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Observing. Analysing. Acting.

Germanwatch is an independent development, environmental, and human rights organisation. We advocate sustainable global development based on social equity, respect for nature, and economic stability.

Focus areas

Climate Risk Index 2025

The Climate Risk Index (CRI) ranks countries by the human and economic toll of extreme weather. The latest edition highlights increasing losses and the urgent need for stronger climate resilience and action.
The Climate Case: Saúl versus RWE

The Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya has filed a lawsuit against the German energy giant RWE. Sául holds that RWE’s immense emissions threaten his family, his property, and his home city of Huaraz. The long-awaited hearing will take place on 17 and 19 March 2025 at the Higher Regional Court in Hamm. For the first time in Europe, a company faces legal action for its contributions to climate change.
Climate Change Performance Index 2025

The Climate Change Performance Index tracks the climate mitigation performance of 63 countries and the EU, which together account for 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
COP29: UN Climate Talks in Baku 2024

The 29^th UN climate talks took place in Baku in November 2024. Germanwatch was on site. Read our background stories, press releases, and blog posts on the climate conference in times of multiple crises.
Securing the Fundamental Rights of Tomorrow

Along with more than 54,000 claimants, we are taking the German government to court. We are demanding a national climate policy that protects fundamental rights and liberties today and in the future.

News

Papst Leo XIV.

Economy, Finance & Trade Sustainable Finance Blog post | 21.05.2025

Restructure Debt, Fund Climate Action

In many countries of the Global South, the debt burden weighs on public budgets and prevents investments to improve climate resilience. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ Laudato si’ encyclical, we analyse in this blog post how closely the climate and debt crises are intertwined. We show that it is now, in the run-up to the Fourth United Nations Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), that the German government must take responsibility by helping to reshape the international financial architecture.

Report | 08.04.2025

Terms of Reference Consultancy

Capacity Building for Young NGO Representatives in the Global SouthBangladesh is one of the countries most affected by climate change and climate-related loss and damage (L&D) in the world. Bangladesh’s topography and geographic location render it exposed to a number of climate-related hazards – from extreme weather events like floods and cyclones to slow onset climatic processes like sea level rise and salinization.

Report | 03.04.2025

Terms of Reference Consultancy

Bangladesh is one of the countries most affected by climate change and climate-related loss and damage (L&D) in the world. Bangladesh’s topography and geographic location render it exposed to a number of climate-related hazards – from extreme weather events like floods and cyclones to slow onset climatic processes like sea level rise and salinization. In this context, Bangladesh is planning to establish a comprehensive national L&D mechanism under a pilot program.

Preview open letter

Report | 29.01.2025

Strong stance against the influence of Big Tech

Together with 40 civil society organisations, trade unions, and businesses across Europe and the US, Germanwatch urges the European Commission to resist political pressure from Big Tech companies and prioritise the decisive enforcement of Europe’s digital laws.

Solar panels in the African desert

Climate International climate co-operation Blog post | 24.01.2025

Access for whom? World Bank’s Mission 300 risks prioritising profits over people at Africa Energy Summit

The Africa Energy Summit on 27 and 28 January 2025 in Tanzania is a cornerstone of Mission 300. It aims to bring electricity to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Though commendable at face value, we believe Mission 300 risks fuelling the debt, climate, and democracy crises, and might have little impact for sustainable development if five core issues are not resolved in its making.

A member of security walks outside the venue for the COP29

Sustainable Finance Blog post | 16.12.2024

Climate policy in times of crisis

On 23 November, the 29th UN Climate Conference came to a close in Baku. In this blog article, our Germanwatch experts report on the difficult negotiations, detail the most important decisions, and draw conclusions on the climate conference in times of crisis.

About us

Germanwatch is an independent development, environmental, and human rights organisation. We advocate sustainable global development based on social equity, respect for nature, and economic stability.

Germanwatch has earned its reputation as a prominent voice of civil society through more than 30 years of advocacy and over 650 successful projects. Our timely interventions have set milestones in climate action and development policies in Germany and Europe.

Publications

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International climate co-operation | 19. May 2025

Joint Statement by African and European Civil Society on the AU-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Ahead of the AU-EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, 57 civil society organizations from Africa and Europe are calling for a bold and equitable roadmap for climate justice, a fair energy transition, and green industrialisation.The English-language statemen

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EU climate policy and carbon pricing Position Paper | 14. March 2025

Carbon Capture and Utilisation

Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is increasingly being discussed as a promising approach to a carbon neutral industry. A realistic look at the potential of CCU as a climate change mitigation measure, taking into account the overall impacts, shows that there are significant dilemmas and trade-offs associated with the use of CCU. The paper identifies important guidelines for the development of this regulatory framework.

Preview policy brief

Climate Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 31. March 2025

Escalating Threats: How Climate Change Increasingly Affects Human Security

In today’s geopolitical climate, security debates have taken centre stage. However, defense measures alone will not be enough as long as climate change is part of the security equation. Using examples of extreme weather events in 2024, we highlight why human security urgently needs priority in national and international policy agendas.

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Press releases

Climate, Climate Litigation | 19.03.2025

German court on the brink of holding major emitters liable for climate damages

The Higher Regional Court of Hamm has concluded hearings in Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s landmark climate case against German energy company RWE, with a decision expected on 14 April.

Climate, Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 13.03.2025

Saúl Luciano Lliuya against RWE: Decisive hearing coming up

Hamm Higher Regional Court (Germany) to hear landmark climate lawsuit on Monday and Wednesday

Climate, Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 12.02.2025

Almost 800,000 deaths and 4.2 trillion US dollars in damage caused by extreme weather events in 30 years

New edition of Climate Risk Index released today: Nearly 800,000 people have been killed worldwide in the past 30 years due to more than 9,400 extreme weather events / Dominica, China, and Honduras have been the countries most affected by floods, storms, and heatwaves since 1993

Climate, Climate Litigation | 07.02.2025

Saúl Luciano Lliuya vs. RWE: climate lawsuit to be heard in March

After more than nine years, the climate lawsuit, which has gained worldwide attention, is about to take a decisive procedural step.

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