Transport Minister Volker Wissing had previously threatened drastic cuts for drivers, including driving bans on weekends. But with the new climate protection law, that has now been resolved.
He described the compromise in the traffic light coalition as a sensible step. The Greens and environmental associations were extremely irritated by the approach. “A minister should not stir up unfounded concerns among people,” said the Greens' deputy group leader Julia Verlinden. The Liberals are only doing this to further increase the pressure on the coalition partners, said traffic expert Jens Hilgenberg. The German climate goals are bindingly regulated there. It stipulates that emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases will be reduced by 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Permissible annual emission levels have been set for individual sectors such as industry, energy, transport and buildings. If sectors fail to meet the targets, the responsible federal government departments have to make adjustments in the form of emergency programs - to ensure compliance with emissions levels.