Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke is calling for more efforts to protect the climate in transport – and is bringing a speed limit on motorways into play. The Green politician told the German Press Agency in Berlin that the federal government had set itself ambitious goals for the expansion of electric mobility. "But that alone will not be enough to achieve the climate targets in transport. And if a climate protection measure cannot be implemented quickly enough, then this inevitably increases the pressure on others. The climate crisis will not be negotiable."
A speed limit could make a significant contribution to climate protection, said Lemke. This is the position of the Federal Ministry for the Environment and many experts. "Incidentally, my predecessors from the SPD have already taken this position. But for well-known reasons, it is not part of the coalition agreement." Above all, the coalition partner FDP rejects a general speed limit on German motorways.
Lemke emphasized that the responsibility of the individual sectors would be retained when it comes to climate protection. "Transport must also achieve the climate protection targets, just like all other sectors. In the future, it will be possible to provide an overall account for all sectors to meet climate protection targets. But the obligation for transport, the building sector and all other sectors to actually achieve the legal climate protection targets remains in place and must be implemented."
"Building sector faces major challenges"
The leaders of the traffic light coalition had agreed on a reform of the climate protection law. Until now, individual ministers have had to submit an immediate programme every year if climate targets are missed in their responsibility. In the future, according to the decision paper of the coalition committee, the federal government as a whole should make adjustments, "on the basis of the proposals" of the ministries mainly responsible - if it becomes apparent in two consecutive years that the climate target for 2030 will not be achieved.
In the transport sector, legal requirements for CO2 savings for 2022 were missed. Emissions rose slightly compared to the previous year. Actually, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) would have to present an immediate program by mid-July – if the new climate protection law does not apply by then.
Lemke said: "Now it depends on the concrete design of the amendment to the Climate Protection Act. After all, it is of no use if the law and its objectives have no practical consequences. Therefore, as long as the current Climate Protection Act is in force, there is also an obligation that if the annual climate protection targets are not achieved, the responsible ministry must submit an immediate programme by 15 July."
In 2022, the building sector also exceeded the annual emission levels set out in the Climate Protection Act. The building sector is facing a real Herculean task, said Lemke. "This federal government must answer two questions at the same time: how our heating systems will become climate-neutral as quickly as possible, by 2045 at the latest, and how we can secure this transition in a socially responsible manner."
According to a draft law passed by the Federal Cabinet, 2024 percent of every newly installed heating system is to be powered by renewable energies from 65 onwards. This is intended to herald the farewell to gas and oil heating systems. The plans are also highly controversial in the traffic light coalition.