30.09.2020, Frankfurter Rundschau
Bauxite mining in Guinea: Villages must give way to mines
Without aluminum, nothing works in the automotive industry. Bauxite is the raw material from which aluminium is extracted. And West African Guinea has about a third of the world's reserves. Western countries want to secure supplies. The World Bank therefore granted the semi-public Guinean mining company CBG a loan of 722 million euros in 2016 for the expansion of a bauxite mine. Several international financial institutions are involved in the loan - including ING. And by means of a loan guarantee of 250 million euros, the Federal Government as well. In the eyes of the NGO Fian and Powershift, an association committed to a more socially just global economy, the German government is thus helping to violate human rights and destroy the environment. By expanding the mine, 13 villages in the Boke region see their livelihoods threatened, the two organizations report. (To the article)
30.09.2020, Evangelisch.de
Human rights activists criticize credit guarantees for bauxite mine in Guinea
Human rights organisations have called on the Federal Government to ensure respect for human rights in the context of state loan guarantees. Fian and the association "PowerShift" (Berlin) criticized German loan guarantees of around 250 million euros for the expansion of a bauxite mine in Guinea. PowerShift and Fian Deutschland announced a petition to Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) under the motto "Stop Unfair Credit", which is to start on Thursday. In it, they appeal to the Federal Government to align foreign trade promotion with human rights criteria. (To the article)
23/09/2020, Deutsche Welle
Will critics of German Gigafactory slow down Elon Musk?
The complaints brought forward at the hearing also went to show that some critics — while welcoming the current campaign in Germany and beyond to switch to renewables and greener ways of transportation — question the philosophy of "clogging up the roads with even more cars, be they environmentally friendly or not," as Sophie Scherger from the Berlin-based PowerShift research team told DW. "The thing about Tesla is that we actually want fewer cars on the roads (...), and we definitely don't want to see any mass production of big electric SUVs that consume a lot of material, while mining causes considerable damage to the environment," Scherger argued. (To the article)
22.09.2020, ressourcenwende.net
Global access - How trade policy should secure access to raw materials
The crisis-proof supply of raw materials to the European economy has been a priority of the European Commission for many years. Environmental protection and human rights play little role in this. Neither this Massacre of striking miners in Marikana, South Africa, which Various social protests in Peru, The Social and Environmental Disaster After the Bursting of a retention basin in an iron ore mine in Brumadinho, Brazil or the Baia Mare environmental disaster in Romania It led to a rethink. (Go to article)
20.08.2020, Süddeutsche Zeitung
Mercosur free trade agreement: Poisoned mood
On Thursday, an alliance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will present a protest note denouncing the trade in pesticides. Involved are groups such as Powershift, Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung, Attac Deutschland, Campact and others. They fear, among other things, that the tighter trade could export even more highly toxic pesticides to the Mercosur countries than is already the case. "There is a good reason why many pesticides are not authorised in the EU. They are suspected of causing cancer, harming the unborn and organs," she says. Facilitating the export of these highly dangerous pesticides through a trade agreement is contrary to all European values. (To the article).
20.08.2020, taz
Mercosur Treaty boosts exports of pesticides
EU could even more easily sell hazardous chemicals to South America, activists warn. "Facilitating the export of these highly dangerous pesticides through a trade agreement is contrary to all European values", said Bettina Müller, Trade Officer at PowerShift. European consumers are also affected, according to PowerShift. "The EU-Mercosur agreement envisages further reduction of food controls," said the activists. This is why residues of dangerous pesticides could end up on the plates of European consumers. "For this reason, too, the Federal Government must not ratify the EU-Mercosur Agreement," Müller demanded. (To the article)
04.08.2020, Tagesspiegel Background Energy and Climate
Court dismisses Germany in energy dispute
The Federal Government has no luck before the International Court of Arbitration ICSID. He once again rejected Germany's appeal. After Vattenfall, the construction company Strabag now wins a stage success against the federal government in the dispute over an energy project. Whether the EU's ambition to modernise the Energy Charter Treaty will succeed is uncertain. Fabian Flues from the anti-globalisation non-governmental organisation Powershift, which follows the development, says: “The situation is complicated. EU law is against international investment law." Flues does not expect any clarification in the near future. “It will probably be a tedious back and forth." This is also likely to be the subject of strong criticism from the European Parliament Don't change anything. At the beginning of July, a group of members, including Michael Bloss The Greens and the French Pascal Canfin, Chair of the Environment Committee, warned that the Energy Charter Treaty threatens the EU's climate objectives: ‘The Merely threatening a complaint can be enough to push states not to take ambitious measures to implement their climate commitments”. (Read more - only with subscription)
22 July 2020, Frankfurter Rundschau
Full casco for fossils
When politicians get out of oil and coal, corporations can often claim huge sums of money. It regulates a treaty – from which the EU should withdraw quickly. The fight against the climate crisis threatens to be slowed down and made more expensive by a little-known international agreement. The Energy Charter Treaty allows fossil companies to sue states for billions of euros in damages if they enact regulations to combat climate change. (Read more)
23.06.2020, Friday
Keep it up?
Actually, the German Presidency of the Council of the EU would be predestined to draw lessons from the coronavirus outbreak and establish a climate-friendly trade policy – in fact. The interventions in the world trading system that are currently being considered to combat coronavirus are also important in the fight against climate change. They must not remain short-term and unique, but must be permanently included in the world trade order in order to mitigate the impending climate crisis. (Read more)
18.06.2020, Jacobin
Corporations could soon sue states for corona protection - for "damage compensation"
Soon, investors will be able to sue states before arbitration tribunals for corona measures. For example, because they have softened the patent protection for drugs. We have to decide: Democracy or neoliberal trade agreements. (Read more)
10.06.2020, WDR5
Aluminium - a metal with pitfalls
Aluminium cans, aluminium rims, aluminium windows. Aluminium is a product from which we all live well – in the kitchen, in construction, or in the car. However, less and less aluminium is produced in Germany. Too expensive, too energy-intensive, too polluting. The mining of bauxite required for aluminium causes environmental destruction and expulsions in Guinea. The dismantling of the bauxite is also financed with a loan guarantee from the federal government, reports Michael Reckordt in the WDR5 broadcast "Curiously Enough". (To Feature (see broadcast of 10 June 2020). To the Download. Further information in the factsheet Overexploitation for German cars)
06.06.2020, Radio Wüste Welle
ISDS - whose justice?
