Federal government defends course on climate protection

18.05.2026

Source: E & M powernews

Despite criticism from the Council of Experts, the German government considers its climate protection program to be sufficient to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. However, the financing is uncertain.

The German government is defending its climate protection program against accusations of insufficient measures. In its response to a minor interpellation from the Left Party, the government writes that the planned measures could achieve the climate targets for both 2030 and 2040. In addition, the program ensures the path to climate neutrality by 2045.

The Left Party's question referred to doubts about the effectiveness of the Climate Protection Program (KSP). According to the parliamentary group, it is already foreseeable that the climate targets will not be met. The German government, on the other hand, refers to scientific tests of the measures. According to the answer, the expected savings have been scientifically assessed by expert reports from the responsible ministries and additional reviews by external experts commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment.

At the same time, the Federal Government admits that it is taking the criticism of the Expert Council for Climate Issues seriously. The committee had pointed out that the program had an insufficient effect on reducing greenhouse gases. According to the government, however, this assessment was only based on a preliminary review.

Emissions gap disputed

There is still debate about the size of the emissions gap. While the climate protection program is expected to close a gap of 27 million tons of CO2, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) forecasts a gap of 30 million tons of CO2 for the same period.

The German government explains the difference by the fact that the climate protection program was still based on the UBA's projections from 2025. The data for 2026 was only published ten days after the cabinet decision. Furthermore, the Expert Council had not yet reviewed these figures. The corresponding review report will be presented to the Federal Government by the Expert Council on May 18. It calculates Germany's greenhouse gas emissions for 2025 and projects them for 2026.

Financing of the Climate and Transformation Fund weakened

Parallel to the debate on the climate protection program, the CDU/CSU and SPD agreed on a further working process for planned social and tax reforms in the coalition committee. According to information from coalition circles, questions regarding the financing of the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF) are also to be clarified.

The CO2 price is to remain within a range of between 55 and 65 euros. The revenue from this will flow into the KTF, which will be used to finance programmes for modernizing heating systems and expanding heating networks, among other things. However, higher income from a rising CO2 price was previously planned for the fund. How possible financing gaps are to be closed remained unclear at first.

It is also unclear how the German government intends to ease the burden on consumers and companies in view of the recent rise in energy costs. One of the reasons for this is the impact of the Iran war on the energy markets. A one-off relief payment of 1,000 euros via employers did not find a majority in the Bundesrat.

In connection with the planned income tax reform, the coalition is now looking for alternative relief measures. SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf had previously called for more speed in the reform. He told the newspaper "Tagesspiegel" that a proposal from Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil could be presented in the coming weeks or days.

Author: Susanne Harmsen