Climate is a top priority in the new German government

25-11-2021

Climate change will be a top priority for the newly formed German coalition. Some believe that the Germans have received a wakeup call after the catastrophic floods that hit the nation last summer. As the social-democratic SPD, the liberal FDP and the Greens have agreed to rule together in a red-yellow-green "traffic-light" coalition, headed by the new chansellor Olaf Scholz, climate will be very high on the political agenda.

Many important fields that drive Europe's greatest economy will be regulated more tightly by climate decisions, such as the traffic, construction, housing and agriculture industries. In this post-Merkel era, Germany continues aiming to limit climate change to only 1.5 degrees, as defined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement (estimates point at a 5°C rise by the end of the century without global climate action). There are talks about a new "Superministry" of Economy, Energy and Climate, lead by a Green minister, that will oversee Germany's transition to a climate robust, zero-carbon economy.

Amongst goals are (yet to be officially confirmed):

A huge expansion of renewable energy industries, such as solar and wind.
80% of power generation must by renewable by 2030.
Closing all coal plants by 2030, instead of by 2038.
Getting rid of gas in homes by 2040.
Ending sales of fossil fuel vehicles by 2025 (although the Greens want it to stop earlier).

As we await more news on the details of Germany's climate ambitions, we hope that the Germans, who got back on their feet twice in recent history after total catastrophy, sets an example that other nations can follow.