Conservative-Green coalition takes shape in Northern German state

The recently elected conservative Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and Green Party alliance in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein has hammered out a coalition agreement with a focus on climate protection. The parties agreed on a 2040 target to make Schleswig-Holstein the first climate-neutral industrial state, Hamburger Abendblatt reports. In addition, the new government plans a 50 million euro programme to relieve citizens of climate protection measures. Climate protection will also be included as a political goal in the state constitution.

The coalition also agreed to separate agriculture from the Green-led environment ministry and form a new CDU-headed agriculture ministry, in part to placate more conservative farmers and limit the burdens on the sector.  The state government nevertheless sees climate protection and the energy transition as the focus for the next five years. "The Paris climate agreement is a binding guideline for us," the coalition states in its agreement. In it, the CDU and the Greens commit themselves to ways of meeting the 1.5°C target. To that end, new homes will be required to have rooftop solar panels from 2025. Homeowners can also lease their roofs for the use of solar energy. The new government also plans to create incentives to promote photovoltaic systems for homes and aims to expand wind energy. One major compromise for the Greens was the controversial extension of a state autobahn that was championed by the CDU. The parties are expected to approve the agreement on Monday before Premier Daniel Günther (CDU) can be re-elected on Wednesday in the coming week.