No Climate Action Plan 2050 before Marrakesh

Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks does not expect the cabinet to approve her Climate Action Plan 2050 before COP22 in Marrakesh next week. “My assessment at this moment is that it will be ready for approval in December,” Hendricks said at a panel discussion organised by Tagesspiegel and German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Berlin. Hendricks said she attached more value to content than speed. In a joint press release, environmental organisations said not having the plan in Marrakesh would be “an embarrassment for Germany”.
“It’s hypocritical to celebrate oneself for the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement while doing nothing at home,” said Tobias Austrup, energy and transport expert at Greenpeace.
Earlier this year, more ambitious drafts of the environment ministry’s Climate Action Plan 2050 were watered down by the economics ministry and Angela Merkel’s chancellery. The plan still faces strong opposition from conservative members of parliament. The main points of contention include emission reduction targets for each sector (energy, transport, industry, buildings, agriculture), and establishing a commission to deal with the question of a German coal exit.

Find the press release by environmental organisation in German here.

Also read the CLEW factsheet Germany’s trimmed-down Climate Action Plan for background.