Description: This paper analyses and compares industry sector transformation strategies as envisioned in recent German, European and global deep decarbonisation scenarios. The first part of the paper identifies and categorises ten key strategies for deep emission reductions in the industry sector. These ten key strategies are energy efficiency, direct electrification, use of climateneutral hydrogen and/or synthetic fuels, use of biomass, use of CCS, use of CCU, increases in material efficiency, circular economy, material substitution and end-use demand reductions. The second part of the paper presents a meta-analysis of selected scenarios, focusing on the question of which scenario relies to what extent on the respective mitigation strategies. The key findings of the meta-analysis are discussed, with an emphasis on identifying those strategies that are commonly pursued in all or the vast majority of the scenarios and those strategies that are only pursued in a limited number of the scenarios. Possible reasons for differences in the choice of strategies are investigated. The paper concludes by deriving key insights from the analysis, including identifying the main uncertainties that are still apparent with regard to the future steps necessary to achieve deep emission reductions in the industry sector and how future research can address these uncertainties.

Description: The earth's capacity to absorb greenhouse gases is ultimately a critical limiting factor in the handling of metals. The fact that the demand for metals far exceeds their secondary production is extremely problematic at this point. Nevertheless, metals are crucial for climate protection and energy system transformation. Examples are the rare earth metal neodymium used in high-performance permanent magnets in wind turbines, the alkali metal lithium as the most important component in batteries, or the metal tellurium used in thin-film solar cells to generate solar power. It is therefore essential to promote the aspects of resource efficiency and to strengthen the critical role of metals in national and European policy programs. Next to a global solution, a European solo effort with predominantly market-based instruments and the effects of committed behaviour by civil society in the European Union (EU), show that the EU can make a considerable contribution to sustainable development on its own. Thus, a comprehensive approach is needed for sustainable metal management in the sense of a circular economy on the European level fostering sustainable production and consumption pathways. But, this need and the special role of metals are not seen in the current debate about resources in society and politics. Due to the fact that in public perception, metallic raw materials are often discussed as less urgent than energy or polymer raw materials, this article aims to highlight the critical role of metals. Further, the objective of this contribution is to show which prerequisites exist for the development and establishment of a holistic metal management and where political strategies have to start. Challenges needed to be overcome to achieve such a holistic metal strategy and management are highlighted. In particular, the role of the metal industry, circular product design and labelling and corresponding indicator systems is examined. In addition, the special role of digitalisation is being worked out. Finally, conclusions are drawn and shown which aspects have to be considered for a holistic metal strategy and management.

Description: Sustainable consumption policies affect households differently, in particular when they are confronted with limitations on income, time or freedom of movement (e.g. driving to work). And although it is possible to assess either the average or individual material footprint (per capita or via surveys), we lack methods to describe different types of households, their lifestyles and footprints in a representative manner. We explore possibilities to do so in this article. Our interest lies in finding an applicable method that allows us to describe the footprint of households regarding their socio-demographic characteristics but also find the causes consumption behaviour. This type of monitoring would enable us to tailor policies for sustainable consumption that respect people's needs and restrictions.

Description: A clear understanding of socio-technical interdependencies and a structured vision are prerequisites for fostering and steering a transition to a fully renewables-based energy system. To facilitate such understanding, a phase model for the renewable energy (RE) transition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries has been developed and applied to the country case of Lebanon. It is designed to support the strategy development and governance of the energy transition and to serve as a guide for decision makers. Lebanon's energy transition towards REs stands at a very early stage of the first transformation phase. Although abundant solar and wind energy potential does exist, the pathway towards a 100% renewables energy seems very challenging for Lebanon, as a consequence of highly unstable political conditions. The most pressing concern for Lebanon's electricity sector is combating the country's fiscal imbalance, while providing secure and reliable electricity supply. At the operational level, Lebanon's grid network requires significant investments to rebuild, retrofit, and expand the overall capacity and energy efficiency improvements. The need to strengthen the energy system after the political turmoil of the civil war is likely to offer several long-term opportunities, such as developing the economy, reducing environmental pollution, and increasing the energy security. In order to move forward into the first phase, Lebanon needs to improve the framework conditions for REs and implement its visions. It needs to support the market development in a realistic timeframe, where structural reforms represent the highest priority. The results of the analysis along the transition phase model towards 100% renewables energy are intended to stimulate and support the discussion on Lebanon's future energy system by providing an overarching guiding vision for the energy transition and the development of appropriate policies.

