BERLIN, Jan. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate
Action Robert Habeck says Germany
must do far more to achieve its CO2 reduction goals and will
dramatically boost renewables, climate-neutral production and
energy efficiency.
In a remarkably frank and critical "state of the nation" press
conference in Berlin, Minister
Habeck said that Germany would
fall short of its CO2 emissions targets in 2022 and 2023 and would
move to immediately accelerate measures across the energy
spectrum.
"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."
While pointing out that Germany
had increased its share of renewable energy to 42 percent in the
past 30 years, Habeck said the country had only eight years to
realize its goal of 80 percent by 2030. He criticized stagnating
levels of new wind and solar energy facility construction, saying,
"The trend is going in the wrong direction."
He said the government would target exponential increases in
renewable energy production. He announced a legislative package, to
be put before parliament this summer, that would include mandatory
photovoltaic installations for newly constructed buildings and
accelerated construction of off- and on-shore wind turbines on
approved sites. The government said that Germany was targeting wind-energy facilities
on two percent of Germany's square
area.
The legislation, Habeck said, will also include a revision of
the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) to make renewables a
matter of national security. It will offer financial support in the
form of so-called Carbon Contracts for Difference to companies
transitioning to climate-neutral forms of production. And it will
bolster Germany's National
Hydrogen Strategy and enhance energy-efficiency standards in
construction.
Habeck also said the government would take measures to increase
the immigration of specialists, for example engineers, to ensure
the country has sufficient expertise to realize its energy goals.
He characterized the changes to come as not only a "challenge" but
an "opportunity" to ensure Germany's economy remained "innovative,
competitive and prosperous."
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), the German government's
international economic promotion agency, stresses that
international businesses will be able to profit from the
recalibration of government policy, particularly if they are on the
ground 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."
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the economic promotion
agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. GTAI supports German companies
setting up in foreign markets, promotes Germany as a business location and assists
foreign companies setting up shop in Germany.
Contact:
Jefferson Chase
Press Officer
Germany Trade & Invest
Friedrichstrasse 60
10117 Berlin
+49 30 200099170
jefferson.chase@gtai.com
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/germany-to-triple-tempo-of-environmental-transformation-301458398.html
SOURCE Germany Trade & Invest