The British royal family, especially Queen Elizabeth II, has a long-standing affection for Corgis.

The Queen's love for Corgis started with Dookie, a gift from her father King George VI, and the breed has since become integral to the royal family.

The Queen's fondness for Corgis has made them one of the UK's most popular breeds.

The Corgi breed originated in 1107 AD as a herding dog, with their short stature and agility helping them avoid larger animals' hooves.

The Queen's Corgis live in luxury, with gourmet meals and their own rooms.

The royal connection has increased Corgis' global popularity through frequent media appearances.

The Queen's affection for Corgis began in 1933 with her father's corgi, Dookie, and she has remained inseparable from the breed ever since.

The Queen owned over 30 of the dogs, which received the Royal treatment, including their own rooms and chef-prepared meals.

The Queen's corgis descended from Susan, a gift from King George VI on her 18th birthday, and she bred the line for over fifty years.

The Queen's love for Corgis has significantly boosted the breed's popularity.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi registrations with the Kennel Club have reached a 30-year high.

The Queen's love of corgis is credited by the Kennel Club as the major factor in their popularity in the UK.

The royal connection has inspired corgi-related events like the Tour de Corgi parade, celebrating the breed and its royal ties.

The Queen's family got their first corgi, Dookie, in 1933, due to their energetic and untamed nature.

The Queen's father gave her a corgi named Susan for her 18th birthday, starting the royal line of corgis.

The royal family's affection for Corgis continues, with Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York caring for the Queen's remaining Corgis, Sandy and Muick.

The Queen's Corgis remain an iconic symbol of British royalty.

The British royal family, especially Queen Elizabeth II, has a long-standing affection for Corgis.

Title:

Content: Give a paw: 20 photo proofs that dogs are the best friends of monarchs
26.01.2022, 0: 14, Misc
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Dogs in the role of pets of the royal families are a very long time, and especially they are loved by the British royal family.
The main lover of dogs, and it is Corgi, is Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
The first dog of this breed was presented to her by her father, King George VI, and 7-year-old Princess Elizabeth named the puppy Dookie.
Since then, and especially since the coronation of Elizabeth, Corgi have become residents of Buckingham Palace.
Most of the pets that later lived in the palace are the descendants of this dog.
At the court of Elizabeth II lived a total of more than 30 corgis.
And they became the only living creatures that are allowed to enter the room ahead of the Queen.
At some point, the Queen brought out a new breed – the Dorgi: this happened after one of her corgis had an affair with Princess Margaret ’ s Pipkin Dachshund.
So were born dogs named Vulcan and Candy.
The last corgi of Elizabeth II – 15-year-old Willow – died in 2018.
And in 2015, it was announced that the Queen will no longer breed them, since she has no idea who will take care of the corgi when she is gone.
At the end of 2020, one of her favorite dogs passed away - Dorgi Volcano, who posed with her mistress for Vanity Fair magazine in 2018.
After that, Her Majesty of Great Britain left only one dog, also a breed of Dorgy – Candy.
The coronavirus pandemic made its changes to the Queen ’ s plans: during the lockdown, she was presented with two Dorgy puppies – Fergus and Muick, and the gift was presented by her youngest son, Prince Andrew.
Unfortunately, Fergus died in May 2021.
But in June, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Prince Philip, Andrew bought his mother another puppy.
The future Queen of Great Britain, Princess Elizabeth
Warm feelings for the four-legged were adopted by Prince William and Harry, who got along with dogs since childhood.
In the family of William and Kate Middleton lived cocker spaniel Lupo, which they in 2011 for the wedding gave brother Kate – James, who is engaged in breeding dogs.
In November 2020, the dog was gone, and Middleton Jr. gave them a new puppy, whose name and even sex were unknown.
Probably, the baby, born by the sister of the same Lupo, the couple are very fond – during the last release last week, Kate and William, having met a puppy therapist in a hospital in Lancashire, told reporters that they are glad that their dog (yes, this is “she ”) does not see how they cute communicate with this charming puppy.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana with their sons William and Harriet Middleton and Prince William
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also have their own history of relationships with dogs: now with the spouses in Montecito live beagle Guy and black Labrador retriever Pula.
Dog Guy is a real traveler: the dog moved with Megan to London in 2017 (her second dog she could not take because of the venerable age of the dog), and in 2019, he returned to the United States with his mistress.
The level of attachment of British monarchs to dogs (and not only) was reflected in art: in the summer of 2020, the theme of the annual photo exhibition at Buckingham Palace, which is held when Elizabeth II goes on vacation to Balmoral, was the theme of the love of members of the British royal family for animals.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with the President and First Lady of Ireland and their dogs, 2018
There are other relatives of Elizabeth II: her son, Prince Edward, and daughter-in-law, Countess Sophie, have two dogs – a black Labrador and a Cocker Spaniel – and even a turtle.
Princess Anne ’ s daughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike are the lucky owners of boxer Sway and two black labradors Storm and Pepper.
And, it seems, they are most loved by the couple ’ s daughters: once in the paparazzi captured the scene of Mia and Lena walking the dogs themselves.
However, due to the fact that the girls were very little, it is difficult to understand who was walking whom at that time.
And the eldest son of the Queen, Prince Charles, and Duchess Camilla live two dogs – Beth and Bluebell, and the second Duchess found on the street.
However, British monarchs are not the only ones who get along well with dogs.
In the Danish royal family (Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Marie) until 2021, there was only one dog – Border Collie Grace.
But in December she gave birth to two puppies.
In the royal family of the Netherlands (King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima), Labrador named Luna, Skipper and Nala live for several years, and in October they had a Mambo puppy.
In Norway, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have their own pets – Labradoodle Muffin and Millie Cocoa.
This dog once greatly battered the nerves of its owners: in 2017, during a trip to the mountains, where the family was skiing, the dog escaped, but soon found him.
King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia are avid dog owners no less than their “colleague ” Elizabeth: many years ago they had a dog Bingo, and in recent years they see a mongrel Brandi next to them.
Their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, started the Rio Cavudla in the spring of 2020, which is a cross between a cavalier and a poodle.
We offer you to see a selection of the most interesting, cute, funny, touching photos with the participation of dogs and representatives of monarchies from around the world.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima with their daughters, 2015 Duchess Camilla and Queen Letizia of Spain in Madrid, 2011 Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mette-Marit with children, 2018 Kate Middleton at St. Patrick ’ s Day Parade, 2019 Duchess of CamillaPrince Charles Daughters of Zara and Mike Princess Anne and Countess Sophie of WessekPrince EdwardCarolina, Princess of Monaco and Hanover - the eldest daughter of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly
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The Queen's love for Corgis started with Dookie, a gift from her father King George VI, and the breed has since become integral to the royal family.

