Cost of climate inaction “can hardly be quantified”, Germany must do more - Merkel

While ambitious climate policy is an opportunity for growth and prosperity, the economic costs of inaction “can hardly be quantified, but they are enormous”, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the 9^th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin. “Climate protection is not a luxury,” she said. Rather, it is a question of ecologic necessity and economic rationality, and an investment in peace and stability. Germany will make the security aspects of climate change a priority for its two-year term as non-permanent member in the United Nations Security Council, Merkel said. Germany itself has “its hands full” to reach 2030 climate targets, said Merkel. The country has to decide how to move forward on lignite, but also in other sectors. “Our big problem child is transport,” she said. Merkel said that Germany’s climate policy needs to become “more binding”. To this end, her grand coalition government had tasked environment minister Svenja Schulze with drafting a climate protection law.

For background, read the article Merkel calls for honouring Paris deal as German climate action falters.

Note: The Clean Energy Wire will publish an article on this topic later today.