In the BigFatMealSession on May 26, we interviewed Bettina Müller from PowerShift on the Investor-State Arbitration (ISDS), an instrument of the free trade system that is intended to help corporations enforce their claims against states - quite explosive in the current pandemic. (To the contribution)
04.06.2020, D+C
Corporations sue against state climate protection
On the basis of the Energy Charter Treaty, corporations are suing states for compensation if they stop or restrict the use of fossil fuels. Civil society organisations have called on Treaty members to reform, including by calling for an end to investment protection for fossil fuels. According to the association PowerShift, climate protection hardly plays a role in the current modernization considerations. (Read more)
20.05.2020, euractiv
EU trade policy: No hope of a change of course
At the end of April, the European Commission announced the conclusion of negotiations for a trade agreement with #Mexico. But the agreement does not stand for sustainable trade, but for a cementation of the status quo, write Nelly Grotefendt from the Forum Environment and Development and Bettina Müller from PowerShift e.V. - and demand from the governments of the EU member states as well as the EU Parliament to stop the agreement. (Read more)
30.04.2020, Tagesspiegel Background Energy and Climate
New Energy Charter Could Make Coal Exit More Expensive
The Energy Charter Treaty gives energy companies the opportunity to sue states before comparatively non-transparent arbitration tribunals for huge amounts of compensation. Opponents of coal have so far hoped that the planned modernization of the treaty would exclude this option. But nothing will come of it if the current renewal draft becomes legally binding, the Tagesspiegel Background is available. Powershift also criticises the fact that the new draft agreement maintains the existing investor protection for fossil fuels. This makes it possible, in particular, for lawsuits such as those threatened by the energy company Uniper in the autumn of the Netherlands, which want to end coal-fired power generation by 2030. That, Flues says, may be just the beginning. ‘There is a risk of a wave of lawsuits before arbitral tribunals if governments do not meet the demands for compensation from fossil power plant operators’. (Read more)
23.04.2020, young world
Only electric drive is not enough
Tesla factory Grünheide: Environmental and development groups criticize corporate plans. The Berlin-based association PowerShift is one of the initiators of the declaration »Tesla Gigafactory: An electric motor does not yet make a traffic turnaround", which was published on the same day. "Instead of building millions of overpowered and blazingly fast Tesla SUVs and luxury cars, we need to move away from motorized private transport," says Fuchs. Fuchs added: "A pure drive change from the combustion engine to the electric motor is not enough. All cars, whether petrol, diesel or electric, consume raw materials that are mined under ecologically and socially irresponsible conditions in the countries of the Global South.Read more)
April/May 2020, Rabe Ralf
A Tesla does not make a traffic turnaround yet
There are great doubts whether Tesla or VW and other car manufacturers are really building the sustainable mobility of the future with their e-offensives. Electric cars have a smaller carbon footprint. With 100 per cent renewable energies, they would have a "climate advantage" of 50 per cent over combustion cars, because CO2 emissions would only be generated during the production of the vehicles. But the traffic and space problems in the cities remained if the 47 million cars in Germany were replaced by only 47 million electric cars. In Berlin alone, parking cars require an area three times the size of Tempelhofer Feld. And the bodies, technology and many other parts of electric cars are made of metals, as in the case of combustion engines, which Germany has to import at 99 percent. The extraction of these raw materials regularly leads to human rights violations and environmental destruction. Read more (as PDF)
03.04.2020, Business Week
Supply Chain Act: Cut by Corona
Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) wanted to present the cornerstones of a supply chain law in March. But instead, Salvation is now in acute Corona crisis mode. The project is expected to become the first regulation to fall victim to the coronavirus. Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) heard a storm of indignation from the associations, especially from industry and employers. And switched to resistance. Michael Reckordt is not surprised. “But, of course, the associations are now arguing that such a law would put an additional burden on companies in the current crisis,” says the expert from the organisation PowerShift, which has been dealing with the issue for a long time. It is not a question of every pencil manufacturer having to know where his wood comes from. But you can expect more from a Dax group than from small companies. “It is about everyone doing their utmost. Human rights also apply and especially in times of crisis." (Wirtschaftswoche - Issue 15/2020 - online link will follow as soon as articles are available)
29.03.2020, Deutschlandfunk background
Lithium in the Ore Mountains - Gold mining atmosphere in Saxony
German industry is the world's fifth largest importer of metallic raw materials. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, Michael Reckordt instead continues a raw material turnaround: “We need a consistent recycling of raw materials, less consumption, longer usable products and a Supply chain law“. He also points out that the further processing of metals consumes a great deal of energy. ScIt is estimated that this will result in about 10% global CO2 emissions. To the background.
19.03.2020, Business week
Do people in the Congo die for electric cars?
“It is good that the topic of cobalt gets a lot of attention via e-mobility and finally also draws attention to the problem of child labour,” says Michael Reckordt, who works at the NGO PowerShift e.V. on German raw materials policy. “Mining in developing countries is almost always problematic, far from just cobalt,” says Reckordt. NGOs such as PowerShift or Amnesty are therefore pushing for comprehensive, far-reaching rules for human rights, which should apply to as many raw materials as possible. To the article.
05.03.2020, "hr Info"
Germany's demand for raw materials and its consequences
Germany is an industrial nation and the success factor for industry is raw materials. Raw materials that we need to import. In the Bundestag, the supply of raw materials was an issue on 5 March, because we use products for which raw materials are needed on a daily basis: Smartphones, e-cars and co. The mining conditions rarely meet our standards of environmental and human rights protection. Interview with Michael Reckordt.
18.02.2020, Tagesspiegel Background Energy and Climate
CETA - Coffin Gel for the Climate
Members of the Dutch House of Commons have recently argued over the EU's trade agreement with Canada (CETA). The agreement is due to be voted on Tuesday. A ratification would amount to a self-disempowerment of politics in the fight against the climate catastrophe, warns Alessa Hartmann of the Berlin NGO Powershift The Netherlands could bring down the controversial agreement. Continue reading.
11.02.2020, Berliner Morgenpost
Karl-Marx-Allee: Remodeling to come in June
During a citizens' dialogue, the planned green strips on Karl-Marx-Allee were discussed. Construction is expected to begin in June. On Monday evening, Peter Fuchs from the alliance ‘Berliner Straßen für Alle’ (Berlin Streets for All) also took the view that the green strip on the main street from Alexanderplatz to Friedrichshain is identified. The Alliance called for the avoidance of parking spaces in the run-up to the citizens' dialogue. Read more.
