“Insincere German climate policy”

German coal states have been insincere by voting for the Paris Climate Agreement last year in the Bundesrat – the council of state governments – and now toning down their climate protection efforts, writes Michael Bauchmüller in an opinion piece in Süddeutsche Zeitung. “The lignite states believe they act in the interest of the employees. Quite the contrary. They are clinging to the past, while the world is searching for alternatives,” writes Bauchmüller. Exploring these alternatives and supporting businesses in doing so would “create jobs and future. Smart state politicians would know this”, writes Bauchmüller. 

Read the opinion piece in German here.

For background, read the CLEW factsheet When will Germany finally ditch coal? and the dossier The energy transition and climate change.