“A target evaporates”

Aspiration and ambitious targets are needed to make the transition to a low-carbon economy, but the German federal government has done too little, according to emissions data by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), writes Michael Bauchmüller in an opinion piece in Süddeutsche Zeitung. “Germany, once admired for its ambition, is about to embarrass itself,” writes Bauchmüller. Political parties could prove they were serious about climate protection by making the phase-out of coal and the combustion engine part of their federal election campaign programmes.

Read the opinion piece in German here.

For background read the CLEW articles German carbon emissions rise in 2016 despite coal use drop and Germany “stands by existing climate targets” – chancellery chief.