The idea of building a ‘transatlantic climate bridge’ to increase cooperation in the climate and energy arena between the US and Germany came to fruition just about one year ago. Though at the time, viewpoints in the United States varied on investing in cleaner sources of energy, many regional climate and energy initiatives existed and the potential for increasing cooperation between the US and Germany in this field was clear.

The German government's ‘Transatlantic Climate Bridge’ initiative was launched in 2008 as a response to this, in order to  connect all those who seek to make a difference — at the local, the state and the federal level. The aim is to support platforms and partnerships that help Americans and Germans exchange their know-how and to pave the way for joint solutions.

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Ambassador Scharioth watching the signing of a joint declaration between Germany and Virginia

(© German Embassy)

At the launch of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge in the US in December 2008, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth said:
"Americans and Europeans have been successfully joining forces for decades to address the key challenges facing us. A stable climate and sustainable, reliable, and affordable sources of energy are crucial to the world’s economies. A joint commitment to invest in newer, cleaner sources of energy can create new jobs and world-class industries, clean up the environment and protect the climate, improve standards of living and enhance global security."

Year One: Strong cooperation among policy makers, scientists, and business people from both sides of the Atlantic

Despite the challenges facing climate legislation in the US and the lack of agreement reached at the UN conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, the Obama administration has made the fight against global warming a priority and there is now a broad range of German-US cooperation in the climate and energy arena to be proud of.

Existing innovative partnerships such as the MIT/Fraunhofer Institute Joint Center for Sustainable Energy, and existing cooperation between states such as Northern Virginia and Stuttgart or Pennsylvania and North-Rhine Westphalia, have continued to gain momentum.

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Steve Frenkel, Illinois EPA, at one of three climate and energy workshops

(© Johns Hopkins University)

Cooperation between Germany and US states was given a significant boost when a joint declaration was signed in April 2009 between the German government and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its aim is to support the exchange and application of mutually beneficial sustainable energy and climate change policies.

Germany’s relationship with Virginia was further strengthened by a workshop hosted by the German Embassy and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission entitled „Developing and Implementing a Community Energy Plan for Northern Virginia”. This lead to Loudon County, Virginia, passing the first ever Community Energy Plan (CEP) in the US, which in turn has generated interest among several other counties in Virginia. Loudon County’s CEP could serve as a blueprint for counties, regions, and states throughout the US.

Andrea McGimsey, Chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors' Energy Efficiency Committee, who was instrumental in the passing of her county's Community Energy Plan, is a strong believer in transatlantic exchange:

"…there is much to be done, and the issues are urgent. It is important that we move in the right, most efficient directions in Virginia and across the states. The lessons Germany has already learned can help us move more quickly in the right direction."

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Regional energy experts from US and Germany

(© Johns Hopkins University)

Transatlantic cooperation between U.S. and German universities has increased in the past 12 months, with a range of informational workshops and panel discussions in the US and climate focused seminars and conferences hosted by German universities. Taking place under the banner of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, they brought Germany’s expertise in climate and energy policy to US academia and policy makers, and increased the awareness of transatlantic cooperation opportunities in both countries.

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The German Ambassador with Team Germany from the University of Darmstadt, winners of the Solar Decathlon 2009

(© German Embassy)

With energy efficiency a particular focus of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, an “Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Buildings” workshop was hosted at the German Embassy in October 2009. This coincided with the Solar Decathlon, a competition organized by the US Department of Energy in which university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The Embassy workshop brought a range of German experts in the building and energy efficiency field to Washington DC, and supported the achievements of Team Germany from the Technical University of Darmstadt, who won the Solar Decathlon competition for the second time in a row.

Experts travel to Germany to gain firsthand experience

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U.S. Policy Makers in Berlin

(© German Embassy)

A series of educational climate and energy-focused exchange trips brought several groups of U.S. policy makers, business people, journalists, and agricultural experts to Germany, giving them the chance to witness how progressive climate and energy policy protects the environment and makes economic and business sense. US participants experienced firsthand how Germany is addressing climate change while continuing to grow its economy.

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Fifteen journalists from seven different countries, including four from the United States, traveled to Germany on the trip.

(© Ecologic Institute)

Sustained cooperation with the US media, including the series of exchange trips to Germany for US journalists, was complemented by a Transatlantic Media Dialogue in November 2009. 25 German and U.S. journalists and climate policy experts met on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland to discuss climate policy in Europe and the U.S. and the upcoming climate summit in Copenhagen in December. The dialogue’s aim was to provide journalists with the latest facts and figures on the Copenhagen conference, to exchange views on the public climate debate and on the status quo of the legislative process in Germany and the U.S.

Outlook 2010: The Transatlantic Climate Bridge’s Agenda

The success of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge was celebrated at a One Year Anniversary event in Washington DC on January 19, 2010. Hosted by the German Ambassador, the event featured a panel discussion between industry experts from US companies First Solar and Duke Energy, and German companies Siemens and Deutsche Bank. Its focus was the economic opportunities inherent in sustainable business practices, and on the numerous challenges ahead in progressing international climate negotiations.

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Panelists and Ambassador Scharioth at the Transatlantic Climate Bridge One Year Anniversary event

(© German Embassy)

Speaking during the panel discussion, Ambassador Scharioth cited Germany's experience that economic growth and emissions reduction are not mutually exclusive.

“Germany has succeeded in reducing its emissions by 24% compared to 1990 levels, whilst enjoying economic growth of 38%. Germany has also created 280,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector only. This proves that a sound climate and energy policy can achieve economic growth, energy indepence and contribute to the fight against climate change.”

First Solar, the largest manufacturer of thin-film solar cells in the world, is an excellent example of a U.S. company thriving in Germany, thanks to the country’s favorable framework for renewable energies. 

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Ambassador Scharioth talks with Doug Esamann, Duke Energy, and Maja Wessels, First Solar

(© German Embassy)

Maja Wessels, Vice President Government Affairs at First Solar said, “Five years ago, First Solar was a start-up company. Today, it is the world’s largest solar manufacturer and the low cost leader, and the reason is Germany…Because of the assured market in Germany, companies such as First Solar are able to invest confidently.”

The discussion ended with all panelists agreeing that transatlantic climate cooperation must continue to be strengthened in 2010, and that a progressive climate and energy policy creates jobs and makes economic sense.