A growing rift is emerging within Germany’s ruling coalition as Markus Söder, leader of the Bavarian CSU party, signals a potential reconsideration of the nation’s ambitious climate neutrality target of 2045. Söder’s comments, echoing recent criticisms from fellow CDU state premiers Reiner Haseloff of Saxony-Anhalt and Michael Kretschmer of Saxony, suggest a growing unease regarding the feasibility of the accelerated timeline.
Speaking to “Welt” television, Söder expressed skepticism about Germany’s ability to unilaterally achieve the 2045 goal, citing the continued global reliance on fossil fuels. “We find new gas deposits every day and new gas or oil fields are being explored” he stated, questioning the practicality of expecting a worldwide shift away from these resources. This stance represents a departure from the aggressive decarbonization pursued by the ruling coalition.
Söder’s proposed alternative focuses on carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, advocating for managing CO2 emissions “at the end of the value chain” rather than striving for completely carbon-free energy production. He frames this approach as a means of safeguarding Germany’s industrial base while still contributing to climate goals, implicitly contrasting it with the stricter policies championed by the Green Party and other environmentally focused factions.
The current target of 2045 was brought forward in 2021, a direct response to a ruling by Germany’s Constitutional Court. The court’s decision mandated a revised approach, arguing that a rapid consumption of Germany’s allotted “CO2 budget” – the remaining amount of CO2 emissions permissible to limit global warming to 1.75 degrees Celsius – would unduly restrict the freedoms of future generations. While this approach theoretically allows for later climate neutrality, it necessitates earlier and more aggressive emissions reductions. This legal precedent is now facing renewed scrutiny as politicians question the realistic extent of such sacrifices. Further complicating the situation is a recent ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, establishing a similarly constrained CO2 budget, albeit adhering to the more stringent 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit.
The potential shift in Germany’s climate policy raises concerns about the nation’s commitment to its international climate pledges and the implications for the broader European Union’s climate ambition. It also highlights a growing tension between economic pressures and environmental obligations within the ruling coalition, potentially setting the stage for a contentious debate on Germany’s future climate strategy.