In 2021, 16 years of Angela Merkel's chancellorship will come to an end - time to take stock.
When it comes to climate policy, Germany's largest economic research institute and activists are largely in agreement.
Munich / Berlin - It might feel surreal at first, but in the course of autumn the time will come:
Germany
will
get a new
Chancellor from Angela Merkel
after
16 years as Chancellor
- or a new Chancellor.
The new beginning will also bring opportunities.
For example in policy areas that critics saw neglected.
This includes the
huge issue of climate
: at the beginning of 2019, the author Stephan Hebel took
stock of the Merkel era
- and in an interview with Merkur.de * declared that a “new policy of
sustainability
in the broadest sense” was for the successor or the successors / in absolutely necessary: "Not only in terms of the environment and climate, there also - the bondage of politics to the auto industry, for example, must come to an end," he emphasized.
Angela Merkel and climate policy: Balance after 16 years - This is how economists and climate activists judge
It is difficult to speak of “consensus” in the case of potentially financially painful decisions.
But it seems clear:
there is great agreement
that
something has to be
done in climate policy
.
In part two of a mini-series before the
election year 2021
, the
Ippen-Digital-Zentralredaktion
asked two very different actors to give a conclusion on Angela Merkel's climate policy aegis and an outlook on the most pressing problems for a
new federal government
.
The answers read surprisingly similar.
Here the climate activists of the
Fridays For Future (FFF)
movement founded by Greta Thunberg
, there the
German Institute for Economic Research,
the largest German research institution in its field.
And both state-sponsored economists and young activists have a fundamentally identical demand:
Climate protection
must go faster.
Both sides obviously expected more from the Corona economic aid ... The new
governing coalition is
already bearing great expectations.
Video: The problem area of care - what will happen after the Merkel era?
Election year 2021: Successor to Angela Merkel wanted - FFF spokeswoman hopes for improvement: "It can be done!"
The German government has shown that it is not prepared to comply with this internationally binding agreement.
"Fridays For Future" - spokeswoman Annika Rittmann on the Paris climate agreement and the climate policy of the last two governments of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Annika Rittmann, Fridays For Future:
“It's been a little more than five years since Germany signed the
Paris Climate Agreement
.
Measured against the
1.5 degree limit set there
, the Federal Government's balance sheet for the past three years is underground.
With the clearing of an ancient forest for lignite, an ineffective climate package including the coal extension law and, most recently, the clearing of a healthy forest for a motorway, it has shown that it is not prepared to comply with this internationally binding agreement.
The coming federal government bears all the more responsibility.
It will be the last that can make the German contribution to complying with the 1.5 degree limit.
She is
responsible for the future of
all following generations.
To do this, it will have to set up suitable climate targets and show in a comprehensible and measurable plan how these are to be adhered to.
With the study by the Wuppertal Institute we have shown: It is an unbelievable challenge, but it is possible!
To this end, the
Corona economic
aid
must be
used to build a
sustainable and crisis-resistant economy
.
An
effective CO2 price is
needed
, a coal phase-out in line with Paris and a
massive expansion of renewable energies and the rail network
.
In addition, the coming government must not limit itself to the ecological aspects of climate protection.
It must
shape
a
climate-friendly Germany
and consider any
justice
problems in each of its decisions - that means: away from lobby interests towards a transparent policy that works for the good of all citizens and the planet. "
Angela Merkel: Chancellorship ends after 16 years - DIW economist Kemfert sees serious omissions
The expansion of renewable energies has almost come to a standstill.
Claudia Kemfert, Head of the Energy, Transport, Environment Department at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) takes stock of the work of the GroKo under Angela Merkel.
Claudia Kemfert, German Institute for Economic Research:
“The next federal government is facing the challenge of getting the
energy transition
back on track.
That is one of the most important tasks of all.
The
expansion of renewable energies
has almost come to a standstill.
According to surveys, a large majority of people in Germany still consider climate change to be an unsolved, pressing problem.
Right now it is worth investing
more in green technologies
, also with a view to Germany's future economic performance
.
The pace of expansion of renewable energies must
at least be doubled
if the EU's more stringent emission reduction targets have to be implemented.
The
climate objectives of Paris
we will only achieve this if we as quickly as possible
refrain entirely from fossil fuels
and meet our needs with 100 percent renewable energy.
The
coal phase-out plan
is far too
unambitious
in this context and should be accelerated.
In
addition to reducing barriers and obstacles, the
EEG reform
must above all enable higher expansion volumes for the expansion of renewable energies.
In addition, the
traffic
turnaround
must
finally be tackled: a strategy is needed to avoid
and optimize
traffic
.
We urgently need increased electrification of transport - this includes, for example, an expansion of the charging infrastructure and a greater focus on rail transport. "
Of course, climate policy is not the only problem faced by the new federal government: You can also read expert assessments of the nursing care situation and the challenges of pensions here.
In the new year, 16 years of #chancellorship of Angela #Merkel will end.
Whoever follows, has a lot to do - for example on the topic of #care, as @ VdK_Deutschland-President #Bentele and @AGVpflege warn at the start of our mini-series.
👇https: //t.co/17jGOsKCI9
- Merkur.de (@merkur_de) December 28, 2020
(
fn
) *
Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital network.
The emphasis in the statements was made editorially.