German Govt Approves More Ambitious Emissions Targets
Muhammad Irfan Published May 12, 2021 | 05:00 PM
Berlin, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th May, 2021 ) :The German government on Wednesday approved a new law setting more ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions, after the country's top court declared a flagship climate law "insufficient".
"We are setting the framework for the next years and decades," said Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, adding that the reform was a "fair offer to the younger generations" as it "no longer pushes the burden into the future".
In a sensational ruling last month, Germany's Constitutional Court said the current climate protection law threatened to "irreversibly offload major emission reduction burdens" onto the period after 2030, thereby "violating the freedoms" of future generations.
Already under electoral pressure from the Green Party, which currently leads opinion polls ahead of September's general election, the ruling left-right coalition has since moved quickly to tighten the law.
Under the new targets approved by Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet on Wednesday, the government expects to slash emissions by 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, going further than the current 55 percent reduction target The cut will reach 88 percent by 2040, with the goal of bringing Germany to carbon neutrality by 2045, five years earlier than previously expected.
Schulze added that Germany would also now aim to record negative emissions from 2050 onwards, by absorbing more greenhouse gases than it produced.
"We are talking about nothing less than a doubling of the tempo when it comes to climate protection," she said.
"That is a huge task, but I am optimistic," she said, adding that the government planned to see the law through parliament before September's elections.
Yet critics argued that even the more stringent targets did not go far enough.
Speaking to public broadcaster ARD, Green Party leader and would-be Merkel successor Annalena Baerbock urged the government to "not just name targets, but also measures with which we can reach these targets".
In a stunt in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Greenpeace Germany projected an image onto the wall of Merkel's office which showed the words "right to a future, climate protection now!" against a background of flames.
The group has called for further measures such as an exit from coal by 2030 and a ban on combustion engines from 2025.
Germany currently aims to phase out coal power by 2038 at the latest, though Schulze claimed Wednesday that this date could be brought forward with a sufficient expansion of renewable energies.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
2 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
3 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
4 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
4 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
4 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
4 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
6 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
10 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
11 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
11 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
14 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
16 days ago