28/01/2020, Bavaria 2
Challenges in the recycling of lithium-ion batteries
The demand for lithium is increasing, complains Michael Reckordt of PowerShift. Currently, the most important lithium producing countries are Australia, Chile, Argentina and China. In the future, due to the large lithium deposits, Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are expected to be the most important. There, the salt lakes in particular are relevant for the lithium mining of the future. A major problem is the high water consumption of lithium mining and processing. Groundwater levels are falling, so that the water is no longer available for livestock and their own food supply. The article ran in the ‘Notizbuch’ on Bayern2, on 28.01.20 (unfortunately not online).
17.01.2020, Handelsblatt
Lithium-ion batteries are a billion-dollar business – with a downside
"The electric car, like the combustion engine, consumes a lot of metallic raw materials," says Power Shift expert Merle Groneweg. Even if the electric car has a better environmental balance compared to the combustion engine, ‘this is a fundamental problem’. Groneweg therefore advocates a mobility turnaround. "To make the transport sector truly greener, we need to reduce the number of cars overall," she said. But the decade of the lithium-ion battery has only just begun, and an end is far from in sight. To the article.
10.01.2020, Deutsche Welle
Germany's only factory for alumina
Germany imports bauxite for aluminium production from Guinea. "People have been resettled in the mining areas, water sources are contaminated by the use of chemicals in bauxite extraction, local residents complain about air pollution." The World Bank recently granted the country's largest mining company a $900 million loan to expand a large bauxite mine. The Federal Republic of Germany guarantees one third of the loan. To the article.
18.12.2019, Handelsblatt
Electric car production: "Serious pollution occurs in the extraction of raw materials"
At Handelsblatt Live Merle Groneweg from the PowerShift association explains the consequences of the production of electric cars for people and the environment: Both electric cars and combustion engines consume a lot of raw materials. A car, no matter what drive, is a tin box. We need a drastic reduction in the number of cars and a strengthening of public transport as well as walking and cycling. To the video.
16/12/2019, SWR2
Germany's last factory for alumina
Michael Reckordt works as a raw materials expert at PowerShift. "There is a lawsuit in Guinea against the World Bank for relocating to areas where they cannot farm. The Federal Government of Germany guarantees a third of a loan for the expansion of a mine, which had these negative consequences. (SWR2, 16.12.2019)
02.12.2019, NDR
Opportunities and risks of deep-sea mining
The demand for raw materials for e-mobility is gigantic. Previous sources of cobalt, lithium, copper or nickel are increasingly proving to be unsafe. Both for the German companies and for the people who often extract the precious goods from the earth under often unworthy conditions. The deep sea is being targeted as a new deposit. Michael Reckordt of PowerShift is not convinced: We know less about the deep sea than we do about the moon. That means we don't even know what we're doing on the ground. To the article.
21.11.2019, New Germany
Half as many cars by 2030
"We are the new car lobby," says Peter Fuchs, from the PowerShift association, which is committed to an ecologically and socially just global economy. A lobby, however, which advocates a drastic reduction in motorized private transport in the capital. »Berliner Straßen für alle« is the name of the alliance of several environmental associations and transport initiatives, which will present itself to the public with a press conference on Wednesday. To the article.
20.11.2019, taz
Fewer cars, better traffic
Mobility activists want to radically reduce the number of private cars in Berlin. The first reaction of the traffic administration does not sound averse. Es lacks road space for all users without four wheels and combustion engine. For this reason, ADFC, Changing Cities, BUND, VCD and others had invited on Wednesday to present a plan to create “Berlin streets for all”. “We are the new car lobby,” said Peter Fuchs of the climate protection initiative PowerShift, which is also involved – ironically, of course. With seven demands, the alliance wants to put pressure on politics. At the top of the list is a significant decline in private cars. “We have far too many cars in the city”. To the article.
20.11.2019, Berliner Morgenpost
Parking in Berlin: Associations want to reduce 60,000 parking spaces annually
An alliance has set itself the goal of reducing the number of cars. In order to achieve this, the parking spaces are to be scarce. The call is part of a list of seven actions presented by the associations and initiatives on Wednesday. How many parking spaces there are currently in Berlin is unclear, Masurat said. However, the associations estimated that their area amounted to four and a half times that of Tempelhofer Feld. "We want to think cars and the city and the view of a lively Berlin together," said Peter Fuchs from the Energiewendeverein Powershift. To the article.
15/11/2019, Deutschlandfunk Kultur
What do electric cars do for the climate?
They are the hope in the fight against climate change: electric cars. The federal government lures buyers with premiums. Tesla plans to build a plant near Berlin. How environmentally friendly are battery-powered mobiles? Are electric cars really the clean solution to the climate problem? The batteries use valuable raw materials such as lithium and cobalt; Partly won under inhumane circumstances, environmentalists warn. To the article with audio recording (see play button in photo)
06.11.2019, Deutschlandfunk
Mobility from the socket: Fast lane or dead end
The federal government provides a higher share of the purchase premium for new cars with electric drive, participates in the expansion of charging stations and takes the automotive industry with all this in the obligation. These are the results of the Auto Summit. But is that enough for the mobility of the future? Discussed at Deutschlandfunk: Merle Groneweg, Power Shift – Association for a Fairer Energy and World Economy, Matthias Dürr, Head of the Competence Centre for Electromobility NRW, Axel Friedrich, International Transport Expert, formerly at the Federal Environment Agency, Christian Kunze, Deputy Head of the Research Association for Drive Technology at the VDMA. To the article and audio recording (See the play button in the photo).
04.11.2019, taz
Climate protection in road transport: Electric cars are not the solution
Replacing conventional vehicles with e-cars – according to activists, this is not the solution to climate and mobility problems. “A 1:1 exchange is not feasible in the long term,” says Michael Reckordt, raw materials expert at the non-governmental organisation PowerShift, der taz. Despite all the shortcomings: In case of doubt, Reckordt considers an electric car to be better than a conventional one. “There are also problems with the extraction of raw materials in conventional cars,” says Reckordt. Overall, the number of cars must decrease, says Reckordt. Municipalities must fundamentally turn away from the concept of a car-friendly city, which gives priority to cars over pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, public transport needs to be drastically expanded. To the article.
