Germany's Coal Phaseout by 2038 Faces Criticism as Too Slow for Climate Goals
Germany's Coal Commission has proposed phasing out coal by 2038, but critics argue this timeline is too slow to meet global climate change goals. Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze has since announced stricter adherence to the 2030 climate targets, reflecting public pressure for more ambitious smart goals in climate policies.
The Coal Commission's initial proposal suggested a softer approach, balancing climate goals with economic and social factors due to compromises between various interests. However, this has led to uncertainty about the exit path from 2023 to 2029, with a quarter of Germany's coal power capacity already set to shut down by 2022.
Four climate activists within the commission rejected the 2038 exit date, deeming it insufficient for adequate climate protection. They argue for a clearer exit path and suggest an exit by 2030 would be necessary. An analysis from Carbon Brief supports this stance, suggesting Germany's current plan may breach a Paris Agreement-compatible pathway by over a billion tonnes of CO2.
Chancellor Angela Merkel supports the Coal Commission's findings and plans to exit coal by 2038. However, environmentalists argue that replacing coal with gas may not be a suitable replacement. Germany officially acknowledged in February 2021 that it won't meet its 2020 climate change reduction goals of 40% compared to 1990 levels.
The debate surrounding Germany's coal phaseout highlights the challenge of balancing economic and social interests with ambitious climate goals. While the Coal Commission's proposal aims for a 2038 exit, critics argue for a more ambitious timeline to meet Paris Agreement targets. The path forward remains uncertain, with the need for clearer policies and stricter adherence to climate targets.
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