The new German climate assessment has triggered a call from the Green Party for a dramatic turnaround in the federal government’s climate strategy, warning that failing to do so could expose the country to multibillion‑Euro penalties from the European Union. “The latest climate figures are a final warning signal that the government must make a radical shift in its climate‑protective policy” said Julia Verlinden, vice‑chair of the Green parliamentary group, to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. “Otherwise we will miss the 2030 and 2040 targets loudly” she added. “Then the government would be on the hook for massive EU compensation payments that would have been better spent on competitiveness and climate protection”.
Verlinden referred to the new climate‑protection program that, under statutory requirements, must be presented by the cabinet within the next ten days. She said it is “the last program that can still substantially influence whether the targets are met”. According to her, a judicial ruling has confirmed that German climate‑protection plans cannot contain loopholes, and that this program will reveal the government’s true commitment.
The Green vice‑chair sharply criticized the current black‑red (CDU/CSU) climate policy. “By slowing the expansion of renewables through the planned grid package and the plan to stop solar roof subsidies, the government is moving in the wrong direction like a wrong‑way driver” she told RND. “The announced new Heating‑Price‑Increase Act alone could double the climate gap in the building sector, according to a calculation by the Eco Institute”. She also demanded a reversal in traffic policy, calling for massive investments in climate‑friendly mobility such as reliable public transport and rail.
Fridays for Future has accused the government of “climate sabotage” in light of the emission data made public on Saturday and demands a plan to exit oil and gas. Speaking to the Zeitungen of the Funke media group, Carla Reemtsma said, “The emission profile shows what everyone secretly knows: this government is driving us straight into the climate crisis”.
Reemtsma added that the black‑red coalition has only met the 2025 climate targets by chance or “almost accidentally” and while its 2030 target is already being missed, it is planning to further erode climate goals. “Once again failing in building and traffic sectors and building new highways while allowing more fossil heating is bordering on climate sabotage” she criticised.
According to the climate‑protection movement, annual CO₂ reductions must be much higher. Yet federal chancellor Friedrich Merz and economy minister Katharina Reiche (both CDU) appear to be actively reversing key climate successes. “To avoid entering the annals of history as a government of climate backsliding from the start of its term, the black‑red coalition must now make a firm course change” Reemtsma urged. “Compliance with climate targets is only possible if climate protection is consistently advanced. Rather than cutting renewables, a clear plan to phase out coal and gas is needed. The rising oil and gas prices caused by the war in Iran remind us again how dangerous dependence on fossil fuels remains”.