Today the German cabinet adopted the Climate Action Programme 2020. “This is the most comprehensive package of measures a German government has ever presented on climate action,” commented Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks. “It shows that we are not only setting goals, we are reaching them too. This is an important, confidence-building message for the climate change conference in Lima.”
With its action programme the German government will ensure that it achieves the goal it set in 2007 of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020 compared with 1990. According to the latest projections, without the new programme Germany would fall short of its goal by 5 to 8 percentage points.
Minister Hendricks: “With this package of measures we will triple our climate action efforts compared with the past 15 years. This shows how ambitious our action programme is. But this is the only way to completely make up for deficits in the past.”
The action programme contains measures for an additional reduction of 62 to 78 million tonnes CO2 equivalent compared to the current projections for 2020. This range is a result of different assumptions on the impact of the individual measures. “I attached great importance to using conservative calculations and not putting a gloss on figures concerning the impact of measures,” the minister continued.
All sectors have contributed to the programme. The biggest contribution, with 25 to 30 million tonnes, comes from energy efficiency under the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NAPE) from the Federal Economic Affairs Ministry. On top of this are measures in the field of climate-friendly building and housing (1.5 to 4.7 million tonnes). Additional measures in the electricity sector contribute 22 million tonnes. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel will draw up a concept for distributing these 22 million tonnes as a mitigation commitment across the entire fleet of power plants in Germany. In this context, swift reform of the European emissions trading scheme is essential because the current excess liquidity in this scheme means there are no longer sufficient economic incentives to invest in climate action.
The transport sector contributes 7 to 10 million tonnes to the action programme. In addition to this are measures on reducing non-energy-related emissions in industry, commerce, trade, services and waste management (3 to 7.7 million tonnes) and in agriculture (approximately 3.6 million tonnes).
The Climate Action Programme 2020 also contains a range of measures that are difficult to quantify. These include advice and information, and the effects of training and further education. Nevertheless, these measures contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research and development are also crucial to achieving the necessary gradual decarbonisation of the economy. Moreover, the model function of the state is particularly important, for example public procurement and improving the energy efficiency of public premises. Together these measures can contribute at least 3 to 4 million tonnes by 2020. This combined with the programme’s overall volume of 78 million tonnes means a total reduction of 82 million tonnes can be achieved.
To implement the programme the German government will carry out regular monitoring with an annual climate action report. It will also involve all stakeholders - the federal states, local authorities, major groups and associations. Minister Hendricks: “Climate action is a major challenge for us all. This is why it is so important that all sectors make contributions. We will not relax our efforts now we have adopted this programme. We will help make sure that all measures are implemented in a resolute, ambitious and comprehensive way.”