“Let’s do our homework before setting more ambitious climate goals“ – env min

German environment minister Svenja Schulze backs Chancellor Angela Merkel position on the European Commission’s proposal to raise the 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target. “We have set goals for 2020, which we will not reach. To then say ‘we will set even more ambitious goals’ is not easy in a political discussion,” Schulze said at a press conference in Berlin. Germany must act “more modestly” in this regard, as it is no longer a climate protection pioneer. “I think we must first do our homework and prove that we’re able to reach our goals.” Germany needs to win back its role as a leader by showing that a transformation is possible without social disruption, and by introducing a climate protection law. The minister said she is optimistic that the government would succeed in introducing this law, which will show how to reach the targets in the individual sectors. In the past, other ministries had left the environment ministry alone much too often when it came to the implementation of environmental protection measures. “It will be hard work and we need everyone’s help.” Schulze also addressed the ongoing work of the coal exit commission. “If we succeed in describing a coal exit path together with our coal regions, this could be a role model for many regions around the world. So we have an international responsibility,” she said.

For background, read CLEW’s coal commission watch, and the dossier The energy transition and climate change.