New government doesn’t care about the climate – opinion

The energy transition and climate protection are not among the new government’s priorities, and it would be more honest to give up on Germany’s climate targets altogether, writes Daniel Wetzel in a commentary in Die Welt. The energy transition urgently requires a fundamental policy shift in order to extend the use of renewable power in transport and heating. But “politicians are not prepared for a bold plan with historic dimensions” needed to at least reach 2030 targets, writes Wetzel. “The new government has 45 billion euros at its disposal, and less than one billion will be spent on the energy transition and climate protection. Defence spending, new social goodies – everything is more important until the next world climate conference, where new speeches on the alleged urgency of climate protection will be held.” Wetzel argues that national solo attempts to limit climate change are futile, and that “an extension and intensification of the EU’s successful emissions trading is climate protection’s only hope”.

Read the commentary in German here.

Find background in the article New government gets little credit in quest to regain climate lead.