21.10.2019, Deutschlandfunk Environment and Consumers
UNIPER vs. Netherlands: Companies complain about climate protection
The Netherlands wants to get out of coal. The German energy giant UNIPER, on the other hand, wants to bring a group action before a private arbitration court. Due to lost future profits, the Group is demanding "damage compensation" at least in the three-digit million range. Our trade expert Bettina Müller says in Deutschlandfunk: Such corporate lawsuits slow down and make political efforts to protect the climate more expensive. The investment agreements underlying the group actions must be terminated immediately. Directly to the interview.
18.10.2019, euractiv.de
Number of investor lawsuits against states rises
117 countries around the world are currently being sued by companies that see their investments at risk. Governments often bow to pressure and weaken, for example, planned laws on climate protection, according to the UN. The EU is pushing for a reform of the litigation system. The right of investors to sue states is ‘poisonous for combating climate change’, says Bettina Müller, Trade Officer at PowerShift. Among other things, the Berlin-based NGO deals with questions about a fairer global economy and advocates the abolition of exclusive corporate rights. To the article.
04.09.2019, taz.de
Coal phase-out in Lusatia: "There is a need for concrete approaches"
"Relocations as a result of the extraction of raw materials have a long, sad tradition, around 250 villages have been dredged in Lusatia and the Central German region. Civil society work is mainly about showing people who want to stay their backs: Their concerns are heard and legitimate, even if the state government sees it differently. Read the full interview.
04.09.2019, iz3w - Südnordfunk, #64
Climate policy emergency: Trade policy is also climate policy
Cars against meat and soy – this is the unofficial version of the trade agreement between the Mercosur countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay and the EU Member States. The negotiators seem to have ‘forgotten’ the protection of the rainforest, the rights of indigenous people and peasant interests. As a result of larger soy fields and cattle herds, the indigenous people are also subjected to further persecution and expulsions. We have with Bettina Müller, Trade and Investment Policy Officer at PowerShift, and with Nikolaus Geiler ‘Energy hunger? No thanks!" to learn more about the economic calculations behind the almost finished agreement - and about the risks for people and nature. Listen to the radio report.
25.08.2019, WDR
Lithium - the hunt for the "white gold" in Bolivia
Trauma for Bolivians: When mining their mineral resources, from silver to tin, they always went empty. This should change: The valuable lithium, a key raw material for batteries, is now to be processed in Germany - also with German support. In the study "Less Cars, More Global Justice," PowerShift, Misereor and Brot for the World plead for drastically reducing the number of cars and the number of cars driven. Read the transcript of the radio report.
24/07/2019, Friday, 30/19
Investments against the future
With corporate complaints, international investors are slowing down progressive efforts in the field of the energy transition and climate change. They call for "damage compensation" for policies designed to save the climate and the environment. So far, investors have resisted bans on oil drilling, taxes on fossil fuels and bans on oil pipelines. The special rights of investors make politics the hostage of corporations. Through looming lawsuits, lawmakers will think twice about whether to enact tougher climate and environmental regulations. The winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics Joseph Stiglitz warns of "trial terror" that corporations exert and with which they can force states to withdraw regulations. Read more.
18.06.2019, taz
340 NGOs against the Brazil Pact
The EU is expected to cancel the deal with South American Mercosur. The reason: The actions of far-right President Bolsonaro. "The EU must now send an unequivocal message to President Bolsonaro that it is refusing to negotiate a trade agreement with Brazil unless there is an end to human rights violations, strict measures to end further deforestation and concrete commitments to implement the Paris Agreement," says an open letter from 340 NGOs, which PowerShift also supports. Read more.
08.06.2019, Tagesschau.de, ARD
The gold that pays for wars
The import of raw materials from conflict regions into Germany is to be monitored more strictly in the future. This is provided for in a draft law of the Federal Ministry of Economics. Non-governmental organizations such as Germanwatch, Misereor or Powershift criticize the draft as too powerless. Johanna Sydow of Germanwatch, for example, calls him a "paper tiger": If we don't even know who imports the minerals at all, how can we ask how German companies select and verify their foreign suppliers? Read more.
05.06.2019, New Germany
When it comes to environmental policy, Germany is a developing country.
Non-governmental organisations demand respect for human rights when extracting and importing raw materials. Even when it comes to the import of mineral raw materials, which are needed for the production of laptops, televisions, smartphones or electric cars, there are criticisms of the federal government. Michael Reckordt is coordinator of the Working Group on Raw Materials and employee of the Berlin-based non-governmental organization »PowerShift«. He criticises the fact that civil society has little say in Germany's raw materials strategy, while the economy sets the tone. The reason: the historical development of raw materials policy. Link to article and podcast.
03.06.2019, The Story in the First, ARD
Can electric cars save the environment?
Electric cars are considered climate savers. A billion-dollar market for the German car industry. And exhaust-plagued municipalities hope to escape the threat of driving bans with electric cars. But is that true? A documentary by ARD shows which raw materials are in the (e-)car, how the environment is destroyed and human rights are violated when they are dismantled. The conclusion: Simply replacing the tank with a battery is too short. The automotive industry must be forced by law to check its supply chains for human rights violations and bring them to an end, says our spokeswoman Merle Groneweg in the press release. ARD Documentary. And here you can read our study mentioned in the broadcast "Fewer cars, more global justice".
June 2019, Environment up-to-date
The CETA opinion of the CJEU: "Against the wind for environmental protection"
The ECJ opinion on corporate complaints in CETA is not surprising politically. The ECJ thus supports the agenda of the EU Commission, which is striving to redesign and expand corporate complaints. Regulations to protect the environment are already under particular attack. CETA is not a good model for future trade agreements. The journal Umwelt aktuell can be obtained at the following link: Here.
June 2019, südlink - the north-south magazine of inkota
Upswing for corporate lawsuits
The CETA opinion of the ECJ is a setback for the environment and human rights. The CETA agreement between the EU and Canada contains corporate rights. The European Court of Justice declared these rights lawful at the end of April. If the European member states agree to the CETA agreement, Canadian investors in Europe can threaten billions of dollars in lawsuits and, conversely, European investors in Canada. The south link can be obtained at the following link: Here.
10.05.2019, taz
Investors can only cheer.
