FOCUS ON – NET-ZERO
HOW CLOSE IS GERMANY TO ITS CLIMATE GOALS?
The climate focus shifts to Germany in the second instalment of our "Road to Net-Zero" series, where we look at how on track different nations are to achieving their climate goals and those laid out by the Paris Agreement. by Steven Gislam
G
ermany is often cited as being one of the world leaders when it comes to renewables and the energy transition, and while green investment has vastly increased in recent years, the reality is somewhat more complicated. While it is one of 13 nations worldwide plus the EU - to have enshrined a climate target into law, Germany is still heavily reliant on coal, as well as natural gas. The picture is further complicated by the long-standing German aversion to nuclear power, which 16 Industry Europe
the former government pledged to phase out by this year.
A brief history of the 'Energiewende' In 2010, Germany initiated its 'Energiewende' plan. Translating as "Energy Turnaround", the initial plan focused on making power systems more efficient and supplied largely by renewable sources. The project has since evolved and Germany currently aims to become greenhouse gas neutral by 2045, a target that includes
CO2, as well as other climate-damaging gases like methane and nitrous oxide. It has set preliminary targets of cutting emissions by at least 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and 88% by 2040. The Bundestag passed its first Climate Action Law in December 2019 as part of a broader climate package that the government had decided on earlier in the year. It was based on a promise made in the 2018 coalition treaty between then Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU alliance and the Social Democrats
