Germany’s federal cabinet has approved the 2026 Climate Protection Programme, which contains 67 measures intended to cut more than 25 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2030, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday.
The package includes a tender for 2 000 additional wind turbines, a new subsidy scheme for 800 000 electric cars, and support for industry to transition to modern technologies. Eight billion euros have been earmarked for implementation; starting in 2027 the government will add 7.6 billion euros from the Climate and Transformation Fund and 400 million euros from a special reserve. These funds will target industrial decarbonisation and the circular economy, and the ministry projects that the measures could save Germany billions a year in imports of natural gas and petrol.
In transport, the plan not only backs electric‑vehicle subsidies and the expansion of charging infrastructure, but also promotes the long‑term financing of the Deutschlandticket. According to the programme, the ticket could avert one million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2030, roughly equivalent to 435 million litres of gasoline or nearly ten million refuellings. Schneider explained that the ticket’s price is currently backed and that experts expect it will lead to a shift away from car use. He added that, given current prices, such momentum is realistic.
The programme also strengthens the agricultural sector and protects intact forests, peatlands, and soils to enhance carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions. Schneider said the new package would spark a fresh push for climate action, but stressed that further effort is needed to meet the country’s climate targets. “Climate protection requires sustained patience, reliability, and the willingness to continually adjust when new needs, opportunities, and insights arise” he said.