Federal Cabinet sees energy transition and climate protection on track

21.03.2024


Source: Energy & Management Powernews

The Federal Cabinet has adopted the report "Energy Transition and Climate Protection - Challenges and Ways of Transformation". According to the report, there is a lot to do, but the country is on course.

On March 20, the Federal Cabinet adopted the report "Energy Transition and Climate Protection - Challenges and Paths of Transformation". The report is a building block for the further development of the German Sustainable Development Strategy and takes a closer look at the international dimension of climate protection in particular. According to current estimates, the measures taken by the coalition government are having an impact and Germany is on course to achieve its national climate protection targets for the first time.

The report states that climate protection is a key global challenge for which Germany and the EU must make their contribution. It is being published at the same time as the international energy transition conference "Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue" (BETD), which has been taking place at the Foreign Ministry since March 19. With regard to the energy transition, the German government has been rapidly removing obstacles to the expansion of renewable energies and the necessary grid infrastructure since the start of this legislative period.

More progress needed in the buildings and transport sector

In particular, the report states that Germany still needs to make further efforts in the buildings and transport sectors in order to meet European targets. State Secretary Sven Giegold explained: "We have largely closed the Grand Coalition's climate gap by 2030." The European Green Deal, the EU Fit for 55 and the expanded European emissions trading scheme are the framework for the national measures and the targets in the Federal Climate Protection Act.

With regard to the need for further action, the report focuses on technical and social innovations. These are necessary in order to create affordable alternatives to fossil fuels in as many areas as possible and to shape the transformation in a socially just way through social participation. In order for the efforts in Germany and the EU to be reflected globally in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, greater emphasis must also be placed on international climate protection policy.

The decisions made at the COP28 World Climate Conference sealed the abandonment of fossil fuels, the expansion of renewables and an increase in energy efficiency. The report highlights measures taken by the German government to support the implementation of climate protection ambitions internationally, including the German government's climate foreign policy strategy and the Climate Club, green lead markets and Just Energy Transition Partnerships.

The Transformation Report is available online.

Author: Susanne Harmsen