At the federal press conference, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection presents immediate measures for the federal government’s climate goals.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck (Greens) assumes that, without far-reaching countermeasures, Germany will still clearly miss its climate targets in 2030. “If we continue the path of the previous measures, we will see the failure to target even more clearly in 2030,” said Habeck on Tuesday in a press conference on the status of climate protection.
“We have to become more efficient and faster over the next few years. The pace and the consistency have to increase, ”said Habeck. The task is “gigantic”.
If things go on as before, by the end of the decade Germany will have reduced its climate-damaging greenhouse gases by only 50 percent instead of the targeted 65 percent compared to 1990, said Habeck. “That is 200 million tons too much in numbers.”
The “Corona special effects” would not have had an effect this year, Habeck continued. Germany will also “clearly miss” its reduction target in 2021 and, according to forecasts, will even record an increase in emissions of four percent.
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Overall, there is “a considerable backlog” in terms of climate protection at all levels, the minister said. The country must triple its efforts “in all areas” and significantly promote the expansion of renewable energies.
Habeck: We need more space for wind turbines
Far too little has happened here in recent years, especially with the expansion of wind energy. “We have managed to bring renewable energies to 42 percent of the electricity supply in Germany over the past 30 years,” said Habeck. This proportion should increase to 80 percent by 2030. Germany now only has eight years left for this.
In the next few months, Habeck wants to convince the federal states to make more space available for the expansion of wind power. Two percent of the country’s area is necessary for this, said the Green politician. “We need more space.” Only Hesse and Schleswig-Holstein would be close to the goal. By the summer he wants to have traveled to all countries and spoken to the specialist ministers or prime ministers.
In Bavaria, Habeck wants to overturn the distance regulation from residential buildings to wind turbines. Habeck said in response to a question about the 10-H rule in Bavaria: “Wherever distance rules are in place in order to carry out prevention planning, they can no longer exist.”
The 10-H regulation in Bavaria states that a wind turbine must be at least ten times its height away from residential developments. It is the strictest distance regulation in Germany.
Individual concerns – here I always go for a walk with “Waldi” or used to play here, as Habeck calls it – should no longer stand in the way of expansion in Germany. Renewable energies are part of the solution to make Germany less dependent on fluctuations in global markets and to create more jobs.
It’s about convincing people. However, countries should no longer prevent new wind turbines with certain distance rules.
More: How Economics Minister Habeck wants to promote the energy transition