Energy and environment ministers’ dispute strains economy – commentary

Disagreement between German environment minister Svenja Schulze and economy minister Peter Altmaier over important measures like a carbon tax or the expansion of the electricity grid is burdening the economy, write Klaus Stratmann and Silke Kersting in the Handelsblatt. Whereas Schulze would like to impose a CO₂ price on all economic sectors, Altmaier argues that the contract between the current coalition parties does not call for such a measure. The two also differ greatly in their engagement with heavy industry on reducing the sector’s carbon pollution, they write.

Read the commentary in German here. 

For background, read the article German environment minister open to national carbon price and the article Energy minister rejects idea of changing fees and taxes on energy.