The Queen's fondness for Corgis has made them one of the UK's most popular breeds.

Title:

Content: King Charles Spaniel numbers are declining and the breed is on the Kennel Club's 'vulnerable list' - amid Corgi boom following Queen Elizabeth's death

  • Corgis have seen boom in popularity after Platinum Jubilee and death of Queen
  • Number of Pembroke Welsh Corgis registered with Kennel Club hit 30-year peak
  • But popularity of King Charles Spaniels is continuing to decline, hitting a low
  • Lovers of the breed are hoping sharing name with new King will boost the dogs

Interest in Corgis has boomed following the Platinum Jubilee and the death of Queen Elizabeth, according to the Kennel Club.

Numbers of Pembroke Welsh Corgis registered with the organisation have reached a 30-year high, the Times reports.

Conversely, King Charles Spaniels are continuing to see a decline in their popularity, with lovers of the breed reportedly hoping that sharing a moniker with the new monarch may give the dogs a boost (though the new king prefers Jack Russells).

The breed, which is on the Kennel Club's vulnerable list, hit a low in 2020, with just 56 registrations. This increased to 91 in 2021, but numbers so far this year are so low, it is likely to drop beneath 2020.

The number of Corgis registered with the Kennel Club has reached a 30-year high, with interest growing following the death of the Queen (pictured here in 1980 with three of the dogs)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (as pictured) are doing well in terms of popularity, although their close relative the King Charles Spaniel (not pictured) is seeing a decline

However, it notes that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, the original breed from which King Charles diverged in the middle of the century, is doing well, with 3,772 registrations last year.

The original Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed was developed from toy spaniels. Popular as women's pets, they were also beloved of King Charles II, who was said to be so fond of his spaniels, he could not be parted from them.

Although Corgis were on the Kennel Club's vulnerable list in 2014, they are now one ofthe UK's most popular breeds, and the Queen is credited with boosting their popularity (pictured: Queen Elizabeth with one of her beloved corgis, Candy)

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has become known as a symbol of British royalty thanks to its long-standing association with the Queen

Lovers of the ailing King Charles Spaniel may look to the influence the Queen had in turning around the fortune of corgis in recent decades.

The breed was listed as 'vulnerable' in 2014, and the Kennel Club credits Her Majesty's love of the dogs as the major factor in making them one of the UK's most popular breeds today.

Corgis, which have four short legs, a long snout and two huge pointed ears, are famous for being a symbol of British royalty.

HISTORY OF THE CORGI BREED

The word 'Corgi' is Welsh for 'Dwarf Dog', and there are two types; the Pembroke, which is the Queen's breed, and the Cardigan Corgi, a descendent Teckel family of dogs, which also produced the Dachshund

Pembroke Welsh Corgis originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales from the Spitz family of dogs which are characterised by long, thick fur and pointed ears and muzzle

Corgis are a cattle herding breed that can be traced back as far as 1107 AD, thought to have been brought to Wales by  Flemish weavers

They are the type of herding dog referred to as 'heelers', meaning that they would nip at the heels of cattle to keep them moving

The combination of their low height off the ground and the innate agility of Welsh Corgis would allow them to avoid the hooves of the larger animals

They were officially recognised as a native British breed by The Kennel Club in 1928, but Cardigans and Pembrokes weren't seen as separate breeds until 1934

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The Queen owned more than 30 of the sandy, short-legged dogs throughout her reign.

She was gifted her first corgi, called Susan, for her 18th birthday from her late father King George VI. Ten generations of her corgis then descended from Susan.

Her dogs were given the Royal treatment having their own rooms with elevated wicker baskets and meals of beef, chick, rabbit, liver, cabbage and rice being prepared by a chef each evening.

Sometimes the Queen herself made the dog's meals. But her late husband was said to have 'loathed' the dogs' yapping.

She left behind two dogs - Sandy and Muick - who are now cared for by Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York at their Royal Lodge home.

Muick, pronounced Mick, joined the royal family at the start of 2021 along with a so-called 'dorgi', a cross between a corgi and a dachshund, called Fergus.

Fergus, who had been named after the Monarch's uncle who was killed during battle in the First World War, died after just five months.

He was later replaced with a new corgi called Sandy, as a 95th birthday present from Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Meanwhile Muick was named after Loch Muick on the Balmoral Estate.

Palace sources speaking to the Daily Mail previously revealed the beloved corgis were 'with [the Queen] in the room' at her deathbed when she died on September 8 at Balmoral.

They then touched people's hearts when they made a poignant appearance at Her Majesty's funeral on September 19.

As the late monarch's coffin made its way from London to its final resting place in Windsor, Muick and Sandy waited for the processional to pass, to see the Queen for one last time.

The dogs were seen waiting in the quadrangle with two aides before the late monarch was laid to rest in St George's Chapel.

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King Charles Spaniel numbers declining amid Corgi boom following Queen Elizabeth's death

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The Corgi breed originated in 1107 AD as a herding dog, with their short stature and agility helping them avoid larger animals' hooves.

The Queen's Corgis live in luxury, with gourmet meals and their own rooms.

Title:

Content: Throughout her life, the Queen has made no secret of her love for her corgis and dorgis. The monarch has often been seen alongside her furry friends, and it is thought that she has looked after more than 30 of the dogs over the years.

As you can imagine, the Queen’s beloved pets have been treated to lives of pure luxury, with their meals more extravagant than most. The pampered pooches obviously couldn't just eat any old normal dog food, but instead are said to feast on the best ingredients produced by top chefs.

The corgis' diet is thought to be made up of luxurious meals such as fillet steaks and chicken breast. Royal biographer Brian Hoey revealed the details of the corgi’s luxurious diet in his book Pets by Royal Appointment.

READ MORE: Prince George's incredibly normal hobby that could see him play against members of the public and they won't even know

The biographer also revealed how the carefully prepared meals are delivered by a footman and then covered in gravy that is poured by the Queen herself. The pampered pets are also reportedly off limits when it comes to discipline. Brian wrote in his book that nobody is allowed to raise a finger or a voice to any of the dogs.

He claimed they cock their legs and do what corgis do wherever they want — on antique furniture, priceless carpets. They are also said to have their own room and they are allowed to wander around freely. According to Mail Online, the dogs never eaten tinned food and have even been given homeopathic remedies when they get sick.

The monarch’s close relationship with the corgi breed of dog goes back to 1933 when her father brought home a corgi that would later be named Dookie. When she was younger the Queen also had a corgi called Susan, who was gifted to her in 1944 for her 18th birthday, and quickly became a close companion.

Many of the Queen’s later corgis are said to be descendants of Susan, as the Queen continued to breed the line of dogs over fifty years. She even went on to create a number of 'dorgis', after cross breeding one of her dogs with Margaret's Dachshund, Pipkin.