Description: Technological innovations in energy-intensive industries (EIIs) have traditionally emerged within the boundaries of a specific sector. Now that these industries are facing the challenges of deep decarbonisation and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is expected to be achieved across sectors, cross-industry collaboration is becoming increasingly relevant for low-carbon innovation. Accessing knowledge and other resources from other industrial sectors as well as co-developing innovative concepts around industrial symbiosis can be mutually beneficial in the search for fossil-free feedstocks and emissions reductions. In order to harness the potential of this type of innovation, it is important to understand not only the technical innovations themselves, but in particular the non-technical influencing factors that can drive the successful implementation of cross-industry collaborative innovation projects. The scientific state of the art does not provide much insight into this particular area of research. Therefore, this paper builds on three separate strands of innovation theory (cross-industry innovation, low-carbon innovation and innovation in EIIs) and takes an explorative case-study approach to identify key influencing factors for cross-industry collaboration for low-carbon innovation in EIIs. For this purpose, a broad empirical database built within the European joint research project REINVENT is analysed. The results from this project provide deep insights into the dynamics of low-carbon innovation projects of selected EIIs. Furthermore, the paper draws on insights from the research project SCI4Climate.NRW. This project serves as the scientific competence centre for IN4Climate.NRW, a unique initiative formed by politicians, industry and science to promote, among other activities, cross-industry collaboration for the implementation of a climate-neutral industry in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Based on the results of the case study analysis, five key influencing factors are identified that drive the implementation of cross-industry collaboration for low-carbon innovation in EIIs: Cross-industry innovation projects benefit from institutionalised cross-industry exchange and professional project management and coordination. Identifying opportunities for regional integration as well as the mitigation of financial risk can also foster collaboration. Lastly, clear political framework conditions across industrial sectors are a key driver.

Description: Das Forschungsprojekt untersucht, ob und wie die stoffliche Nutzung von Biomasse in Kaskaden zur Steigerung der Ressourceneffizienz beitragen kann. Es entwickelt eine klare Definition des Begriffs der Kaskadennutzung und analysiert existierende Konzepte der Kaskadennutzung. Als relevante Felder der Kaskadennutzung werden der Holzsektor, der Papiersektor, der Textilsektor und der Kunststoffsektor identifiziert und Ökobilanzen jeweils in diesen vier Sektoren durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen deutliche Umweltvorteile für die Mehrzahl der untersuchten Kaskadenoptionen, es bedarf jedoch der Einzelfallbetrachtung. Ein Bewertungskonzept zur ersten Einschätzung möglicher Kaskadenansätze für Anwender wird entwickelt. Das Projekt empfiehlt, die Kaskadennutzung von Biomasse als "Prinzip" unterstützend in übergreifende Politikziele und Strategien einzubinden.

Description: Diese Fallstudie untersuchte den durch den Systemwechsel von der Plan- zur Marktwirtschaft ausgelösten Strukturwandel in der Lausitz im Zeitraum 1990-2015. Mit Hilfe verschiedener qualitativer und quantitativer Methoden der empirischen Sozial- und Wirtschaftsforschung analysierte sie den Strukturwandelprozess und die in Reaktion auf diesen Prozess umgesetzte Strukturpolitik mit dem Ziel, dieses Wissen für zukünftige Strukturwandelprozesse in anderen (Kohle-)Regionen zur Verfügung zu stellen. Eine Diskursanalyse half zu erkennen, wer warum welche strukturpolitischen Ansätze unterstützte - und gibt damit Hinweise auf die mögliche Relevanz von Erfahrungen für andere Regionen.

Description: Zielsetzung des Forschungsprojektes war es, Klimaschutzszenarien für Deutschland zu entwickeln, die hinsichtlich ihres klimapolitischen Ziels, d.h. ihres langfristigen Emissionsminderungsbeitrags, im Wesentlichen gleich sind, die aber zum Teil auf unterschiedliche Optionen zur Reduktion der energiebedingten CO2-Emissionen setzen. Diese Klimaschutzszenarien wurden hinsichtlich sozioökonomischer und ökologischer Kriterien evaluiert und miteinander verglichen.

Description: Deutschland hat ein enormes Vermögen in Form von Bauwerken, Infrastrukturen und sonstigen langlebigen Gütern angehäuft. Hierin befindet sich ein wertvolles Sekundärrohstoffreservoir - ein anthropogenes Materiallager. Es ist als Kapitalstock der Zukunft zu begreifen, den es systematisch zu bewirtschaften gilt. In der überwiegend Input-dominierten Ressourceneffizienzdiskussion findet dieser Kapitalstock bislang nur wenig Beachtung. Eine Ursache hierfür ist unzureichendes Wissen über die Größe und Zusammensetzung dieses Materiallagers sowie über dessen Veränderungsdynamik. Das Vorhaben sollte dazu beitragen, die Wissensbasis diesbezüglich deutlich zu erweitern. Mit den Ergebnissen des Projektes liegt nun ein differenziertes Bild über Materialflüsse und Materialbestände vor, die in langlebigen Gütern in Deutschland gebunden sind und von diesen ausgelöst werden. Neben umfangreichen Daten wurde ein Konzept vorgelegt, das Grundlagen zum Aufbau eines langfristigen Monitorings des anthropogenen Lagers durch eine kontinuierliche Fortschreibung von Bestandsveränderungen liefert.