CJEU ruling on Ceta: Vattenfall claims 6.1 billion euros in damages before an international arbitral tribunal of Germany. The nuclear phase-out has nullified the future profits of the group, according to the argument of the energy supplier. The trade agreement with Canada (Ceta) contains similar rights of action for corporations before arbitration tribunals. The European Court of Justice declared them lawful at the end of April. If the European member states agree to the agreement, then further billion-dollar lawsuits along the lines of Vattenfall could follow.. Read more.
08.04.2019, The raven Ralf
Fewer cars, more social justice
Berlin - There are over 1.2 million cars in Berlin. The number of cars continues to grow, although in Berlin they spend an average of 154 hours a year in traffic jams and dense traffic, as long as in no other German city. Among the new registrations are more and more SUVs, i.e. particularly large and climate-damaging vehicles. In other words, ‘stand-up kits’, because a car stands around for an average of 23 hours a day. PowerShift now wants to link the commitment to global justice with local approaches to transport use. Supported by the EU-funded project ‘No Planet B’, we convened a ‘Berlin car round’ together with BUND Berlin and others. Read more.
12/12/2018, Frankfurter Rundschau
Human rights get under the wheels
The number of cars registered in Germany – 56.5 million motor vehicles, including 46.5 million passenger cars – had to be ‘drastically reduced’ and the priority of the car in urban planning and in the financing of infrastructure had to be ended. "Electric cars with battery storage are currently the best option for replacing internal combustion engines in ecological terms, but they also consume finite raw materials in high quantities," said Merle Groneweg, co-author of the study. Continue reading.
11.12.2018, Inforadio rbb Berlin
Berlin and the Coal / Close-up
Katowice - host of the current climate summit - is notorious as a coal stronghold in Europe. The dirt that Polish vents blow into the air blows all the way to our region. But what sometimes gets out of sight despite all the criticism from the federal capital: The Berliners themselves have three coal-fired power plants on their own doorstep - in the middle of the city. A fourth, the Rummelsburg combined heat and power plant, left lignite only a year and a half ago. Franziska Ritter and coal exit Berlin were there.
18.10.2018, Radio Dreyeckland
How does a real mobility turnaround work? What (electric) cars have to do with global justice
Climate change requires a shift away from the internal combustion engine. But are electric cars a reasonable alternative? No, so the association PowerShift, because they also contribute to a rapid increase in the consumption of raw materials - and thus to an aggravation of global injustice. In particular, raw materials such as cobalt or lithium, which are used for the batteries of electric cars, are mined with ecological and socially fatal consequences. The rapidly increasing demand amplifies these effects - and they hit the global south once again. In the interview Merle Groneweg from PowerShift Listen.
28.06.2018, New Germany
Coal phase-out becomes concrete
Interim results of the feasibility study to stop the burning of fossil fuels are presented. Read more
25.06.2018, Newsletter of the Movement Foundation
In the race against time: We need to get out of the coal!
"We are networking locally, activating urban society and trying to put pressure on politics and the energy supplier. We draw red lines, form human chains in front of the coal-fired power plants in the city and organize together with the raft collectives of the city once a year a large boat demo on the Spree in front of one of the power plants. In addition, we ensure that city dwellers are directly involved against the fine dust and nitrogen spinners in their neighbourhoods." Read more on page 2.
27.05.2018, climate reporter
Water protests against coal
"With about 50 rafts, canoes, hoses and other boats, around one hundred people demonstrated on Saturday for a rapid coal exit in Berlin, as the organizers announced. The climate activists drove on the water from Berlin's Nordhafen, which is mainly fuelled with hard coal and supplies the districts of Moabit and Wedding with heat and electricity. The demonstrators called for more efforts by the Senate for a rapid coal phase-out and more commitment by the federal government to climate protection. Continue reading.
26.05.2018, rbb
Ahoy Hard coal disembarkation
Environmentalists demonstrated in bright sunshine for the fastest possible phase-out of climate- and health-damaging energy production. There is a Twitter link to the rbb post. here.
14.05.2018, New Germany
For example, BASF - between responsibility and ignorance!
This and the question of why BASF is committed to responsible business practices and the UN Global Compact on its own homepage are explored by the authors of the anthology. These include raw material experts such as Michael Reckordt from Powershift e.V. and María do Mar Castro Varela, who analyzes the speech by the BASF CEO. Read more
02.05.2018, Deutschlandfunk
"Arbitration courts are a highly dangerous tool" - Discussions on TTIP light
Peter Fuchs in conversation with Jule Reimer
"Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier is relying on talks with the USA in the customs dispute between the European Union and the United States. Nevertheless, it was a difficult situation, he said this morning in the ARD morning magazine. That is why we must try to find a fair negotiated solution between the Europeans and the Americans. About the background: Yesterday, US President Donald Trump extended the exemption for the EU from US import tariffs on steel and aluminium by one month. There is now a free trade agreement, a new free trade agreement, TTIP light. In the real TTIP agreement, which had failed between Europeans and the US, the regulation of the Investment Court was particularly controversial. Read more / Continue listening
19.04.2018, EURACTIV
EU trade agreements with Japan and Singapore on the home stretch
"On Wednesday, the European Commission presented the results of the negotiations on trade agreements with Japan and Singapore. It is now hoped that ratification will be speedy in Brussels. But the criticism has not stopped. "Contrary to the assertions of the EU Commission that one has learned from the protests against CETA and TTIP, Jefta was also negotiated in a completely non-transparent manner", says, for example, Alessa Hartmann, Trade Officer at PowerShift, a German organisation that was already involved in the protests against the agreements with the USA and Canada." Read more
19.12.2017, SWR / ORF
The Marikana massacre. South African miners in search of justice. Feature by Johannes Gelich
"The sentence ‘Our products are in order’ is a blatant mockery. It is partly the raw material prices, which are at least suspected of having been manipulated, then the raw materials and the extraction of these raw materials themselves, are only possible because the wages that are paid are too low, the wages on the ground in Marikana, for example, are not sufficient to maintain a minimum standard of living there. And then there are these massive human rights violations, I don't want to say that there is blood on it, because this is such a frequently used pun that it is hard to bear, but the injustice that goes along with the extraction of raw materials is also unbearable.
11/29/2017, Schorndorfer Nachrichten (print)
"Digitalization is a raw material eater"
"The industry therefore calls for the removal of trade restrictions on raw materials and more legal rights for companies. For Michael Reckordt, however, this is the completely wrong way. PowerShift would instead like to hold companies liable for the social and environmental consequences they contribute to.
