Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Peruvian Farmer Sues German Energy Giant Over Its Role in Climate Change
From Yale Environment 360:
Peruvian Farmer Sues German Energy Giant Over Its Role in Climate Change
Hearings began Monday in a landmark climate case in Hamm, Germany, where a Peruvian farmer is suing energy giant RWE over its role in warming.
Backed by the climate group Germanwatch, farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya argues that warming has sped the melting of the Palcaraju Glacier near his town of Huaraz, raising the risk of flooding. To protect the farm where he grows corn, wheat, barley, and potatoes, Lliuya is seeking funds to build a $3.5 million flood control project.
By one estimate, RWE is responsible for less than one-half of 1 percent of global emissions, mostly from the production of coal. At that level, the lawsuit argues, it should put $18,500 toward flood controls, Reuters reports.
A 2021 study confirmed that warming has caused the retreat of the Palcaraju Glacier, ramping up the risk of floods in Huaraz. The research established a “direct link” between emissions and the need to erect flood protections, said lead author Rupert Stuart-Smith of the University of Oxford.
RWE, which is currently phasing out coal power plants, argues that no single emitter should be held responsible for climate change. “If such a claim were to exist under German law, it would also be possible to hold every motorist liable,” it said in a statement...
Backed by the climate group Germanwatch, farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya argues that warming has sped the melting of the Palcaraju Glacier near his town of Huaraz, raising the risk of flooding. To protect the farm where he grows corn, wheat, barley, and potatoes, Lliuya is seeking funds to build a $3.5 million flood control project.
By one estimate, RWE is responsible for less than one-half of 1 percent of global emissions, mostly from the production of coal. At that level, the lawsuit argues, it should put $18,500 toward flood controls, Reuters reports.
A 2021 study confirmed that warming has caused the retreat of the Palcaraju Glacier, ramping up the risk of floods in Huaraz. The research established a “direct link” between emissions and the need to erect flood protections, said lead author Rupert Stuart-Smith of the University of Oxford.
RWE, which is currently phasing out coal power plants, argues that no single emitter should be held responsible for climate change. “If such a claim were to exist under German law, it would also be possible to hold every motorist liable,” it said in a statement...
I like it.
I don't like the bullshit about Germany phasing out coal, soothsaying about what will happen in 2038, 13 years from now. The Germans have no realistic plan to actually accomplish other than letting France sell them clean energy, and perhaps Sweden. The rate of accumulation of the dangerous fossil fuel waste carbon dioxide has now reached, based on a 52 running average compared with the same running average recorded 10 years ago, 25.93 ppm/10 years or 2.59 ppm/year. If one tracks this figure, one can see it is increasing as time goes on. Even if it were not increasing, in 13 years, world carbon dioxide concentrations will have risen from the 424.66 average weekly reading in 2024 to 424.66 + 13*2.59 = 458.33 ppm.
Then there's this article from Bloomberg:
German Coal Generation Jumps to One-Year High as Wind Plunges.
Published in:Bloomberg.com, 2/6/2025,Business Source Premier
By:Farhat, Eamon Akil
(Bloomberg) -- Germany's coal-fired power generation surged to the highest level in more than a year, as slumping wind speeds sap the country's renewable energy output.
The persistent windless weather that has sent European power prices soaring this winter led German coal plants to ramp up output to fill the gap, reaching about 8.1 gigawatts this Thursday, the most since February of last year.
The slow winds are highlighting how Europe's ambitions to decarbonize its power system lack enough backup for periods of low renewable output. Germany in particular has struggled after it shut its last nuclear plant in 2023. Grid operators in the country have already warned coal plants might be needed for longer to keep the lights on.
Read: UK to Ease Rules for Nuclear Plants in Bid to Boost Growth
Meanwhile, German wind farms produced only about 5 gigawatts on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg models. That's a fraction of a record above 53 gigawatts set in December 2023.
The use of more costly fossil fuels is pushing up energy costs. German intraday power prices surged close to €200 per megawatt-hour for the peak time on Thursday morning on Epex Spot SE.
In most western European countries, switching to coal is becoming increasingly less frequent as they phase out capacity, but that's not quite the case in Germany.
"Germany often uses both gas- and coal-fired power when there's a low amount of wind output," said Robert Pulleyn, equity analyst and commodity strategist at Morgan Stanley.
The persistent windless weather that has sent European power prices soaring this winter led German coal plants to ramp up output to fill the gap, reaching about 8.1 gigawatts this Thursday, the most since February of last year.
The slow winds are highlighting how Europe's ambitions to decarbonize its power system lack enough backup for periods of low renewable output. Germany in particular has struggled after it shut its last nuclear plant in 2023. Grid operators in the country have already warned coal plants might be needed for longer to keep the lights on.
Read: UK to Ease Rules for Nuclear Plants in Bid to Boost Growth
Meanwhile, German wind farms produced only about 5 gigawatts on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg models. That's a fraction of a record above 53 gigawatts set in December 2023.
The use of more costly fossil fuels is pushing up energy costs. German intraday power prices surged close to €200 per megawatt-hour for the peak time on Thursday morning on Epex Spot SE.
In most western European countries, switching to coal is becoming increasingly less frequent as they phase out capacity, but that's not quite the case in Germany.
"Germany often uses both gas- and coal-fired power when there's a low amount of wind output," said Robert Pulleyn, equity analyst and commodity strategist at Morgan Stanley.
Don't worry, be happy. Germany will be able to burn coal in order to generate electricity to run electrolysis plants to make hydrogen. It's a thermodynamics of murder, but why worry?
I'm routing for the Peruvian guy.