Berlin (dpa) – Germany will set a new goal of being climate neutral in 2045, Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday.
“There is unanimity in the government” about the changes, Schulze said in reference to plans to ensure Germany will not have net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
The “ambitious” climate law will be presented to the Cabinet next week, said Scholz, who described the new targets as “achievable”. He said there were intensive talks within the government. He and Schulze belong to the Social Democrats, the center-left junior partner of the ruling coalition.
The proposed change to existing legislation comes after the Constitutional Court ruled last week that the country’s climate protection laws were not extensive enough. The ruling forced the government to set clear targets to reduce emissions in the post-2030 period.
These targets include a new national target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030, compared to 1990 figures. The previous target was 55%.
In addition, a new target has been set for 2040: to reduce emissions by 88%.
Following the announcement, Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “We will do everything we can to achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2045.”
He should take additional action, he told an online meeting of his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with his Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU).
Details of the plans have not yet been agreed with the Conservative parties that make up the majority of Merkel’s broad coalition, but they are expected to be approved by the cabinet in the coming weeks.