Last year the Queen welcomed two new dorgis, one called Fergus and one called Muick, but the former sadly died from a heart defect in May. In June 2021, Prince Andrew and daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie gave the Queen a new puppy, named Sandy, on what would have been Prince Philip's 100th birthday.

According to Hello!, one of the Queen's closest aides, Angela Kelly, has told how the pets "always brought a smile to everyone's faces" in a new chapter for her book The Other Side of the Coin, The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe. She said: "I was worried they would get under The Queen's feet, but they have turned out to be a godsend. They are beautiful and great fun and The Queen often takes long walks with them in Home Park."

Angela revealed that the dogs accompanied the Queen on a flight to Balmoral in August 2021. She told: "They were very well behaved, with Louis the footman on hand. Candy, who is an old hand at flying – she must have been on hundreds of flights in her lifetime – ambled about and kept her eye on the young pups. The puppies stayed close to The Queen but occasionally sniffed around your feet as they hoped for a nibble of something tasty from our lunch."

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The royal connection has increased Corgis' global popularity through frequent media appearances.

The Queen's affection for Corgis began in 1933 with her father's corgi, Dookie, and she has remained inseparable from the breed ever since.

The Queen owned over 30 of the dogs, which received the Royal treatment, including their own rooms and chef-prepared meals.

The Queen's corgis descended from Susan, a gift from King George VI on her 18th birthday, and she bred the line for over fifty years.

The Queen's love for Corgis has significantly boosted the breed's popularity.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi registrations with the Kennel Club have reached a 30-year high.

The Queen's love of corgis is credited by the Kennel Club as the major factor in their popularity in the UK.

The royal connection has inspired corgi-related events like the Tour de Corgi parade, celebrating the breed and its royal ties.

Title:

Content: Sunday, Sep 11, 2022

Annual ‘Tour de Corgi’ event to include new ‘Queen Elizabeth’ costume category to honour the monarch

“We all have a very strong affection for her as a fellow corgi lover," Tour de Corgi founder Tracy Stewart was quoted as saying

Queen Elizabeth II is seen walking in the private grounds of Windsor Castle, in England, on steps at the rear of the East Terrace and East Garden with four of her dogs: clockwise from top left Willow (corgi), Vulcan (dorgie), Candy (dorgie) and Holly (AP/PTI)

As a tribute to the late UK monarch Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 96 at her Balmoral estate in Scotland on September 8, after reigning for 70 long years, the Tour de Corgi parade — an annual event that celebrates the dog breed corgi — will include a new element this year that is likely to make fans of the British royal family and corgi lovers happy.

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It is no secret that the queen was extremely fond of dogs, especially corgis, from a very early age, and that she had been breeding them until 2018, when she finally realised that she may have to leave some of them behind after her death.

According to Country Living, the queen had four dogs at the time of her death: two Pembroke Welsh Corgis, a Dorgi (Corgi-Dachshund mix), and a Cocker Spaniel named Lissy, who joined the family only this year, in January 2022.

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A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)

In her lifetime, she reportedly bred 14 generations of corgis, and even famously declared: “My corgis are family.”

According to an Independent report, Queen Elizabeth‘s love for her four-legged friends was well-documented during this year’s platinum jubilee celebrations in the UK, when the sky above Buckingham Palace was lit up with images of the dog breed.

The publication mentioned that the Tour de Corgi parade this year — which has been taking place in Fort Collins, Colorado since 2014 — will include a “Queen Elizabeth and her corgis” costume competition, in “memorium and to honour her”, quoting the event’s organisers who shared this with a local newspaper ‘The Coloradoan‘.

This is a May 12, 1973 file photo of Queen Elizabeth II sitting with her corgis, at Virginia Water to watch competitors, including Prince Philip in the Marathon of the European Driving Championship, part of the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Tour de Corgi founder Tracy Stewart was quoted as saying, “We all have a very strong affection for her as a fellow corgi lover. I think it is just, you know, our dogs are such a big part of our hearts that it creates a very heartfelt connection.”

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The aforementioned event will take place on October 1, 2022, and will conclude with a corgi parade through the town.

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According to a Reader’s Digest report, the queen was fond of corgis because of their “energy and untamed spirit”, and the fact that her parents welcomed the family’s first corgi, Dookie, in 1933. Eleven years later, in 1944, the queen’s father gifted her a corgi named Susan for her 18th birthday. The pupper even accompanied her on her honeymoon, and gave birth to a pair of puppies in 1949, which reportedly marked the beginning of the royal line of corgis.

📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!

First published on: 11-09-2022 at 07:10:45 pm
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The Queen's family got their first corgi, Dookie, in 1933, due to their energetic and untamed nature.

The Queen's father gave her a corgi named Susan for her 18th birthday, starting the royal line of corgis.

The royal family's affection for Corgis continues, with Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York caring for the Queen's remaining Corgis, Sandy and Muick.

The Queen's Corgis remain an iconic symbol of British royalty.

Title:

Content: To the rest of the world, she is Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom—but to generations of corgis, she was always just Mum.

The queen’s beloved corgis have never been far from her side, ever since she fell in love with the breed as a young girl.

See Also: Royal Family Shares Throwback Photos of Prince Charles

The queen received her first corgi, Susan, as an 18th birthday present, and her 14 generations of royal corgis since then have all descended from the same line. Sadly, Susan’s very last descendant, Willow, recently passed away, marking the end of era for the royal family. However, the queen will forever be associated with the distinctive breed.

We’re looking back at her lifelong affection for corgis. Launch the gallery to see candid photos of Queen Elizabeth and her favorite canine companions!


Germany's decision to phase out nuclear energy, known as the Energiewende, was initiated in response to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 and aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix.

The country's energy grid has been coping with the loss of nuclear energy by increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and importing electricity from neighboring countries.

However, the phase-out of nuclear energy has led to an increased reliance on coal-fired power, which is highly polluting, and the country has been burning more coal and gas to compensate for the loss of nuclear energy.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has had a significant impact on Germany's energy supply, with the country facing a possible energy shortage in the winter due to decreased gas supplies from Russia.

In response to the potential energy crisis, the German government has considered delaying the decommissioning of its last three nuclear power plants, which account for about 6% of the country's electricity generation.

The extension of the nuclear power plants would allow Germany to reduce its reliance on natural gas and coal-fired power, and would help to avoid a shortage of natural gas during the winter.

However, the German environment ministry has stated that nuclear energy will be phased out by the end of 2022, and that the shutdown of nuclear power plants will require Germany to dramatically ramp up renewable energy.

There is growing public support for extending the life of the nuclear plants as the country faces a possible Russian gas outage, with 67% of Germans supporting a five-year extension of the country's nuclear plants.

