“Red lines for Jamaica”

German industry fears the next government coalition could make “rotten compromises” on energy and climate policy, Klaus Stratmann writes in Handelsblatt. While the Greens are adamant on climate protection and shutting down coal plants, its potential coalition partners, the conservative CDU/CSU and pro-business FDP,  “have a more moderate position,” Stratmann says. Dieter Kempf, president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) said the aspiring coalition partners should adopt a “realistic and reliable course” on energy and climate and avoid “an immediate coal exit.” If coal power were phased-out soon, power prices would rise considerably “and value creation and emissions will move abroad,” which would damage Germany without aiding the climate, Kempf said. Industry representatives have voiced doubts about the other parties’ resistance to the Green coal plans, especially since Chancellor Angela Merkel recently said a coal exit must be discussed “with the people on the ground,” falling short of highlighting such a move’s consequences for industrial production.

See the CLEW factsheet Climate & energy stumbling blocks for Jamaica-coalition talks and the CLEW article German Greens confident pro-climate government coalition possible.