The German government’s impending overhaul of heating regulations is drawing sharp criticism, with opposition voices warning of a significant setback for climate protection efforts. Plans to replace the current “Heating Law” with a new building modernization law, announced by leaders of the governing coalition, are particularly concerning to the Left party, who allege a deliberate watering down of ambitious climate goals.
Violetta Bock, the Left party’s spokesperson for heating policy and environmental affairs, voiced her anxieties in an interview with the “Rheinische Post”, suggesting the new legislation risks quietly eliminating the existing requirement for 65% renewable heating systems. This, she argues, constitutes a “massive step backward” for climate protection.
Bock underscored that a genuine commitment to climate action would necessitate “increasing” the renewable heating quota to between 75% and 100%, coupled with equitable, income-dependent subsidy programs. Instead, she claims, the government is pursuing the opposite course, a move she characterized as a combination of “social coldness” and environmental degradation.
The planned shift away from the legally binding heating law raises questions about the government’s commitment to achieving Germany’s climate targets and could significantly impact the investment certainty needed to drive innovation within the heating technology sector. Critics warn that the new, less prescriptive framework could lead to slower progress and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations facing rising energy costs. The move is likely to reignite the debate about the balance between environmental responsibility and economic realities, particularly as it impacts homeowners and the construction industry.