Climate protection: Merkel wants certificate trading instead of CO2 tax

Chancellor Angela Merkel has apparently decided on a solution in the debate on more climate protection. Increased emissions trading would be superior to a CO2 tax, said the CDU politician, according to the news agency dpa on Wednesday evening at the closed-door meeting of the head of the Union faction in Potsdam.

Merkel was in her remarks as clear as ever been, confirmed several participants in the meeting of the Agency. She was apparently convinced that she would be better able to achieve German climate targets with this instrument - especially since she expected more acceptance from the public.

The Grand Coalition wants to adopt measures in its so-called Climate Cabinet on 20 September in order to limit German CO2 emissions. The opinions about the best measures vary widely.

• The Union is giving priority to increased trade in allowances. For the energy industry and parts of industry, this already exists at EU level. Germany could now introduce a similar system for fuel, heating oil and natural gas. In addition, measures for lower electricity prices are under discussion.
• Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD), however, calls for an increase in taxes on fuel, heating oil and gasoline and wants to repay the income of the citizens on a per capita lump sum.
• Environmentalists , however, consider the introduction of a CO2 tax in Germany as the best instrument.

According to the dpa report, Merkel also showed sympathy for the government climate bond proposed by Alexander Dobrindt. The CSU country group leader had suggested to issue a government bond for savers to finance climate protection.

Citizen investments in climate protection should be increased with guaranteed positive interest rates. Dobrindt proposed a government-guaranteed return of two percent a year and a term until 2030. A corresponding ten-year bond should be issued by the state-owned KfW banking group.