There are some 4.7 billion smartphone users worldwide, and the number is rising. In Germany, around 20 million smartphones are sold every year, as Bitkom recently reported – a heavy burden on the environment and climate: Information and communication technologies are responsible for around eight per cent of Germany’s CO2 emissions. The high consumption of valuable raw materials, such as precious metals and rare earths, exacerbates the problem. 

The discussion paper "Circularity as the Service" by the Wuppertal Institute, commissioned by the Vodafone Institute, offers the first comprehensive overview of the entire smartphone lifecycle. The authors identified strategies the smartphone industry can use to extend device lifespans and reduce their ecological footprints. In doing so, the benefits of extending device usage spans became clear: An average usage span of five to seven years could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from smartphones by around half. Currently, smartphones in Germany are replaced after an average of 2.5 years. Extending the usage span could significantly reduce the need for new devices, which would translate into economic advantages for consumers – in addition to the obvious environmental benefits. Consumers would also prefer to use their smartphones for longer: According to a survey conducted in Austria, smartphone users would like to see device lifespans of around five years.

The authors emphasise that it is primarily up to the the industry and policymakers to work towards a more sustainable use of smartphones – and that strategies for extending smartphone usage spans must focus on consumers, but also on the entire smartphone system, including manufacturers, service providers and other market stakeholders. Only then can a sustainable transformation in the production and usage of smartphones be achieved.

However, this requires new business models and a focus on the needs of consumers in order to jointly shape a more environmentally friendly future.

The current issue of Carbon Mechanism Review, titled "The Silent Heaters", focuses on non-CO2 greenhouse gases from sources such as refrigerants and fertilisers, as well as the often still underestimated role of methane. The authors explain what the international carbon market can contribute to solving these problems, what obstacles exist and how they can be overcome.

The policy paper "How can the Global Stocktake be leveraged for enhanced climate action?" by Dr. Lukas Hermwille, Wolfgang Obergassel and Carsten Elsner from the Wuppertal Institute provides recommendations on how the results of the Global Stocktake can be used to advance climate policy at the national level.

The former member of the Wuppertal Institute's International Advisory Board, Professor Akio Morishima, passed away on 26 May 2024 at the age of 89. He was the first Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. His passing means not only the loss of an excellent scientist and inspiring thought leader in the field of climate and environmental policy, but also that of a special friend and supporter of Japanese-German scientific cooperation and the Wuppertal Institute.

In the final report "Pathways towards a Green Economy in Egypt", Markus Kühlert, Co-Head of the Production and Consumption Systems Research Unit, Jacqueline Klingen, Researcher in the International Energy Transitions Research Unit, and other scientists from the Wuppertal Institute outline how Egyptian small and medium-sized enterprises can be supported in seizing the opportunities of a green economic model.

In the discussion paper "Circularity as the Service", Dr. Julia Reinhard and Prof. Dr. Stephan Ramesohl from the Digital Transformation Research Unit at the Wuppertal Institute, among other authors, offer a comprehensive overview of the entire smartphone lifecycle. On this Basis, they identify strategies the smartphone industry can use to extend device lifespans, significantly reducing their ecological footprint. 

9 to 10 July 2024, Brussels and online

At the two-day NDC ASPECTS final event, policymakers and other stakeholders will spotlight key issues in the transition to climate neutrality in the EU, in other major emitters, and globally – and discuss solutions to the existing challenges. Dr. Georg Holtz, Senior Researcher in the Sectors and Technologies Research Unit, and Dr. Lukas Hermwille, Co-Head of the Transformative Industrial Policy Research Unit at Wuppertal Institute, will contribute. 

2 to 4 September 2024 in Witten

The third Humboldtⁿ-School on the issue "Planetary Health in NRW – Momentum for Change" focuses on planetary health from an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspective: In workshops and lectures, scientists will provide insights into research approaches from medical science as well as social and economic innovation research.

9 to 11 October 2024 in Wuppertal

From 9 to 11 October 2024, the TrafoNa-"Promovierendentage" (PhD Days) on the topic of "Transformation and Sustainability" will take place in Wuppertal for the second time. The focus will be on the following questions: How do I position myself within my discipline? How do I deal with the interdisciplinary requirements of my research topic? What role does transdisciplinarity play in my research? What career paths are there in and outside academia? How do I qualify for these? How do I position myself between academia and practice, research and activism? The PhD days are held in German. Talks and discussions can also be held in English. However, knowledge of the German language is required in order to follow lectures and discussions.