The German government has approved the extension of three nuclear power plants until April 2023 to provide enough power through the winter, in response to the severe energy shortage caused by Russia's cut-off of gas supplies.

The decision to delay the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants is a departure from Germany's energy policy introduced in the millennium, which has been enshrined by almost all parties.

The German government believes that a temporary delay in decommissioning the last three nuclear plants would require two conditions: a possible natural gas shortage and no safety concerns about keeping nuclear reactors in operation.

The shift in German policy is a result of the shock of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to a decrease in gas supplies from Russia and has forced Germany to re-evaluate its energy policy.

The decision to postpone the closure of the last three nuclear power plants is seen as a move to address possible energy shortages in the winter, as gas supplies from Russia have dropped.

The German government says that two key conditions have been met that allow a temporary extension of the life of the three remaining nuclear power plants: the possibility of a gas shortage and the confidence that a longer operation of reactors would pose no safety concern.

Nuclear power accounts for about 10 percent of Germany's electricity production, and the shutdown of the plants has sparked criticism as the country will have to dramatically ramp up renewable energy and has also increased its reliance on highly polluting coal-fired power.

The German environment ministry has stated that the nuclear phaseout makes the country safer and helps to avoid radioactive waste, and that it is now essential to advance the search for a final repository for high-level radioactive waste.

The decision to delay the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants has put Berlin at loggerheads with France, where nuclear is the largest element of its energy mix and also helps supply Germany.

The potential economic impact of delaying the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants could be significant, as it would allow Germany to maintain a steady energy supply and reduce its reliance on imported gas.

The environmental impact of delaying the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants is also a concern, as it would mean that Germany would continue to produce carbon emissions from the plants, although nuclear power is considered a low-carbon source of energy.

The decision to delay the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants is not without controversy, with some sectors of the German population pushing to bring nuclear reactors back online as a way to address the energy crisis.

However, the German government has stated that security of supply in Germany continues to be guaranteed, and that reliable and sustainably generated electricity is a central requirement for aligning the economy and industry towards climate neutrality.

The EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has noted that existing nuclear plants provide low-carbon energy, which could be an alternative to fossil fuels, but there is no indication that Germany is considering reinstating nuclear energy.

The German energy market is coping with the loss of nuclear energy by increasing its reliance on coal and natural gas, but this has sparked criticism and concerns about the country's ability to meet its climate goals.

The reinstatement of nuclear energy could potentially affect the development and deployment of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, in Germany, as it could reduce the need to ramp up renewable energy production.

However, Federal Climate and Economy Minister Robert Habeck has emphasized that reliable and sustainably generated electricity is a central requirement for aligning the economy and industry towards climate neutrality.

The German government aims to be carbon neutral by 2045, but the shutdown of nuclear energy has sparked criticism as Germany will have to dramatically ramp up renewable energy and has also increased its reliance on highly polluting coal-fired power.

German Environment Minister Stevie Lemke has stated that the idea of a nuclear renaissance is a myth, citing data, and instead, the focus is on increasing electricity production from solar and wind power.

The decision to delay the decommissioning of nuclear power plants would likely have a significant impact on the country's progress towards achieving its Energiewende goals, including the target of increasing the share of renewable energy to 80% by 2050.

Delaying the decommissioning of nuclear power plants would allow Germany to maintain a stable energy supply in the short term, but it could also hinder the development and integration of renewable energy sources.

The Energiewende goals aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, and delaying the decommissioning of nuclear power plants could slow down this transition.

On the other hand, the Russian-Ukrainian war has highlighted the importance of energy security and diversification, and some sectors of the German population are pushing to bring nuclear reactors back online as a means to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

However, this move is not universally supported, and many environmental groups and renewable energy advocates argue that it would undermine Germany's climate goals and hinder the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The German energy market is coping with the loss of nuclear energy by increasing the share of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and improving energy efficiency.

Despite the challenges, Germany is still committed to achieving its Energiewende goals, and the government has implemented various policies and measures to support the development and integration of renewable energy sources.

The impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on Germany's energy supply has been significant, with a sharp increase in energy prices and a renewed focus on energy security and diversification.

In response to the energy crisis, the German government has announced plans to accelerate the development of renewable energy sources and improve energy efficiency, while also exploring alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen and biomass.

Overall, the decision to delay the decommissioning of nuclear power plants is a complex issue, with both supporters and opponents presenting valid arguments, and the impact on Germany's progress towards achieving its Energiewende goals will depend on various factors, including the development of renewable energy sources and the implementation of energy efficiency measures.

Germany's decision to phase out nuclear energy, known as the Energiewende, was initiated in response to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 and aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix.

Title:

Content: Three nuclear-fired power plants will be taken off the grid in Germany on Friday as part of the country's plan to end atomic power.

"The nuclear phaseout makes our country safer and helps to avoid radioactive waste," said Federal Environment and Nuclear Safety Minister Steffi Lemke.

"It is now essential to ... advance the search for a final repository for high-level radioactive waste as well as permanent solutions for low- and medium-level radioactive waste," the environment ministry said.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel speeded up the phaseout following the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan.

Friday's shutdown affects power plants in Brokdorf in Schleswig-Holstein, Grohnde in Lower Saxony and Gundremmingen C in Bavaria.

Germany's remaining three nuclear plants — Emsland in Lower Saxony, Isar 2 in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Württemberg — will be closed by the end of 2022 "at the latest," the environment ministry said.

"Since 2011, Germany has been drawing a line under a highly problematic technology in an orderly, reliable process," Lemke said.

Nuclear accounts for about 10 percent of Germany's electricity production. The shutdown has sparked criticism as Germany will have to dramatically ramp up renewable energy and has also increased its reliance on highly polluting coal-fired power.

"Security of supply in Germany continues to be guaranteed," said Robert Habeck, federal climate and economy minister. He added that reliable and "sustainably generated electricity" is a "central requirement for aligning our economy and industry toward climate neutrality."

That stance puts Berlin at loggerheads with France, where nuclear is the largest element of its energy mix (and also helps supply Germany).

EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in September that existing nuclear plants, which provide low-carbon electricity essential to the green transition, can be kept running "for two, five, 10 years," adding: "Why deprive ourselves of this production capacity?"

France is planning to scale down the share of nuclear in its electricity mix from 75 percent to 50 percent by 2035, but President Emmanuel Macron said in November that France "will restart the construction of nuclear reactors" while "continuing to develop renewable energies."

Macron also said France will invest €1 billion into research and development, notably into small modular reactors.

Belgium recently decided to shut down all its nuclear power plants by 2025, but plans to invest €100 million in new generation nuclear reactors and research.

