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Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD)
Photo: Christoph Soeder / dpa
Environment Minister Svenja Schulze has recognized the resolutions of the World Climate Conference in Scotland as "historic".
The SPD politician said on Saturday evening that “something really world-changing” was achieved in Glasgow.
"It is now clear worldwide that there will be an exit from coal and that there will be an end to fossil subsidies." Now it is a matter of expanding renewable energies, rewetting moors and regenerating forests.
Previously, the UN climate conference had called on the world's countries for the first time to initiate the phase-out of coal.
The declaration approved on Saturday entitled "Glasgow Climate Pact" by around 200 countries also calls for the removal of "inefficient" subsidies for oil, gas and coal.
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However, the formulation to reduce the use of coal was weakened at the last minute under pressure from China and India.
Instead of »phase out« it says »phase down« at the relevant point.
The British President of the World Climate Change Conference, Alok Sharma, apologized for the change, but his vote failed.
"I apologize to all delegates for the way this process has developed and I am very sorry," Sharma said.
He understood the disappointment of the delegates, but the pact had to be protected.
Switzerland, Liechtenstein and also EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans then expressed their disappointment.
Timmermans also praised the declaration as "historic".
UN Secretary General Guterres and environmental organizations criticize the decisions
UN Secretary General António Guterres, however, was less optimistic.
The danger of a climate crisis has not been averted, Guterres said on Saturday evening.
The progress made in the decisions was "not enough" and full of "contradictions".
"The climate catastrophe is still around the corner."
Environmental organizations also criticized the final text from Glasgow.
The German Greenpeace boss Martin Kaiser said on Saturday that the end of global coal burning would be initiated.
But under pressure from the oil, gas and coal industries, the resolutions lacked "clarity and speed".
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"For Olaf Scholz, Annalena Baerbock, Robert Habeck and Christian Lindner, the result of Glasgow is a clear mandate to take on this responsibility." Immediate measures are necessary.
»The coal phase-out by 2030 is absolutely necessary.
As of today, our tax money can no longer be used for coal, oil and gas. "
Christoph Bals, Political Director of Germanwatch, made a similar statement.
"The COP in Glasgow sends out clear signals for the German coalition negotiations: coal phase-out by 2030 at the latest, phase-out from international oil and gas production, international climate finance must be increased significantly by 2025," he said.
slü / dpa