Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) is threatening to ban cars if the Climate Protection Act is not changed soon. The politician's move caused a huge stir.
Green party leader Julia Verlinden: "A minister should not stir up unfounded concerns among people" Green party: "Wissing wasted two years blocking every climate protection measure in road traffic – now he’s painting horror scenarios on the wall so that he doesn’t have to do anything in the future’” The cabinet decided this last June that the first reading in the Bundestag was in September. According to reports, it is controversial what it will have in future if CO₂ targets are missed - as in the case of the transport sector. 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 departments fail to meet the targets, the responsible federal government departments have to make adjustments in the form of emergency programs.