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Taking stock on climate action: we need to triple our speed
“Our journey begins a very long way from where we need to be.” The incoming Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, starts his press conference with State Secretary Patrick Graichen by laying the finger on the weak spot of Germany’s climate policy. He has brought an extra large chart showing the development of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany and traces the graph with his fingers, explaining that, without changing track, Germany will only be able to achieve a 50% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 – instead of the 65% we are aiming for. Summarising, Minister Habeck says: “We must triple the speed at which we bring down our emissions if we want to meet the climate targets.”
In his speech, he quickly makes clear that the climate measures that have been taken so far are insufficient across all sectors. And that the expansion of renewables is also going too slowly. In fact, it is already quite clear, he says, that the climate targets for 2022 and 2023 cannot be met.
The Minister then drives home the message of the new Federal Government, who want to make a fresh start on climate action and the energy transition: “We are doing our utmost to catch up”, he says, going on to explain: “This will require us to do significantly more in less time. We want to be climate-neutral by 2045 and boost the share of renewable energy to 80% by 2030.”
The Minister announces two climate packages introducing immediate measures to lower emissions and speed up the expansion of renewables. The first package is to be introduced by the end of April, the second in the summer.
Further information
- Press release by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Habeck presents Germany’s current climate action status “Need to triple the rate of emission reductions”
- Video by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action: Germany’s current climate action status – Press conference given by Federal Minister Robert Habeck and State Secretary Patrick Graichen (in German only)
- Publication by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action: Germany’s current climate action status (PDF download, 3 MB - in German only)
- Speech by Robert Habeck, delivered in the plenary session of the German Bundestag on 13 January 2022 (in German only)