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Content: 'Sustainability challenges' What Big Oil, green movement conceal from us

The US funds its military aid to Ukraine with tax dollars and some of America’s allies fund Putin’s military with purchases of his oil and gas exports. And that’s the absurdity that has come to define the Russian invasion
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NEW YORK: It has long been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. By that definition, we’re the ones detached from reality if we keep accepting what the oil industry and the green movement keep telling us over and over again and expecting a different result. The greens keep saying that because the price of wind and solar is now as cheap as, or cheaper than, fossil fuels, they’ve won the energy war. Game, set, match — welcome to the green planet.

The oil companies say — as they have in each previous energy crisis since 1973 — that the only answer to this energy crisis is the one they’ve offered for the past 49 years: drill, baby, drill. Welcome to reality. Well, they’re both wrong, and accepting the repetition of either of these tired shibboleths is hurting us economically, environmentally and geopolitically — especially, of late, geopolitically.

Because our continued addiction to fossil fuels is bolstering Vladimir Putin’s petrodictatorship and creating a situation where we in the West are — yes, say it with me now — funding both sides of the war. We fund our military aid to Ukraine with our tax dollars and some of America’s allies fund Putin’s military with purchases of his oil and gas exports.

And if that’s not the definition of insanity, then I don’t know what is. Have no illusion — these sins of the green movement and the oil industry are not equal. The greens are trying to fix a real, planet-threatening problem, even if their ambition exceeds their grasp. The oil and coal companies know that what they are doing is incompatible with a stable, healthy environment. Yes, they are right that without them there would be no global economy today. But unless they use their immense engineering talents to become energy companies, not just fossil fuel companies, there will be no livable economy tomorrow.

Let’s look at both. For too long, too many in the green movement have treated the necessary and urgent shift we need to make from fossil fuels to renewable energy as though it were like flipping a switch — just get off oil, get off gasoline, get off coal and get off nuclear — and do it NOW, without having put in place the kind of transition mechanisms, clean energy sources and market incentives required to make such a massive shift in our energy system.

It’s Germany in 2011, suddenly deciding after the Fukushima accident to phase out its 17 relatively clean and reliable nuclear reactors, which provided some 25 percent of the country’s electricity. This, even though Germany had nowhere near enough solar, wind, geothermal or hydro to replace that nuclear power. So now it’s burning more coal and gas.

A 2019 working paper for the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research found that in Germany “the lost nuclear electricity production due to the phaseout was replaced primarily by coal-fired production and net electricity imports. The social cost of this shift from nuclear to coal is approximately $12 billion per year. Over 70 percent of this cost comes from the increased mortality risk associated with exposure to the local air pollution emitted when burning fossil fuels.”

Today, the European Union is drawing up a plan to break its addiction to Russian oil and gas by 2027, but, in the meantime, Putin is laughing all the way to the bank. As CNN reported in April, citing a report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air: “Russian revenues from fossil fuel exports to the European Union soared during the first two months of the Ukraine invasion” — to $46.3 billion. That was more than double the value of Russian energy imported by the E.U. during the same two-month period a year earlier.

That was not because the E.U.’s volume of imports doubled. Higher oil and gas prices accounted for most of that increase. In other words, Putin starts a war that creates instability, which drives up oil prices, so he makes twice as much money exporting roughly the same amount of oil.

While Germany jumped off nuclear before it had a safety net of sufficient clean alternatives, at least it has been on a serious, path-defining quest to get them. Indeed, the whole world owes Germany a huge debt for driving down the price of solar panels and wind turbines through the subsidies and tax incentives it created. In Germany, wind turbines, solar panels and other renewables covered 54 percent of power consumption this past January and February — which is AMAZING. In 2021, renewable energy sources accounted for only about 12 percent of total U.S. energy that was consumed.

Still, the most important delusion of the green movement today — of which I am a proud, if grouchy, member — is telling itself that because the price of wind and solar technology has fallen so low now that it can beat coal and natural gas in most markets, often even without subsidies, it’s “game over” for fossil fuels. I wish. Price is only half the story.

If you can’t install the transmission lines — to get that sun and wind power from the vast open spaces where it is generated to the big urban areas where it is needed — and if you cannot set aside more land to install the scale of solar and wind farms you need to replace coal, gas or nuclear, it doesn’t matter that your renewables are cheaper on a per-kilowatt-hour basis.

And today transmission is a huge problem in the U.S. and Europe, where many people don’t want wind farms, solar fields, electricity lines — or natural gas pipelines — in their backyard. I wish this were not the case, but there is no immaculate pathway from brown energy to green energy. The road is paved with cruel trade-offs. Pick your poison — but grow up. Meanwhile, ever since the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the big oil companies have basically said in each successive crisis: Sure, we need more clean energy, but you have to understand — it doesn’t scale. Right now, we’re in an emergency, so we just need to drill more. You hear the same refrain today, which is why we’re in danger of wasting yet another oil crisis and never breaking our fossil fuel addiction.

For those oil companies sitting on large natural gas deposits — which are needed in this transition because gas is cleaner than coal — it means tapping those deposits but doing so with zero methane leakage; otherwise gas becomes as bad as coal. But it also means thinking much more seriously about how fossil fuel companies truly make the transition to become “energy companies,” not just oil companies, so they can leverage their amazing pools of engineering talent to provide more energy solutions that save the planet, not warm it.

Friedman is an Opinion Columnist with NYT©2022

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EXPRESS: Germany ’ s exit from atomic energy sector affects Europe ’ s largest economy
Germany ’ s closure of the country ’ s last three nuclear reactors and its eventual exit from the atomic energy sector raises concerns about the impact of the decision on the European Union ’ s largest economy.
Germany ’ s action could deal a blow to the technology they see as a clean and reliable alternative to fossil fuels.
Berlin is implementing its plan to limit electricity generation to renewable sources by 2035.
Earlier this week, Germany shut down its last three nuclear power plants as part of Berlin's plan to limit power generation to renewables by 2035, ending a six-decade programme that has sparked one of Europe's most powerful protest movements.
Other industrialized countries, such as the United States, Japan, China, France and Britain, rely on nuclear power to replace the fossil fuels that are warming the planet, and Germany ’ s decision to stop using both has been met with some skepticism, as well as unsuccessful last-minute calls to halt the shutdown, the report said.
Nuclear energy advocates around the world have criticized the German shutdown, realizing that the action taken by Europe ’ s largest economy could deal a blow to technology they see as a clean and reliable alternative to fossil fuels.
The German government has acknowledged that in the short term, the country will have to rely more on polluting coal and natural gas to meet its energy needs, even as steps are taken to dramatically increase electricity production from solar and wind power, and Germany aims to be carbon neutral by 2045.
But officials like German Environment Minister Stevie Lemke say the idea of a nuclear renaissance is a myth, citing data showing that the share of atomic energy in global electricity production is shrinking.
The construction of new nuclear plants in Europe has faced significant delays and cost overruns.
Limki noted that the construction of new nuclear plants in Europe has faced significant delays and cost overruns, and said the money spent on maintaining old reactors or building new ones would be better spent on installing cheap renewables.
Experts such as Claudia Kemfert of the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin say the 5% share of German electricity currently coming from its three remaining reactors can be easily replaced without risking power outages.

