Greens want “top priority” for 2020 climate goal

The Green parliamentary group in the German Bundestag (parliament) has introduced a motion calling on the government to give “top priority” to Germany’s target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020, initiating a debate in the plenary. Shutting down the 20 dirtiest coal power plants by 2020, formalising a step-by-step coal phase-out and an accelerated expansion of renewable energies are among the measures needed, write the Greens. “We simply can’t afford to lose another year, or even half a year,” said parliamentary novice and Green member Lisa Badum in her first speech. Christian Democrat (CDU) Thomas Bareiß said that his conservative block and the Social Democrats (SPD) emphasised their commitment to all “internationally agreed climate targets” in their blueprint for possible coalition negotiations. The Greens’ motion was referred to committee.

Read the motion in German here and the debate transcript in German here (p. 574).

Check out CLEW’s article German party leaders agree energy policy blueprint for coalition talks and the coalition watch for the latest on building Germany’s next government.