“It was worth it,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tweeted on Tuesday evening, referring to the marathon meeting of the leadership of the ruling coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP), which resulted in a 16-page position paper “for climate protection and accelerating climate legislation is loosening, the Treasury’s plan to phase out oil and gas burners from 2024 is being lowered, while tolls are being raised so revenues can fund investment in railroads.

The tri-partner leadership meeting began on Sunday afternoon, was interrupted the following morning to allow the chancellor and some ministers to travel to the Netherlands, and continued today to iron out differences between the parties on fundamental governance issues. planning, which here and has long been made public.

Regarding Green Vice-Chancellor Robert Humbeck’s ambitious plan to mandate the replacement of oil and gas burners in building heating, the final text states that “there will be no obligation to replace existing heating burners, but only specifications for new installations” and talks about “an open approach to technology,” said Liberal Party (FDP) leader and finance minister Christian Lindner, one of Mr. Hambeck’s plan’s most outspoken critics.

Last year, the government agreed that from January 1, 2024, every installed heating system must be powered by at least 65% renewable energy, and the corresponding bill of the ministries of economy and housing and urban development has caused violent protests in recent times. weeks of response. Now it is specified that if, for example. heating burners can be operated on green gas (green or blue hydrogen), they must continue to operate. There will also be more transition periods for burner replacements, but also generous funding. “We will not leave anyone behind,” assured the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Lars Klingbeil.

According to the decisions of the state partners, truck fares will be increased in order to have more opportunities to finance investment in the railways. 80% of toll revenues will go to expanding the network, Greens leader Ricarda Lange said and estimated the funding needs of the railways by 2027 at 45 billion euros.

Today’s agreement also includes an expansion of the highway network, which, however, must be accompanied by a corresponding expansion of solar power to illuminate them. “Not a single kilometer of the motorway should be built without exhausting the possibilities for installing renewable energy sources,” the agreement emphasizes. In addition, from 2030, state parks will only be allowed to purchase zero-emission vehicles, and charging station infrastructure will be expanded to reach the goal of 15 million electric vehicles on German roads by 2030. installation of fast chargers at gas stations

Germany’s goal of climate neutrality remains in 2045, government partners say, but they will aim for “negative” emissions as early as 2035, 2040 and 2045. total calculation for the year”, rather than looking at performance in individual areas.

The government will also seek to promote faster installation of renewable energy sources and in this context will give municipalities more authority to approve, for example, onshore wind turbines. Among other things, the local administration should be able to allocate land for wind farms, even if this is not provided for by the local plans.

Source: RES-IPE