Title:

Content: “There is no excuse for the rich West to be oblivious to the global debt crisis. ” – The Guardian
We start with an opinion piece by Larry Elliott, the Guardian ’ s economic editor, entitled “The wealthy West has little excuse for finally waking up to the global debt crisis. ”
“After a decade or more of their obsession with their own problems, countries in the wealthy West have begun to pay attention to the threat of a looming debt crisis in the poorer parts of the world, ” he says at a meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington this week.
The good news is that debt has risen to the highest level on the policy agenda and is seen as a problem that needs to be regulated, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said about the need for distressed countries to help: “Help them deal with the debt burden, which has made the shocks of past years more difficult; and help ensure that the IMF can continue to support them in the years to come. ”
The bad news, according to Elliott, is that Georgieva ’ s appeal has not yet been heeded, as rich countries are still primarily interested in their own problems.
The geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China is also not helping.
Creditor countries may wake up to the idea that there is a debt problem but it is far from a solution.
Talk is not like work. ”
Achim Steiner, director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said: “There are more than 50 countries on his radar that can default very quickly. ”
Steiner believes that the UN has no chance of meeting its ambitious 2030 development goals, unless there is urgent action.
The volume of lending by the private sector has made attempts to restructure or write off debt more complex than in the past.
At the time of the HIPC initiative, creditors tended to be either individual governments or multilateral organizations such as the World Bank.
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“But since the global financial crisis, many countries, especially middle-income countries, have borrowed heavily in financial markets, taking advantage of very low interest rates to finance domestic projects. ”
After the setback of the COVID-19 epidemic, low- and middle-income countries have since been hit by two other undesirable shocks: the war in Ukraine, which led to higher food and fuel prices, and the sharp increase in central bank interest rates in large Western economies.
The result is that debt servicing has become much more expensive, with many countries now frozen out of financial markets altogether.
Steiner said: "The issue is not financial but political.
The United States has mobilized $400 billion to secure Silicon Valley Bank deposits.
This is more than the developing world has received in three years.
It took the Swiss government less than 48 hours to find 100 billion Swiss francs to secure the rescue of one of its banks.
“The lesson of the recent banking crises is clear.
Rich countries can act fast enough when they want to, ” the writer concludes.
Fears of Macron ’ s politics
We turn to another Financial Times opinion piece by Alain Beatty, a trade writer, entitled “The Risks of Emmanuel Macron ’ s Strategic Insistence. ”
Macron ’ s focus on keeping a distance from both Washington and Beijing in pursuit of the EU ’ s vague “strategic autonomy ” is not an innovation among European policymakers, but geopolitical Europe enthusiasts need to recognize that the lack of unity and trust within the EU, rather than the sinister manipulation by Washington and Beijing, is the main obstacle.
“We ’ ve already seen this happen in trade policy, which is one area where the EU has long had the ability to act collectively.
In the same way that there is nothing stopping European governments from increasing military spending and playing a greater geopolitical role, the bloc can certainly increase its ability to use trade to project its strategic influence.
But while France has been keen to create new tools for intervening in trade and investment, other member states recognize that the views and interests of Paris are not necessarily those of the bloc as a whole.
“In recent years, the European Commission has carefully designed a range of trade instruments to confirm the bloc ’ s geo-economic weight.
The most politically salient is the anti-coercion tool ECI, which will allow the EU to use a wide range of trade and investment measures to retaliate against the bullying of trading partners.
France has strongly supported all this activity, and has also called for the creation of new EU central funds to pursue industrial policy.
“But the Commission will struggle to use this set of tools if there is opposition from other member states that are mindful of their export interests or distrust in using trade tools to manage a centralized strategic policy.
A few days before Macron ’ s trip, the Commission succumbed to pressure from some EU governments, including Germany, and gave member states a major role in determining the use of ECI.
Berlin instinctively avoids confrontation that could damage German exports and investments abroad.
There have also been more principled objections from liberal member states including Sweden and the Czech Republic, sceptical of attempts to politicize trade policy and the likelihood that it will be overly influenced by certain governments.
Macron inadvertently contributed to these concerns, especially as he unnerved some other EU governments two years ago with a clear orientation toward a major investment deal with China, “leaving a legacy of caution. ”
“Attempting to push a union with divergent views to adopt a single approach to a specific global issue is unlikely to produce long-term results. ”
German split on energy policy
We remain with an article by Laura Bettel, the Financial Times correspondent in Berlin, entitled “Germany is being torn apart by energy policy with the closure of nuclear plants. ”
Bethel said Germany ’ s last remaining nuclear power plants were shut down on Saturday, “marking a watershed moment in a country that has long had deep doubts about atomic energy. ”
Anti-nuclear activists hailed the shutdown of three reactors as a victory after a temporary delay following the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war that forced Berlin to look for alternatives to Russian gas.
Critics see the shutdown as an act of madness at a time when Europe ’ s energy supply remains precarious and the world is struggling to stop using fossil fuels.
After decades of anti-nuclear protests, the decisive moment came in 2011 when Chancellor Angela Merkel reversed an earlier decision to extend the life of the country ’ s nuclear plants until 2036, bringing the phase-out date to 2022.
The anti-nuclear movement in former West Germany dates back to the 1970s, when a popular campaign succeeded in stopping the construction of a nuclear power plant in the southwestern village of Weil.
The nuclear accidents at Three Mile Island in the United States in 1979 and at Chernobyl in 1986 fuelled that movement.
But German public opinion shifted after the Russo-Ukrainian War: an August 2022 poll from Der Spiegel found that 67 percent of Germans supported a five-year extension of the country ’ s nuclear plants.
41% supported the construction of new plants.
In a similar poll three decades ago, only 3% said yes.
But the German Green Party, now part of the three-way coalition government led by Olaf Schulz, only agreed to postpone the shutdown for a few months to fill any gap caused by the winter energy crisis.
“The way in which Germany has chosen to phase out nuclear power, and step back from fossil fuels as a bridging gap even as renewables increase dramatically, has been highly controversial. ”

Title:

Content: Germany To Postpone Closure Of Last Three Nuclear Power Plants - WSJ

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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th August, 2022) Germany, faced with possible energy shortages in the winter as gas supplies from Russia have dropped, intends to postpone the closure of its last three nuclear power plants (NPPs) in a move marking a departure from a two-decade policy to abandon nuclear energy, The Wall Street Journal reported citing German government officials.

