Expert Kemfert Warns of Climate Protection Hurdles Post-Government Shift
Government shift poses potential threats to climate action, according to Kemfert's concerns - Political shift instills apprehension among climate specialists, with concerns of potential rollbacks on environmental policies.
Change is in the air, and according to expert Claudia Kemfert, it might not be all sunshine for climate protection. One telltale sign of this shift? The decision to transfer climate protection from the Economics Ministry to the Environment Ministry - a move she deems a "strategic blunder" due to the inherent economic nature of climate policy.
On the subject of the Heating Act, Kemfert points to assessments from the Expert Council on Climate Issues, suggesting a pressing need for advancement in climate protection, not just in transportation but also in the building sector. Unfortunately, political backlash against the Heating Act has led to a resurgence of gas heating systems, according to Kemfert, hindering emission reduction efforts. Financial support for energy-saving measures, she argues, needs a boost.
Kemfert finds the plans of Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche for new gas-fired power plants excessive, especially when paired with long-term supply contracts. Instead, she advocates for increased reliance on flexible biogas plants, as well as hydropower, flexible energy system management, and large-scale batteries as viable alternatives.
Left Party politician Lorenz Gösta Beutin in Berlin concurs, calling for a decentralized, socially just transition that prioritizes renewable energy sources and public investments, aligning climate protection, supply security, and social justice.
- Concerns: Rollbacks in the Heating Act's ambition, increased emphasis on gas power plants.
- Impact: Delays in meeting climate goals and achieving long-term climate neutrality.
- Risk: Locking in fossil fuel use, slowing the transition away from fossil fuels.
Sources:
[1]] Environmental groups and experts worry about delays in meeting Germany's climate goals due to the new government's approach to gas-fired power plants and the Heating Act.[2]] The coalition agreement does not adequately address key problems in sectors like construction and transport, undermining urgent climate protection measures.[3]] The new government's focus on economic competitiveness and cost-efficiency might jeopardize climate protection progress.
- Environmental-science experts, like Claudia Kemfert, are concerned about the potential rollbacks in the Heating Act's ambition and increased emphasis on gas power plants in the new government's approach, as these could delay meeting Germany's climate goals and achieving long-term climate neutrality.
- Policy-and-legislation in critical sectors such as construction and transport, as outlined in the coalition agreement, do not address key problems effectively, thereby undermining urgent climate protection measures and potentially jeopardizing climate protection progress due to a focus on economic competitiveness and cost-efficiency.
- The strategic blunder of transferring climate protection from the Economics Ministry to the Environment Ministry, as noted by Claudia Kemfert, could lead to a risk of locking in fossil fuel use and slowing down the transition away from fossil fuels, impacting Germany's efforts to combat climate-change and achieve its environmental-science goals.
