Especially the transport sector, one of the main sources of CO2, is of crucial importance for climate protection. Here is an overview of the proposals of the Grand Coalition.
- Incentives to buy electric cars
In Germany, according to the wishes of the Grand Coalition, by 2030 seven to ten million electric cars are rolling on the streets. To achieve this goal, the company car regime for electric cars and plug-in hybrids will be extended to 2030. In addition, the company car tax for pure electric vehicles is to be halved from 0.5 percent to 0.25 percent up to a price of 40,000 euros. In addition, the tax exemption for e-cars will be extended until the end of 2025.
In a further step, the purchase premium for electric, hybrid and fuel-cell powered cars borne by the federal government and automobile manufacturers will be extended beyond 2021 and raised for cars under € 40,000. How high the premiums will be then, is not yet determined.
- CO2 pricing
From 2021, a price for the emission of the climate-damaging greenhouse gas CO2 should be raised. This also makes driving more expensive. The prices for gasoline and diesel rise by this measure by about 3 cents per liter, from 2026 to then 9 to 15 cents per liter.
- Increase of the commuter rate
As a relief for the CO2 price, the commuter allowance of 2021 should be increased. Motorists who commute daily to work should then be able to deduct 35 cents instead of the previously 30 cents per kilometer travel distance from the 21st kilometer.
- More money planned for public transport
Through the so-called municipal transport finance law (GVFG), the federal government grants a yearly subsidy of about 330 million euros for public transport. The increase in 2020 to 665 and from 2021 to one billion had been decided for some time. New in the climate package is that the federal government "intends [...] to increase the funds from 2025 to 2 billion euros annually." In addition, the government wants to promote ten model projects such as the introduction of a 365-euro ticket. Overall, however, the projects in the public transport sector remain vague.
- Expansion of cycle paths
The plans for the cycle paths in the package are also spongy. Accordingly, the expansion of Radschnellwegen and bike paths should be further promoted. Two special programs "City" and "Land" should ensure equal opportunities for cycling. Concrete plans, data or investments are not mentioned.
- Rail should be cheaper, fly more expensive
The government wants to present a law that provides for the reduction of VAT on long-distance train tickets from 19 percent to seven percent. Rail ticket should be so ten percent cheaper. By changing the Aviation Tax Act, flights should be more expensive.
- Put CO2-poorer trucks on the road
According to the climate package, the purchase of trucks with alternative propulsion including hydrogen technologies should be supported. To what extent is not yet clear. According to this, about one third of the mileage in heavy goods traffic is to take place electrically or on the basis of electricity-based fuels by 2030. These are also known as e-fuels, because they produce synthetic fuel from water and CO2 with the aid of electricity. In addition, the government wants to push ahead with the CO2-based levy on truck tolls for low-emission trucks. Thus, from 2023, a CO2 surcharge will be introduced for the truck toll.
- Investments in rail passenger transport
It has also been known for some time that the Federal Government and Deutsche Bahn want to invest 86 billion euros in rail transport. Similarly, the introduction of a Germany clock, so a nationwide timetable and relocation of goods traffic from the road to the rail. There is no increase in effort here.
- Promotion of biofuels
The government wants to continue to support the development of renewable fuels from biomass. If the proportion of fossil fuel is reduced, the CO2 price then charged will also decrease, the argument goes. However, biofuels based on food and feed crops should not receive additional support. Instead, production should in future be based more on waste materials.
Conclusion:
The transport sector is one of the main emitters of CO2 in Germany. The pressure for change is correspondingly high there. However, this is not noticeable in the coalition paper. The measures outlined there are often vague and unclear. Where they are concrete, they do not seem particularly ambitious.