Coal exit must be initiated quickly to reach climate goals – government advisors

The speedy start of the coal exit is more important than finding a final end date, writes the Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU), an expert advisory panel to the government focussing on environmental protection, in a statement. “For the climate, the total amount of CO₂ emitted by power plants is the decisive factor, not when the last coal plant goes offline,” said SRU member Wolfgang Lucht. Germany’s total emissions from coal-fired power generation until a final coal exit must not exceed 1,500 megatons of CO₂ if the country wants to make a meaningful contribution to the Paris climate targets, but the government’s current 2030 climate objectives could lead to more than 2,500 megatons of CO₂, writes SRU. If the oldest and least efficient plants were to be taken offline now, other coal plants could remain in operation longer and thus lower costs and increase supply security, said SRU member Claudia Kemfert.

Find the statement in German here.

For background, read the CLEW article Report about coal exit plan causes stir ahead of commission meeting and Commission watch – Managing Germany’s coal phase-out.