Struggling to Keep Up: Germany's Tough Road to Climate Goals
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Struggling Economy Pushes Germany to Adjust Climate Policy - Economic struggles hampering Germany's progress towards combating climate change
Owing to economic strains and the impact of the Coronavirus, Germany may only partially meet its 2030 climate targets, as per experts. Without the economic downturn, the picture would have been brighter, states Hans-Martin Henning, chair of the Expert Council on Climate Questions, in Berlin.
Embracing Efficiency in Uncertain Times
"Without the temporary respite built up due to events such as Corona and the weak economy, there would have been a high likelihood of a substantial budget surpass by the end of 2030," Henning elaborates. The German Climate Protection Act outlines the maximum amount of greenhouse gases Germany may emit each year between 2020 and 2030. The cumulative total of these yearly allowances forms the emissions budget, which currently remains within the permissible range according to the Expert Council.
However, Germany seems unlikely to achieve its overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% compared to 1990 by 2030. Germany aspired to become climate-neutral by 2045, but experts predict a wide margin of error in this target.
Jeopardizing European Aims
According to European agreements, Germany must cut emissions in half by 2030 compared to 2005. Since last year, Germany has fallen short of this target, according to the Expert Council's calculations. The 2030 target has also been raised compared to the previous year.
The Expert Council, an independent five-member panel that assesses the effectiveness of German climate policy and advises politics, mostly confirms the data provided by the German Environment Agency in March in its latest report.
Key Points from Federal Politics at a Glance
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- Germany
- Greenhouse gas
- Climate
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- Henning
- EU
- The tough road to Germany's climate goals is evident as experts predict that due to economic strains and the impact of the Coronavirus, Germany may only partially meet its 2030 climate targets.
- To meet its emissions budget as outlined in the German Climate Protection Act, Germany has relied on the temporary respite from events like Corona and a weak economy, but uncertainty remains about achieving the overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% compared to 1990 by 2030.
- According to European agreements, Germany must cut emissions in half by 2030 compared to 2005, and its failure to meet this target poses a threat to overall European aims.