03.11.2017, euractiv.de (online)
"Anniversary: The GATT Agreement on Tariffs and Trade turns 70"
[Excerpt:] For Alessa Hartmann of the German non-governmental organization PowerShift, this is a central reason for the increasing insignificance of the trade organization: "The WTO is still the backward-looking place where developed countries – including the EU and its Member States – maintain and expand their trade advantages. This is happening at the expense of the poorer countries that are trying to defend themselves against it," the trade expert told EURACTIV. Read more ....
28.10.2017, Spielgel (print)
Raw materials - too many loopholes
"The Working Group on Raw Materials, a network of non-governmental organisations, criticises parts of the regulation. "It offers too many loopholes," says the working group spokesman Michael Reckordt. Brussels, for example, is taking the working sector out of its duty, such as the electrical and car industries.
27.10.2017, WirtschaftsWoche (print and online)
The Dark Secret of the Auto Industry
"The EU and Germany have torpedoed the process so far," says Michael Reckordt of the Working Group on Raw Materials, an association of political organizations. [...] "Germany, however, has a special role: The regulation must come from the countries where the multinationals are at home." Reckordt believes that this will take years. Read more ...
19.10.2017, bizz energy.com (online)
"Conflict minerals: The Federal Ministry of Economics is preparing a law.
"Criticism from non-governmental organisations: The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Raw Materials (BGR) in Hanover will be responsible for the implementation in Germany, says the Federal Government's raw materials expert, Thomas Gäckle, at a specialist event as part of the "Alternative Raw Materials Week" at the Heinrich Böll Foundation." (bizz energy, 19.10.2017)
18.10.2017, New Germany (print and online)
"For a different raw material policy"
The raw materials policy must be "fundamentally reformed", demands a broad alliance of human rights, environmental and development organizations, which have joined together in the "Working Group on Raw Materials". As part of the third "Alternative Raw Materials Week", which began on Monday, ..." Read more ...
11.10.2017, Frankfurter Rundschau (print and online)
"Ecological footprint - Resource curse 4.0"
"In a study, the non-governmental organization Power Shift shows in detail how Industry 4.0 could soon become a resource curse 4.0. The production of electronic devices does not only consume ‘rare earths’ – in general, the expected ‘dematerialisation’ is already accompanied by energy-intensive material battles.” Read more ...
03.07.2017, Deutschlandradio (Radio and Podcast)
"EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement: There is a lack of concrete binding commitments in JEFTA"
The EU wants to conclude the JEFTA free trade agreement with Japan. But there is criticism: For example, there were no binding agreements on the environment, sustainable development and labour law, criticized Alessa Hartmann from the organization PowerShift in the Dlf. At present, JEFTA is also not beneficial for the consumer. Read more. The podcast can also here are downloaded.
08.06.2017, Deutschlandradio (Radio and Podcast)
"Conflict minerals "The Regulation still has significant loopholes"
"Michael Reckordt from the Working Group on Raw Materials calls for the rules to be improved as quickly as possible. In any case, violations would have to be sanctionable, he said in the Dlf. Read more ...
08.06.2017, Taz (print and online)
"Processing of raw materials - sneaking paths for blood gold"
"Michael Reckordt of the development organization Powershift sees the same thing: "Many companies will not comply with their due diligence obligations along the supply chain", he fears. Neither the German government nor the EU has any ideas on how to prevent small-scale miners from being displaced in the countries concerned. Read more ...
05.05.2017, Hufftingon Post (online)
"The dark side of digitalisation: How technological progress is harming the environment
"According to a study by the German NGO Powershift, Industry 4.0, i.e. technical change, will consume more raw materials and energies than is often assumed." (Hufftingon Post, 05.05.2017)
02./03.05.2017, Reutlinger General-Anzeiger, Badische Zeitung and Pforzheimer Zeitung (online)
"What is done so that no blood sticks to the gold" / "So that no blood sticks to the gold wedding ring" / "So that no blood sticks to the gold"
"The resource expert of the association PowerShift, Michael Reckordt, sees the EU regulation as only a first step. However, the manufacturing industry is exempted from the due diligence obligations and the EU has created loopholes with the rather high thresholds, he criticises. Reutlinger General scoreboard, which Badische newspaper or the Pforzheimer newspaper
02.05.2017 Business Week (online and print)
"EU Regulation - So that there is no blood on the gold.
"The resource expert of the association PowerShift, Michael Reckordt, sees the EU regulation as only a first step. However, the manufacturing industry is exempted from the due diligence obligations and the EU has created loopholes with the rather high thresholds, he criticises. Read more ...
22.04.2017, New Germany (print and online)
"Force companies to take responsibility - New study exposes human rights violations in nickel mining and calls for consequences"
"In countries such as the Philippines, the extraction of valuable resources such as nickel leads to serious human rights violations. This is confirmed by a study published on Thursday by the Cologne office of the Philippines together with the trade and energy policy organization Powershift. Read more ...
21.03.2017, Taz (print and online)
And now comes "Jefta"
"However, the consolidated text of the corresponding chapter in the EU-Japan Agreement of February 2017 does not contain such a restriction. “The planned regulatory cooperation in the agreement with Japan is even worse than in Ceta,” concludes Alessa Hartmann of the free trade critical organisation Powershift, who has already analysed the text.” Read more ...
20.03.2017, Taz (print and online)
"Regulation on deep-sea mining: Restricted hunting of raw materials"
"Michael Reckordt, coordinator of the Raw Materials Working Group, pointed to another problem of deep-sea mining: “NGOs do not have submarines. This means that monitoring is left to the states that are often overwhelmed on land."It is often journalists or civil society who document environmental destruction and human rights violations in the extraction of raw materials on land. “Deep-sea mining is the completely wrong step,” Reckordt said. Read more ...
20.03.2017, radioWelt Bayern 2 (on air)
Magazine in the Morning
"Conversation with Michael Reckordt, graduate geographer at PowerShift e.V., on non-transparent raw material policy"(radioWelt Bayern 2,20.03.2017)
16.03.2017, Germany Radio Wissen (online and on air)
EU Conflict Minerals Regulation - Bloody Raw Materials
"There are minerals in our laptops and smartphones. The dismantling and sale partly finances conflicts and thus murder. The EU Parliament votes on a new regulation - but critics want more. Among them is Michael Reckordt, raw materials expert at the NGO Power Shift. Read more ...
