Germany‘s Hydrogen Strategy and the Global South
Channel: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Date: 2023-06-15

A South-North exchange

Germany is a front-runner in the development of a hydrogen economy and is currently revising its hydrogen strategy. Imports play an important role, and the country is contemplating a hydrogen import strategy.

Many of Germany’s partners in the envisaged hydrogen trade are from the Global South. How can we avoid the pitfalls of past commodity trades and ensure a fair and sustainable relationship between producer and consumer countries of green hydrogen? What is needed to ensure that local communities prosper, and benefits accrue to all participants in the trade and investment relationship? 

Based on consultations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia civil society organisations and other stakeholders have expressed their hopes for, and concerns about, the development of producing and trading green hydrogen and its derivatives. A joint synthesis report by Heinrich Böll Foundation and Bread for the World resulting from this process formulates standards and policies to make green hydrogen a success story for all sides. 

In this event, we would like to open the dialogue between stakeholders from the Global South and Germany to discuss urgent issues regarding the German H2 strategy on the basis of the synthesis report and a 2 page discussion paper (forthcoming).

With:
- Dr. Falk Bömeke, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
- Delia Villagrasa, Consultant international climate and energy policy

Dialog:
- Fabián Andrés León Peñuela, BHRRC Colombia
- Nidhal Attia, Heinrich-Böll-Foundation Tunis
- Rodrigo Astorga, Heinrich-Böll-Foundation Chile
- Dr. Falk Bömeke, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
- Katrin Uhlig, MdB Bündnis 90/ The Greens
- Julian Schorpp, Head of Decarbonisation Policy Thyssenkrupp Europe Brussels

Moderation: Keren Ben-Zeev, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, South Africa