Headline: RIFS Blog November 2021

Back to Overview

The blog of the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) contains contributions from employees in all RIFS departments and covers a huge range of themes. In addition to discussing the latest research findings and events, the blog authors comment on political developments.

- Any -
Arctic
Hydrogen
Social Justice
UN
Covid-19
Fellows
Coal phase-out
UN Climate Negotiations
Air quality
Mobility
Systemic risks
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Potsdam Summer School
Oceans
Narratives
Governance
Globalisation
Energy transition
Economy
Digitalisation
Democracy
Co-Creation
Climate engineering
Climate
Futures

Dr. Franziska Mey

Without a doubt, the COP26’s coal commitment was a major disappointment. The “phase-out” was made a “phase-down”, which is salt in the eyes of many given the massive consequences global warming is already having. However, and many commentators agree on this (Abnett and Volcovici 2021, Jotzo 2021), the resolution does send a clear signal. The writing is on the wall – a new narrative has begun that foresees an end to coal in the medium to long term.