24.02.2017, Enorm Magazin (print and online)
"Progress eats up resources"
"More growth and at the same time more environmental protection: What sounds promising is past reality, criticized Powershift from Berlin. In its study ‘Resource Curse 4.0’, the NGO analysed various industry forecasts – and comes to the opposite conclusion: Industry 4.0 and digitalisation will then consume far more raw materials and energy than before – and this will have consequences: The new hunger for raw materials increases the pressure on deposits in ecologically highly sensitive areas in the deep sea, the Arctic or in remote rainforests. Read more ...
01.02.2017, Süddeutsche Zeitung (online)
"Enterprises shall evade any jurisdiction"
"Ironically, we have arbitration tribunals before which companies can sue states. But we do not have mechanisms for victims of human rights violations to sue international companies. As soon as the companies withdraw from the respective country, they evade almost any jurisdiction. Read more ...
18.11.2016, Frankfurter Rundschau (print)
Raw materials for war - development organisations criticise planned EU regulation on conflict minerals
"So far, however, they have seen a rather scandalous passivity, according to Mcihael Reckordt, coordinator of the Working Group on Raw Materials of German Non-Governmental Organisations. After the agreement in principle on a Conflict Raw Materials Ordinance in June of this year, however, the Federal Government is now apparently inactive, "as its previous efforts for Human rights are being undermined by the installation of huge loopholes.
31.10.2016, Taz (print and online)
Raw Materials Promote Upgrading - Blood Gold from the Dentist
"There is a threat that the entire regulation will be undermined at a crucial point," fears Michael Reckordt of the human rights association PowerShift. This is because the thresholds are too high when raw material importers are obliged to report and check.Read more ...
27.10.2016, Frankfurter Rundschau (print and online)
Raw materials: Anything but gold
Non-governmental organisations such as Powershift had already criticised the German-Mongolian raw materials partnership at the outset because it was biased towards German industry's access to raw materials, while it did not require compliance with human rights and environmental standards. Read more ...
14.09.2016, Neues Deutschland (print and online)
International alliance warns against CETA
Berlin. An alliance of European and Canadian organizations warns against the planned European-Canadian free trade agreement CETA. The controversial legal rights of foreign companies are hardly limited, even a climate policy in the sense of the World Climate Treaty will be endangered, it said on Tuesday. Read more ...
09/14/2016, JungeWelt (online)
CETA threatens dumping
Only a few details are known to the public so far about CETA. The trade agreement between the European Union and Canada is being prepared behind closed doors by lobbyists. Various consumer protection organisations warned of the risks when presenting an analysis of the planned contract on Tuesday in Berlin.Read more ...
13.09.2016, klimaretter.info (online)
NGOs call for a stop at Ceta
The planned free trade agreement between Canada and the EU jeopardizes the common good on both sides of the Atlantic. European and Canadian non-governmental organisations are convinced of this. The alliance of environmental and consumer advocates as well as globalization critics, including the BUND, Attac and Powershift, presented today a Preliminary study predicting the impact of the agreement. (klimaretter.info, 13.09.2016)
13.09.2016, Evangelisch.de (online)
Study: Ceta threatens climate protection and sustainable agriculture
An alliance of European and Canadian organizations is warning against the European-Canadian free trade agreement Ceta with a study. The controversial legal rights of foreign corporations are hardly limited and a climate policy in the sense of the Paris Climate Treaty is endangered, said the organizations on Tuesday in Berlin. Editors of the study include the Federal Government for Environment and Nature Germany (BUND), PowerShift and the Working Group on Rural Development.Read more...
13.09.2016, Deutschlandfunk (online, Radio)
Criticism of Ceta does not stop
The final draft text for the EU-Canada Ceta Free Trade Agreement is available. The criticism of environmental groups remains - for example, on investment protection. They even fear that US companies will get access to the investor lawsuit mechanism anchored in Ceta - and thus do not need TTIP at all. Continue reading and listen...
14.07.2016, Frankfurter Rundschau (online, print)
Mongolia - The Curse of Gold
Angela Merkel will also travel to ASEM, Germany has had a raw materials partnership with Mongolia since 2011. NGOs like Powershift criticize the deal: because it is aimed at the access of German industry to raw materials, but environmental standards and human rights play no role in it, it carries the risk of advancing mining and thus human rights violations and environmental destruction. Read more ...
04.07.2016, TAZ (online, print)
Raw materials in sustainable smartphones - after all, almost fair
"It is a step in the right direction when four of the raw materials used in a smart phone are conflict-free," says Michael Reckordt, a raw material expert at the Powershift Association. However, “conflict-free means only that the dismantling or trade negotiations will not lead to a blutical conflict, and it does not mean that any human rights will be more violated or that the environment will be affected as little as possible”. It is therefore still a long way to go towards a truly effective telefon. Read more ...
17.06.2016, Radio Dreyeckland (live and in blog)
Co-finance murdering paramilitaries when buying a computer? New EU Directives on Conflict Minerals Don't Go Far Enough
The EU Commission, the European Parliament and the member states agreed on Wednesday after one year of negotiations on the guidelines of a regulation to regulate trade in the so-called conflict minerals. One step in the right direction, but far from enough, according to 130 non-governmental organizations. Even the USA, which was often scolded for lax regulations in the TTIP debate, was faster and more consistent here, reports Michael Reckordt, coordinator of the TTIP. AK Raw Materials. Read more / Listen ...
15.06.2016, TAZ (online, print)
Conflict minerals: "The EU releases companies from their responsibilities"
The EU Parliament, the Development and Cooperation Orgnisation, the UN - all say that the development needs to be managed responsibly along the entire spectrum. In this context, the EU is failing to issue a single segnal. Many companies that use raw materials will not be held responsible in this way. Read more ...
18.05.2016, TIME AND TIME ONLINE
TTIP: Federal Government tricks arbitration tribunals
"It's a scandal: Whether in TTIP, Ceta or now also within the EU - the Federal Government is repeatedly pushing for special rights for foreign investors," says Peter Fuchs of Powershift, an organization that critically observes current global trade policy. Fuchs calls for the immediate termination of these contracts without replacement. This is exactly what the European Commission has been promoting to governments in recent months. (The full article can here See also TIME ONLINE).
