German government says ETS insufficient for reaching Energiewende goals

The EU emissions trading system (ETS) is not sufficient for ensuring that Germany meets either its CO₂ emissions reduction goals or the other targets of its energy transition, the German government says in an answer to a parliamentary inquiry by the Left Party. “More specific and appropriate instruments are necessary to ensure a development in accordance with the medium- and long-term climate protection and Energiewende targets,” such as renewables expansion or higher energy efficiency, and to “guarantee planning security for everyone involved,” the government says. The government also says that a gap in reaching the 2020 effort-sharing emissions reduction goal of the EU “is to be expected.” It adds that buying emissions allowances from other EU states is a possibility and that the government will say whether Germany will make use of this option “in due course.”

Find the government answer in German here.

For background, read the factsheet Understanding the European Union’s Emissions Trading System.