New German environment minister Schulze vows introduction of Climate Protection Act

Svenja Schulze has been sworn in as Germany’s new environment minister and vowed to introduce a Climate Protection Act during the current legislative period to ensure  the country will meet its 2030 emissions reduction goal, the Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) says in a press release. “I am taking over a strong ministry,” Schulze said, thanking her predecessor, fellow SPD-politician Barbara Hendricks, for her “active commitment to this role.” Schulze said her ministry’s mission is an important one – “protecting our foundations of life: stable climate, clean air, clean water and intact nature.” Schulze said climate action would be among her most important tasks, and she would approach it “with creativity and determination.” She said meeting Germany’s 2030 climate target will take “a concerted effort by the entire federal government, we can only succeed if we work with and not against one another.” Air pollution in Germany’s inner cities will be another major policy issue, she said: “I’m not a big fan of driving bans. But, if we want to avoid them, we need innovative and creative solutions.” Responsibility for urban development, housing and building (Bau) has now moved from the environment ministry to the interior ministry, hence Schulze’s ministry is now the BMU, rather than BMUB.

Find the press release in in English here.

Find a CLEW profile of new environment minister Schulze for background here.