09.03.2016, Aachener Nachrichten (print only)
The Dark Side of Extremely Valuable Mineral Resources
Voluntary schemes are not an option for Reckordt. "OECD standards have been in place for five years. This has not happened. That is why he - like many aid organizations, but also the factions of the Greens and the Left in the Bundestag - calls for binding regulation that covers the entire supply chain from the mine to the end product.
16.02.2016, Frankfurter Rundschau (online, print: 17.02.2016)
Modern colonialism
How unevenly distributed costs and benefits are and how aggressively the EU is securing global access to raw materials with investment and free trade agreements is shown by the study ‘Everything for us!? The global impact of European trade and investment policy on the exploitation of raw materials", by geographer Nicola Jaeger for Powershift. read more ...
02.02.2016, Taz
Control: It's about gold
Development NGOs in Germany also criticise the positions of the Council and the Commission: Michael Reckordt from the NGO PowerShift: "China has been implementing the pioneering OECD standard on due diligence throughout the supply chain since 2015; it would be a testament to poverty for the EU if its regulation fell behind it." read more ...
21.01.2016, All Electronics
Conflict materials – sensitive raw materials for capacitors and other components
"Power Shift, Association for an Ecological-Solidary Energy and World Economy e.V., sees this as a great danger [...]: “Many small-scale smelters and miners are involved in mining in the Congo,” Michael Reckordt, coordinator of the AK Rohstoffe at Power Shift, told Deutschlandfunk. “This means that if you start to call a boycott against the country, the country would be bypassed and people would lose their jobs and thus their livelihoods; This is a bit of a challenge, which is why you should be very sensitive.” read more ...
2016, Caspar Dohmen, Eichborn Verlag
Profitability without borders
"Nevertheless, the unions, with their millions upon millions of members, are by no means the main architects of resistance to free trade agreements, but various NGOs, large ones such as Friends of the Earth, BUND, Greenpeace or Brot für die Welt, but also tiny NGOs like Powershift or CEO, which are completely unknown to most citizens."
(Page 212, see also p. 214 et seq.)
02.12.2015, TAZ
Report on raw material imports - Demand is falling
“For some time now, we have observed an increasing fall in the price of almost all raw materials, especially copper and gold,” says Michael Reckrodt [sic!], coordinator of the Working Group on Raw Materials. [...] What is good news for the German economy, however, leads to massive problems where raw materials are mined, especially in countries in the global south. "With falling world prices, mining companies are coming under pressure and lowering social and environmental standards," says Reckrodt [sic!]. read more
11/10/2015, Deutschlandfunk
Binding regulation of trade in conflict minerals
Many everyday objects contain tantalum, tungsten, tin and gold. In the Republic of Congo, but not only there, the business with these raw materials keeps the struggle of rival groups going. Voluntary self-certification of companies is not enough, said Michael Reckordt from the Network Working Group on Raw Materials in the DLF. read more
19.10.2015, New Germany
Companies must disclose supply chain
The EU is discussing whether companies will have to report where the raw materials they use come from in the future. Transparency obligations are intended, among other things, to help ensure that conflict minerals used to finance civil war armies no longer circulate. read more ...
24.11.2014, Deutschlandfunk
Controversial handling - raw materials from conflict areas
The planned EU regulation is now intended to prevent this. For Michael Reckordt of Power Shift - Association for an Ecological - Solidarity Energy and World Economy, the design does not go far enough in this regard. read more...
31/10/2014, Deutschlandfunk
Why There Are No Fair Mobile Phones
However, Powershift's Michael Reckordt doesn't go far enough: "On the one hand, it must not be voluntary, but must become mandatory for companies to report and carry out due diligence. The second would certainly be that it should not be limited to the raw materials gold, tantalum, tin and tungsten. There are also human rights conflicts or conflict financing for other raw materials - copper, nickel and others. read more...
25/09/2014, Frankfurter Rundschau
Rules for fracking softened
The organization PowerShift finds this particularly problematic because fracking and the grouting of toxic reservoir water should also be allowed near public water abstraction points and food production sites under conditions. read more...
28/08/2014, Süddeutsche Zeitung
Dark Energy from Colombia - Controversial RWE Businesses
Because people are murdered for coal in South America, the German company RWE briefly got a guilty conscience. Now, however, he is probably back on a company that maintains contacts with brutal paramilitaries. read more...
26.08.2014, 3sat
The dirty business with coal
With Germany's nuclear phase-out, the demand for hard coal is increasing. But the last German mines will close in 2018. Where does the coal that is burned in Germany come from? read more...
14.08.2014, tagesschau
On the way to parallel justice - Free Trade Agreement with Canada
In the shadow of the TTIP free trade agreement between the EU and the US, a similar agreement with Canada is about to be concluded - CETA. The text of the contract shows: This agreement could also expose governments to the lawsuits of private investors. read more...
17/07/2014, New Germany
New raw materials partnership agreement
In any case, German non-governmental organisations, which are affiliated in the Working Group on Raw Materials, see the danger that the raw materials partnerships will deepen existing conflicts in mining activities [...]. read more...
07.06.2014, General newspaper
40. Open Ear Festival in Mainz - Opening podium at the Drususstein - "Wars in the Future"
Applause, however, is only received by the audience: Capitalism uses ruthless violence to foment conflicts over raw materials, and we all fall into 'wealth-seeking complicity' for fear of job loss. read more...
21.03.2014, The Nation (USA)
Europe Goes Soft on Conflict Minerals, Making Human Rights Optional
The European Union’s new plan for restricting conflict minerals in global trade starts with good intentions, but basically ends there. The European Commission’s draft legislation, slated for implementation in 2015, aims to designate “responsible importers” that voluntarily keep their supply chains free of materials used to finance armed conflict, primarily sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and South Sudan. read more...
05.03.2014, TAZ
No gold from civil wars
Voluntary approaches already enshrined at UN level would not have brought about any change. In addition, an EU scheme should not only cover importers and more than four raw materials. read more...
26/02/2014, Tagesspiegel
Raw materials strategy: When the iPhone Funds Wars
Critics such as Vogt and Reckordt therefore demand more responsibility from the German side. The government must address the raw materials strategy more as a cross-cutting task, for example by integrating development policy more, Vogt demands. Reckordt believes that growing political pressure is needed on companies that source raw materials from crisis areas. read more...
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