Environment minister urges discussion on CO₂ pricing

German environment minister Svenja Schulze wants a discussion “about the existing models for CO₂ pricing that do not put an additional burden on citizens, but still provide an incentive to reduce CO₂,” she said in a parliamentary debate. Schulze said that the reform of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) was beginning to show effects with higher prices. Now, it was “logical” to think about other ways of CO₂ pricing in sectors not covered by the ETS, like transport and heating. In light of the increased integration of all sectors (sector coupling), “it makes little sense to burden electricity with taxes and levies, while not putting a reasonable CO₂ price on fossil energy sources,” she said. Georg Nüßlein (CSU), deputy leader of the conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group, said that a price on CO₂ would lead to additional burdens on citizens. Climate protection was an international topic that called for international solutions. “We do not want national solo efforts,” said Nüßlein.

Find the transcript of the debate in German here.

For background, read the CLEW article German environment minister open to national carbon price.