Climate targets maintained / Technological neutrality / Flexibility in 2050 target for greenhouse gas emissions and, above all, clear commitment to ETS2



‘This coalition agreement will be an important guideline for European climate and environmental policy,’ said Dr. Peter Liese, CDU, spokesperson on environmental and climate policy for the largest political group in the European Parliament (EPP/Christian Democrats).

‘Many of the decisions agreed by the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) in Berlin resolve conflicts that have existed in the European Union for years. If the largest member state takes a clear position here, it will help us to find compromises in Europe too,’ emphasized Liese, who was in close contact with the CDU/CSU negotiators at all levels during the coalition negotiations.

‘I very much welcome the fact that the coalition is clearly committed to maintaining the existing European climate targets, but is taking a more pragmatic approach to their implementation. The targets of 55% for 2030 and climate neutrality for 2050 stand and are very important in view of the global challenges. Donald Trump has pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement, but the rest of the world remains in it and when it comes to concrete progress, many are looking to the European Union, and many in the EU are looking to Germany. That is why it is good that the coalition is supporting the targets but cutting back on unnecessary bureaucracy. An important step is the support for the EU Commission's so-called omnibus proposal, which the Social Democrats in the European Parliament have so far blocked. It is also good that a compromise has been found for the 2050 target. The new German government supports a target of 90%, but wants to take a very pragmatic approach to achieving it, including accepting high-quality certificates from third countries to a limited extent (3%). In the automotive sector, the new coalition is focusing on technological neutrality. We want to maintain the climate protection targets, but alternative technologies, such as e-fuels, must be fully recognized’, Liese confirmed.

The new coalition agreement also explicitly commits to market-based instruments in climate protection, and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is personally a strong supporter of emissions trading, particularly emissions trading for heating and road transport.

‘I think it is extremely important that the new German government commits to the ETS. This commitment is therefore perhaps the best news for climate protection in years. We are experiencing severe drought again, especially in Central and Eastern Europe; March was the warmest in Europe since weather records began. The rest of the world is waiting for Europe and this coalition agreement helps to ensure that Europe does not disappoint expectations’, Liese emphasized.