Government draft climate programme insufficient to reach transport sector target

The draft climate action programme currently debated among German ministries is not enough to reach greenhouse gas reduction targets in the transport sector for 2030, and additional steps are to be agreed on early next year, documents seen by Clean Energy Wire show. The transport sector must cut some 271 million tonnes of greenhouse gases by 2030, yet there is still a gap of 118 to 175 million tonnes unless further measures are introduced, according to the paper. Following recent criticism regarding insufficient efforts, the transport ministry said that it would include new proposals in the government's overarching climate action programme 2022, which will have to be approved by the full cabinet. However, the issue has now been postponed. The government intends to present a new package of measures for transport next spring.

Among the 2030 goals in the transport sector is increasing the number of electric cars to 15 million. Additionally, the promotion of electromobility, rail transport and urban and regional transport are to be expanded, and more renewable fuels are to be used. The paper also envisages a number of other measures, including an accelerated expansion of renewable energy sources, renovation measures in the building sector and the expansion of organic farming, that could reduce sufficient greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, industry and building sectors by 2030.

Germany’s ambitious goals to achieve climate neutrality by 2045 are only possible if decisive measures are taken now and greenhouse gas emissions fall significantly in this decade. To ensure those goals are achieved, the government is developing a wide-ranging climate protection programme to address needed emission reductions of 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Governing Social Democrats (SPD), Green Party and pro-business FDP promised in their coalition treaty to present such a programme before the end of the year. To achieve the necessary goal, all major sectors must make their contributions. The government’s Council of Experts on Climate Change warned recently that efforts especially in the transport and building sectors were insufficient.