In order to meet its CO2 reduction goals, Germany’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck says that Germany must do far more and will significantly increase renewables, climate-neutral production, and energy efficiency.
He said that Germany would miss its CO2 emissions targets in 2022 and 2023 and would immediately accelerate measures across the energy spectrum. ‘State of the nation’ press conference in Berlin.
“We are starting with a drastic deficit,” said Habeck. “The previous climate protection measures in all sectors are insufficient. But we are doing everything we can to close the gap. We’ll have to triple the speed of emissions reductions.”
German renewable energy has increased to 42 percent in the past 30 years, but Habeck warned that the country only has eight years to meet its goal of 80 percent by 2030. In an interview, he lamented the lack of new wind and solar energy facilities, saying, “The trend is going in the wrong direction.”
According to him, the government intends to increase renewable energy production exponentially. Newly constructed buildings would have to have photovoltaic panels installed and wind turbines built on approved sites would be accelerated under a new legislative package that will be presented to parliament this summer. Two percent of Germany’s land area is earmarked for wind-energy facilities, according to the German government’s statement.
Revisions to the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) will also be included, according to Habeck, making renewables a matter of national security. Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCDs) will be used to help companies transition to more environmentally friendly methods of production. In addition, it will help Germany’s National Hydrogen Strategy and raise building energy efficiency standards.
As part of its efforts to meet its energy goals, the government plans to increase immigration of specialists, such as engineers, according to Habeck. A “challenge” and “opportunity” to keep Germany’s economy “innovative, competitive, and prosperous” were both described by him.
GTA International, Germany’s international economic promotion agency, says that foreign businesses can benefit from the recalibrating of government policy, especially those that are already in Germany. This is especially true for those that are already in Germany.
“It’s highly unusual for a German government to be this critical of the status quo and this specific about what will be done about it,” says GTAI CEO Robert Hermann. “All the change means major new chances for agile and innovative domestic and international companies that can help Germany reach its climate goals.”
“The climate protection plans represent a historical chance,” adds GTAI Director of Energy, Construction and Environmental Technologies Thomas Grigoleit. “They will provide powerful impulses in all areas of the energy economy. We expect rapid growth in solar and wind energy installations, in hydrogen production and in energy efficiency. This is a gigantic challenge, but one that also opens up new avenues for domestic and international companies to develop, produce and of course market innovative sustainable products in Germany.”
