Is German climate policy on the right path? A national CO2-budget for Germany allows for a transparent comparison with international targets. In a paper published today, the Environmental Council updates its calculations for a German CO2-The paper also provides answers to frequently asked questions about the carbon budget and shows that rapid emission reductions are crucial - last year, climate targets were again missed in transport and buildings. The paper also answers frequently asked questions about the CO2-Budget.
"Germany must become independent of all fossil fuels, not just those from Russia," says Prof. Wolfgang Lucht. "The remaining CO2-The energy budget is melting rapidly. This is above all a consequence of the recently delayed energy transition in Germany. The German government should now adopt measures for the industrial and private sectors with even more vigour that will put us on a path that is demonstrably in line with the Paris climate targets." The SRU therefore recommends that the Federal Government introduce a German CO2-The budget should be clearly named and justified in order to create transparency.
For a fair and appropriate German contribution to the international climate goals, a maximum CO2-budget of 6.1 Gt CO2to limit global warming to 1.75 degrees (with 67 % probability). For the 1.5 degree target (50 % probability), Germany would have to reduce its emissions to a maximum of 3.1 Gt CO2 limit. By "maximum", the SRU means a budget that can just be considered compatible with the Paris Agreement. If emissions were to be reduced linearly to zero from now on, Germany would have to reduce CO2-neutral.
"Germany must now take off on climate protection," says Prof. Claudia Kemfert. "If we miss the targets and overrun the budget, we will not be able to make up for it later.
In its landmark decision of March 2021, the Federal Constitutional Court used the budget calculated by the SRU to examine whether the Climate Protection Act meets the constitutional requirements.
Download the publication "How much CO2 is the maximum amount that Germany is still allowed to emit? Questions and answers on CO2-Budget“.
In May 2020, the Council had already Calculations and recommendations to a CO2-Budget published.
For further information, please contact Dr. Julia Hertin, Tel: +49 30 263696-118,
Email: julia.hertin@umweltrat.de
The German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) has been advising the German government on environmental policy issues for 50 years. The Council's composition of seven professors from different disciplines ensures a scientifically independent and comprehensive assessment, both from a scientific-technical and a social science perspective.
The Council currently consists of the following members:
Prof. Dr Claudia Hornberg (Chair), Bielefeld University
Prof. Dr Claudia Kemfert (Deputy Chair), Leuphana University Lüneburg and German Institute for Economic Research Berlin
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christina Dornack, Dresden University of Technology
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Köck, University of Leipzig and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Lucht, Humboldt University Berlin and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Prof. Dr Josef Settele, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Prof. Dr Annette Elisabeth Töller, Open University in Hagen
German Advisory Council on the Environment, Berlin
www.umweltrat.de
Keywords: DE-News, Renewable, Climate protection, New books and studies, Environmental policy
