In brief | 3 March '25

DW: Social Democrats lead Hamburg state election: early results

The Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens look set to be able to continue their coalition in the northern city state of Hamburg following a regional election Sunday (2 March).

Bloomberg: Amid Ukraine endgame, some in Germany want Russian gas

For many politicians and businesses in Germany, the idea of buying Russian pipeline gas is still anathema. For example, chemicals giant BASF SE, a huge consumer before supplies were shut off, said this week it has no scenario involving the resumption of supply. But in Germany’s east, where economic stagnation and historic links with Russia make the idea more palatable, talk of bringing back supplies has already started in some quarters, even before a peace deal is in sight.

FT: Big businesses step up to buy energy from new wind and solar farms

Renewable developers say upfront agreements to buy power are increasingly vital to make projects happen.

CarbonBrief: COP16: Key outcomes agreed at the resumed UN biodiversity conference in Rome

Countries have agreed at the resumed COP16 talks in Rome to a strategy for “mobilising” at least $200bn per year by 2030 to help developing countries conserve biodiversity.

Capgemini-research-institute: The battery revolution: Shaping tomorrow’s mobility and energy

The report explores the current state and future trends of battery technology, focusing on investment, innovation, sustainability, and the impact on various industries.

PIK: Climate policy explorer – what works?

Dashboard from a Science Magazine paper shows which climate policy instruments do actually reduce emissions.

Carbon Gap: CDR policy at the national level

How do individual countries compare on implementing effective carbon dioxide removal (CDR) policy? Carbon Gap analysed the EU’s top economies along with some of the most advanced actors.