The decision, which has to be formally adopted by the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and would possibly require a vote in Parliament, could be weeks off, but already now the German government says two key conditions have been met that allow a temporary extension of the life of the three remaining NPPs, currently expected to close December 31: the possibility of a gas shortage and the confidence that a longer operation of reactors would pose no safety concern, according to the officials.

"The reactors are safe until Dec. 31, and obviously they will remain safe also after Dec. 31," the WSJ quoted a senior official as saying.

Scholz last week said for the first time that it could make sense to keep Germany's last three nuclear reactors online.

However, even if the life of the three German NPPs is extended, this will not be a panacea for Germany's looming energy crisis this winter as the country is mainly missing natural gas, primarily used for heating and manufacturing.

The European Union has been seeking to diversify energy imports and reduce dependence on Russia after Moscow started its special military operation in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly said that Russia has never used gas supplies to punish anyone, but sells energy solely in its own interests, to increase the welfare of Russians and on a commercial basis.

The German government has also outlined measures to reduce gas and power consumption in the country over the next two years. The measures in particular include lowering the temperature in public buildings. According to Germany's energy regulator, gas consumption will have to be cut by 20 percent if Germany wants to avoid a gas shortfall during this coming winter and next winter.

The three officials who spoke to the WSJ said the extension of the NPPs' life would only be made for several months.

The power plants in question are Isar 2 in the southern state of Bavaria, Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Wurttemberg and Emsland in Lower Saxony. They are operated, respectively, by E.On SE, EnBW AG, and RWE AG.

After the start of Russia's special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, the West has stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia, which has led to an increase in prices for energy and food in Europe and the United States.

The country's energy grid has been coping with the loss of nuclear energy by increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and importing electricity from neighboring countries.

The country's energy grid has been coping with the loss of nuclear energy by increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and importing electricity from neighboring countries.

The country's energy grid has been coping with the loss of nuclear energy by increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and importing electricity from neighboring countries.

However, the phase-out of nuclear energy has led to an increased reliance on coal-fired power, which is highly polluting, and the country has been burning more coal and gas to compensate for the loss of nuclear energy.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has had a significant impact on Germany's energy supply, with the country facing a possible energy shortage in the winter due to decreased gas supplies from Russia.

Title:

Content: Germany ’ s last three nuclear power plants may be delayed
In light of the potential energy crisis in Europe in the winter, officials revealed that Germany intends to delay the decommissioning of the last three nuclear plants in the country, although it will only temporarily prolong the life of the plants, but it marks the first time that Germany has deviated from the energy policy introduced in the millennium and has so far been enshrined by almost all parties.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) quoted senior officials as saying that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has not yet formally adopted the proposal to delay the discharge, and if it is decided to do so, there are technical and legal issues, including passing through parliament.
The cabinet is currently discussing some details, and while it will have to wait for the results of the energy demand assessment in the coming weeks to come to a conclusion, officials have revealed that everything is almost a foregone conclusion.
The last three nuclear plants in Germany were due to be decommissioned on December 31, and the government reportedly believes that a temporary delay would require two conditions: Germany is likely to suffer from a natural gas shortage and there are no safety concerns about keeping nuclear reactors in operation.
The shift in German policy underscores the shock of Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine to European political circles, especially Germany, which has been closely tied to Russia ’ s economy and has long relied on Russian gas supplies.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he began to increase military spending, send weapons to Ukraine, break years of pacifism, supply arms to conflict zones, the latest energy policy shift, and involve the almost sacred issue of “nuclear abolition ” in German politics.
The German economy ministry, which dominates energy policy, declined to comment on the report, saying only that it all depends on the outcome of an assessment of Germany ’ s energy needs.
The remaining three nuclear power plants account for about 6% of Germany's electricity generation, and if they continue to supply power, they will not have to use natural gas or coal-fired power to fill the gap, allowing some areas to continue to have natural gas.
In some parts of Germany, huge coal-fired power plants have resumed operations in response to a potential power outage from a Russian supply cut in June, disrupting Germany ’ s progress so far in reducing carbon and fighting air pollution.
The German government has drawn up two executive orders on how to reduce natural gas and energy consumption over the next two years.
Energy authorities estimate that Germany will need to reduce its use of natural gas by 20% in order to avoid a shortage of natural gas this winter and next.
It is unclear when the German authorities may extend the discharge period, with some officials offering a few months, but the ruling Liberal Democrats believe it should be extended to 2024.
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In response to the potential energy crisis, the German government has considered delaying the decommissioning of its last three nuclear power plants, which account for about 6% of the country's electricity generation.

The extension of the nuclear power plants would allow Germany to reduce its reliance on natural gas and coal-fired power, and would help to avoid a shortage of natural gas during the winter.

However, the German environment ministry has stated that nuclear energy will be phased out by the end of 2022, and that the shutdown of nuclear power plants will require Germany to dramatically ramp up renewable energy.

There is growing public support for extending the life of the nuclear plants as the country faces a possible Russian gas outage, with 67% of Germans supporting a five-year extension of the country's nuclear plants.

The German government has approved the extension of three nuclear power plants until April 2023 to provide enough power through the winter, in response to the severe energy shortage caused by Russia's cut-off of gas supplies.

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The upper house of Germany's parliament signed off on a number of major legislative packages on Friday aimed at helping address inflation and soaring energy costsImage: Wolfgang Kumm/dpa/picture alliance
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Germany approves welfare reform, extends nuclear power

2 hours ago

Germany's upper house of parliament approved measures aimed at helping people hit hard by high energy prices and the high cost of living. The country's nuclear power extension will also take effect immediately.

https://p.dw.com/p/4K5HV

The upper house of Germany's parliament, the Bundesrat, approved extending the use of three nuclear power plants, overhauling unemployment benefits and other major legislation on Friday after heated debate among lawmakers.

After receiving approval from the Bundesrat, the measures will soon enter into law. DW breaks down what's set to change in 2023.

Nuclear power extension

The Bundesrat signed off on the extension of three nuclear power plants after the lower house, the Bundestag, approved the move earlier this month.

The nuclear plants — Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland — will remain operational until April 2023 to provide enough power through the winter. The facilities had been slated to close at the end of this year under Germany's nuclear phaseout plans.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz decided to extend the life of the nuclear plants after Germany found itself facing a severe energy shortage. Russia turned off supplies of gas in response to the backlash over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The extension was bitterly debated among Scholz's center-left Social Democrats (SPD), the environmentalist Greens and the pro-free market Free Democrats (FDP).

With Friday's approval from the upper house, the nuclear power plant extension will take effect immediately.

Germany set to keep nuclear plants running

Unemployment reform

Germany is set for a major welfare overhaul after the Bundesrat signed off on a compromise to reform unemployment benefits.

