The federal government’s climate protection policy has long been criticized by environmental groups. Now a new step is being taken to Karlsruhe. The main issue is a law.
The environmental associations Greenpeace and Germanwatch are filing a new constitutional complaint because of what they see as inadequate climate policy by the federal government. There are over 54,000 co-plaintiffs, the associations announced. The main issue is the controversial reform of the Climate Protection Act. They are also demanding steps to reduce CO2 emissions in transport.
The federal government is delaying effective and socially just climate protection measures and is thereby violating freedom and equality rights, said the complainants’ lawyer, Roda Verheyen. “In order to protect our fundamental rights, emission reductions must be initiated and implemented in a timely manner – the amendment to the Climate Protection Act achieves exactly the opposite.”
Controversial changes to the law
In the spring, the Bundestag passed a reform of the Climate Protection Act. Previously, if individual sectors such as transport or buildings failed to meet legal targets for carbon dioxide emissions, the responsible ministries had to present emergency programs in the following year. Last year, the transport and buildings sectors failed to meet the targets.
The reform is intended to ensure that compliance with climate targets is no longer monitored retrospectively by sector, but rather in a forward-looking manner, over several years and across sectors. The key thing is that climate targets are achieved overall. If it becomes apparent in two consecutive years that the federal government is not on track with its climate target for 2030, it must make adjustments. Critics complain that the reform is a watering down.
Climate verdict 2021
The environmental associations also referred to a successful lawsuit in 2021 before the Federal Constitutional Court. The court had essentially found that politicians must do significantly more to ensure that climate targets are achieved – and must not put off drastic steps to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions at the expense of the younger generation.
Despite the climate resolution, the federal government is not on track to achieve its binding climate targets, criticize the associations. The constitutional complaint is one of three complaints that a total of five German environmental associations filed together with complainants against the federal government’s inadequate climate policy and in particular the weakening of the Climate Protection Act.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
