The German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck (The Greens), presented a status report in January on how well Germany is doing in terms of its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.

Germany is losing its pace

The report concludes that over the last few years, Germany has lost its pace of development, and that its average reduction in greenhouse gases must increase from 15 million tonnes of CO₂e per year to around 40 million tonnes per year up to 2030. It further states that accelerating the expansion of renewable energy and the removal of existing barriers for them is an “absolute priority”.

Two percent for wind energy production

A statutory goal that two percent of Germany’s land should be dedicated to land-based wind energy production was also announced. It is clear that the pace of decarbonisation in the manufacturing sector also needs to increase. It states that the German government will facilitate the use of contracts for difference in order to make environmentally friendly investments profitable and to provide predictability for manufacturing. Concrete measures suggested emphasise reforming the European Emissions Trading Scheme; the rapid expansion of renewable energy and of the German energy grid, as well as hydrogen production. The report also states that German authorities have no plans to lend support to the production or use of blue hydrogen.