The interplay between climate action and environmental protection can be complex. Measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions – such as the construction of new photovoltaic and wind energy installations, the laying of power lines, or the expansion of rail infrastructure – can at the same time have an impact on the environment and on wildlife habitats.
Determining how climate and environmental priorities are balanced is therefore always a matter of careful consideration. Just this week, the Federal Government agreed on legislation to accelerate transport projects. Among other things, environmental requirements and approval procedures are to be streamlined. A comparable acceleration and deregulation law for energy projects was already adopted in 2024. At the same time, however, there are critical voices: in a report published in mid-June, the German Advisory Council on the Environment identified shortcomings in the enforcement of environmental protection and warned against weakening environmental law in favour of faster planning procedures.
At IKEM, we devote considerable attention to this area of tension in our projects, seeking ways to ensure that climate and environmental protection go hand in hand. For example, we have recently examined how the requirements of environmental law can be taken into account in the planning of emerging technologies such as airborne wind energy systems. You can find our analysis and proposals for legal adjustments in the latest issue of Climate and Law.
This newsletter also provides an overview of our other recent publications, upcoming events and activities in June.
