The federal government and the states have renegotiated and improved the climate package. According to the old model, the CO2 price should start at January 1, 2021 at ten euros and increase gradually. The compromise now reached between the federal government and the federal states provides for a starting price of EUR 25 per tonne of CO2 that is more than twice as high.
The federal government's climate package was heavily criticized not only by environmentalists but also by scientists in September. Ten euros per tonne of CO2 are far too low, it said.
The new regulation will make fuel and heating oil more expensive than previously planned for climate protection. The Greens see this as their success. How much will drivers pay more in the future? And what does the new climate compromise bring to citizens? Questions to climate researcher Brigitte Knopf:
SPIEGEL: The German government wants to improve the climate package. Did the result surprise you?
Brigitte Knopf: Yes, I was surprised that the measures that were decided were even improved. Despite the strong protests against the original government decision on the climate package in September, I did not expect that. I think the adjustment is also due to the great public pressure. This is certainly partly due to the organizers of the many "Fridays for Future" demonstrations that have brought the topic to the public. Without the commitment of young people, it might not have happened.
SPIEGEL: How do you assess the current measures?
Knopf: The ten euros per tonne of CO2 decided in late summer are now to be more than doubled. Even more, the entire price path is being raised. Emission certificates start at 25 euros, in 2022 the price increases to 30 euros, in 2023 to 35 euros, in 2024 to 45 euros and in 2025 to 55 euros. According to the old model, we would only have been at 35 euros at that time. Resharpening is a substantial step in the right direction to achieve the climate targets for 2030. That won't be enough, but the climate protectors have prevailed against the brakes. This is an encouraging signal at the end of the year.
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SPIEGEL: The news of the rework came just after the end of the Madrid climate summit, which had hardly any results. Could the German delegation have changed something with the current decisions in their luggage?
Knopf: No, from a global point of view that would have been useless. We saw last week that the EU Commission, with its important announcement that it wanted to become greenhouse gas neutral by 2050, sent a strong signal, but ultimately had no influence on the negotiations in Spain. Braking states like the USA and Brazil were not convinced. But resharpening is an important step for Germany.
SPIEGEL: According to the measures that have now been decided, the fuel price should rise by seven to eight cents instead of just three cents. For people who rely on the car, that's bad news isn't it?
Knopf: A strong price signal is inevitable for compliance with the climate protection goals. But there must also be a social balance. Although people have to pay more for fuel, they should be relieved elsewhere. This is only possible if the additional income from the CO2 price flows back to the citizens and in such a way that it works like a climate protection premium in the end. This is now taken more into account in the new package. In the old model, however, there were hardly any relief mechanisms.
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SPIEGEL: What is changing?
Button: After the current adaptation of the climate package, the additional income from the CO2 price should be used to reduce the EEG surcharge. So far, all electricity customers have paid this fee to promote green electricity. In short: What the citizen pays more at the petrol pump will be saved in part on the electricity bill in the future because the levy is reduced. This is a good social policy measure that cushions the rising CO2 price, especially with lower incomes. The climate package has become more social and just.
SPIEGEL: What do you say to people who are poorly connected to public transport and rely on the car?
Knopf : Those who live in the country have few alternatives. But part of the revenue from CO2 pricing is used to finance the expansion of local public transport, so that alternatives are provided. But the commuter allowance should also be increased. This is a compensation, but it relieves above all wealthy households due to tax regulations. Poor citizens who do not benefit from this should benefit from a mobility premium. At least financially you can create relief with the instruments. But that is problematic for the carbon footprint. Because the previous architecture of the commuter package does not differentiate whether people travel climate-friendly by train or by car.
SPIEGEL: Deutsche Bahn could benefit from a reduction in VAT. Will train passengers have to pay less in the future?
Knopf: Yes, the railways have already signaled that the reduction to seven percent VAT will be passed on to customers. A train ticket, for example, at 119 euros, will only cost 107 euros in the future. We can therefore hope that more people will take the train.
SPIEGEL: Many people are beginning to realize that climate protection is becoming expensive . Does a higher CO2 price automatically mean higher burdens for citizens?
Button: No. If the total revenue flows back, even with a CO2 price of 40 euros, some can still benefit financially from climate protection. According to our calculations, a family of four who live in the city would theoretically have around a hundred euros more a month to spend if the total income per capita were redistributed. If she lives in the country, it would be 17 euros less than she had previously available. It always depends on what the state does with the money.
SPIEGEL: What does the reorganization mean with regard to the Paris climate agreement?
Knopf: First of all, it is a powerful signal to the global community. But the Paris Climate Agreement lives from everyone participating. The other nations have to go. And Germany must stay tuned too. The pressure to sharpen climate targets will increase in 2020, because the EU wants to go further than previously planned in Germany.
SPIEGEL: Where is there still a need for improvement?
Knopf: The transport and traffic sector is Germany's problem child. Here, a higher CO2 price alone is not enough to meet the 2030 targets. We need further measures such as the expansion of bike paths or intelligent toll systems in cities that reduce emissions and avoid traffic jams.