Drained peatlands under agricultural use are responsible for seven percent of Germany's greenhouse gas emissions. Restoring drained peatlands turns them into carbon sinks. Paludiculture may create the necessary economic incentives for peatland restoration.

Offshore wind power is a source of carbon-neutral electricity. But wind turbines, like all industrial activities, have an impact on the ecosystem. Researchers are investigating how the North Sea’s flora and fauna react to the wind farms there.

If the global temperature increase is to be kept at a tolerable level (regardless of whether it’s 1.5 or 2 degrees), then there’s a theoretical limit to the amount of CO2 that can be released into the atmosphere. If we subtract the amount of carbon dioxide humanity has released into the atmosphere so far from the maximum tolerable amount, the remainder is the carbon budget we’re left with.

Global warming is also causing the water temperature in the North Sea to increase. This has consequences: some animal species are retreating or struggling with the changing conditions, while others are benefiting.

Molecules of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) consist of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Carbon dioxide is a natural constituent of our air, but its concentration is very low. CO2 makes up only about 0.04 percent of the air by volume; air is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. That doesn’t sound like much, but CO2 still plays a very important role.

The global rise in sea level also affects the North Sea, which by 2100 could be a meter higher than it was a century ago. Dangerous storm surges will become more frequent as a result.

Despite some progress in recent years, global efforts to combat climate change are making slow progress. For some time, it has been clear in international climate diplomacy that small groups of a few negotiating states are becoming increasingly important. The new G7 climate club has a lot of potential for fighting climate change, but it is questionable whether this idea will gain acceptance.

With best wishes for the holidays from us.

After nearly two weeks of negotiations, the international community struck a deal, adopting a new framework agreement for preserving Earth’s biodiversity. It includes 23 extremely important targets for conservation and climate protection. But the question is which of them will actually be met.