Berlin’s transport sector emergency plan fails to pass muster

(EurActiv, 26 Aug 2022) Germany’s emergency plan to get the building and transport sectors on track for climate neutrality failed to achieve their targets, according to the country’s expert-led Climate Council.

In 2021, the German Supreme Court ruled that inadequate climate protection violated the constitutional rights of younger generations. To achieve climate neutrality by 2045, the government split the country’s emissions into several sectors. Those that miss their annual targets must present emergency plans. 

In July, the government unveiled plans for the building and transport sectors, which were scrutinised by the appointed expert council. It found them lacking.

“According to the Ministry of Transport, the emergency programme for the transport sector only saves 14 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions,” explained Brigitte Knopf, secretary-general of think-tank MCC and the deputy director of the expert council, on Thursday (25 August).

“Arithmetically, there is still a compliance gap of 261 megatonnes by 2030,” she added.

The experts noted that, although the transport sector climate plan by Transport Minister Volker Wissing of the liberal FDP had “emission reducing impacts”, it failed to meet the requirements of Germany’s climate protection law due to being far off from the 2030 target.

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EurActiv, 26 Aug 2022: Berlin’s transport sector emergency plan fails to pass muster