The changes will go into effect as of January 1, 2023, replacing the current and frequently criticized "Harz IV" unemployment benefits system that has been in place since 2005.

Under the new "Bürgergeld" system (which means "citizen's money"), those who are unemployed will get higher benefits and better vocational skills training.

The initial proposal by Scholz's government was rejected by conservative lawmakers in the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) bloc. Under the compromise, benefits could be cut during a six-month "trust period" if an unemployed person is deemed to not be looking hard enough for work.

According to the plans, those receiving benefits will also get more support in job training programs to prepare for permanent employment. The change also is an attempt to mitigate the shortage of skilled workers Germany is currently experiencing.

"This reform is a milestone of social policy in Germany," Scholz told the magazine Focus on Friday after the votes. "This reform put assistance for untrained people who belong to the long-term jobless front and center."

The measure must still be signed by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, although nearly all measures approved by the Bundesrat are signed-off by the president.

More money for Germany's unemployed?

Tax relief, higher child benefits

With inflation hitting consumers hard, lawmakers approved measures aimed at softening the blow.

The upper house approved legislation that would help people who receive pay raises that adjust for inflation. The new measures would prevent people having to pay more taxes due to pay raises.

Starting in January 2023, child benefit payments will also be raised. Families will now receive €250 ($260) per month for each child in the household.

The change is a big jump from the current system, which saw parents receive €219 per month for their first and second child, €225 per month for a third child, and €250 for each additional child.

More support for renters

The upper house of parliament also greenlit a law that seeks to help renters deal with skyrocketing heating costs.

Starting from January 1, renters will no longer have to shoulder the costs of heating with oil and natural gas — landlords and property owners will have to chip-in as well.

For buildings that are not energy efficient and produce a high proportion of CO2 emissions, landlords will need to pay more — and not the renters.

In addition, more people in low-income households will receive a housing allowance from the government. The expansion to the law means 1.4 million households are eligible for the payments, as opposed to the current 600,000 households that qualify.

While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter Berlin Briefing.

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The decision to delay the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants is a departure from Germany's energy policy introduced in the millennium, which has been enshrined by almost all parties.

The German government believes that a temporary delay in decommissioning the last three nuclear plants would require two conditions: a possible natural gas shortage and no safety concerns about keeping nuclear reactors in operation.

The shift in German policy is a result of the shock of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to a decrease in gas supplies from Russia and has forced Germany to re-evaluate its energy policy.

The decision to postpone the closure of the last three nuclear power plants is seen as a move to address possible energy shortages in the winter, as gas supplies from Russia have dropped.

The German government says that two key conditions have been met that allow a temporary extension of the life of the three remaining nuclear power plants: the possibility of a gas shortage and the confidence that a longer operation of reactors would pose no safety concern.

Nuclear power accounts for about 10 percent of Germany's electricity production, and the shutdown of the plants has sparked criticism as the country will have to dramatically ramp up renewable energy and has also increased its reliance on highly polluting coal-fired power.

The German environment ministry has stated that the nuclear phaseout makes the country safer and helps to avoid radioactive waste, and that it is now essential to advance the search for a final repository for high-level radioactive waste.

The decision to delay the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants has put Berlin at loggerheads with France, where nuclear is the largest element of its energy mix and also helps supply Germany.

The potential economic impact of delaying the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants could be significant, as it would allow Germany to maintain a steady energy supply and reduce its reliance on imported gas.

The environmental impact of delaying the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants is also a concern, as it would mean that Germany would continue to produce carbon emissions from the plants, although nuclear power is considered a low-carbon source of energy.

The decision to delay the decommissioning of the nuclear power plants is not without controversy, with some sectors of the German population pushing to bring nuclear reactors back online as a way to address the energy crisis.

However, the German government has stated that security of supply in Germany continues to be guaranteed, and that reliable and sustainably generated electricity is a central requirement for aligning the economy and industry towards climate neutrality.

The EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has noted that existing nuclear plants provide low-carbon energy, which could be an alternative to fossil fuels, but there is no indication that Germany is considering reinstating nuclear energy.

The German energy market is coping with the loss of nuclear energy by increasing its reliance on coal and natural gas, but this has sparked criticism and concerns about the country's ability to meet its climate goals.

The reinstatement of nuclear energy could potentially affect the development and deployment of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, in Germany, as it could reduce the need to ramp up renewable energy production.

However, Federal Climate and Economy Minister Robert Habeck has emphasized that reliable and sustainably generated electricity is a central requirement for aligning the economy and industry towards climate neutrality.

The German government aims to be carbon neutral by 2045, but the shutdown of nuclear energy has sparked criticism as Germany will have to dramatically ramp up renewable energy and has also increased its reliance on highly polluting coal-fired power.

German Environment Minister Stevie Lemke has stated that the idea of a nuclear renaissance is a myth, citing data, and instead, the focus is on increasing electricity production from solar and wind power.

The decision to delay the decommissioning of nuclear power plants would likely have a significant impact on the country's progress towards achieving its Energiewende goals, including the target of increasing the share of renewable energy to 80% by 2050.

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Energy transition
Germany ’ s Energiewende is a national energy system reform strategy aimed at reducing the country ’ s total energy consumption and eventually withdrawing from the use of nuclear energy.
The German “Energiewende ” energy transition has become a new term widely quoted in the English-language media, and Germany plans to increase the share of renewable energy to 80% by 2050.
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Delaying the decommissioning of nuclear power plants would allow Germany to maintain a stable energy supply in the short term, but it could also hinder the development and integration of renewable energy sources.

The Energiewende goals aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, and delaying the decommissioning of nuclear power plants could slow down this transition.

On the other hand, the Russian-Ukrainian war has highlighted the importance of energy security and diversification, and some sectors of the German population are pushing to bring nuclear reactors back online as a means to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

However, this move is not universally supported, and many environmental groups and renewable energy advocates argue that it would undermine Germany's climate goals and hinder the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The German energy market is coping with the loss of nuclear energy by increasing the share of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and improving energy efficiency.

Despite the challenges, Germany is still committed to achieving its Energiewende goals, and the government has implemented various policies and measures to support the development and integration of renewable energy sources.

The impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on Germany's energy supply has been significant, with a sharp increase in energy prices and a renewed focus on energy security and diversification.

In response to the energy crisis, the German government has announced plans to accelerate the development of renewable energy sources and improve energy efficiency, while also exploring alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen and biomass.

Overall, the decision to delay the decommissioning of nuclear power plants is a complex issue, with both supporters and opponents presenting valid arguments, and the impact on Germany's progress towards achieving its Energiewende goals will depend on various factors, including the development of renewable energy sources and the implementation of energy efficiency measures.