New draft of Climate Action Plan 2050 without clear plan for coal exit or CO2 sector targets
A new draft version of the Climate Action Plan 2050 that is to describe the pathway to a decarbonised economy has been leaked (and seen by the Clean Energy Wire). Unlike a former version by the Environment Ministry, the new draft - which was compiled after consultation with the economy and energy ministry - does not include emission reduction targets for each sector. It says that “the importance of power production from coal will decrease” rather than pledging an end “well before 2050”. The previous draft also stated that the transport sector would have to deliver a “disproportionately high” CO2 reduction in the future because it had not reduced emissions at all so far, but the new version says the transport sector has to deliver only an “ambitious” contribution. And the latest version no longer contains the demand that transportation cuts emissions by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 2005. The aim to have an ecologic tax reform remains in the draft, as does the setting-up of a commission on climate protection, growth and structural change, albeit without the specific task to propose a roadmap for a coal phase-out.
Christoph Bals, policy director at environmental NGO Germanwatch said the new draft was clearly failing to be the central guideline for future climate policy in Germany. “Seven months after the Paris climate summit, the government is surrendering to the interests of the fossil industry and is missing the chance to give the economy a modernisation impulse by presenting clear plans.”
The paper is currently for coordination purposes at the Chancellery. Its final version is expected to be decided upon by the government cabinet after the summer break in September 2016.
Read a CLEW factsheet on the first draft version of the Climate Action Plan 2050.
Read the Germanwatch press release in German here.