Germany to Miss 2020 Climate Goals

While the newly-installed German government grapples with divisions over migration policies in its first 100 days of office, its inaction on energy policies and climate goals is angering utilities, traditional energy companies, renewables firms and environmentalists.

The parties concerned want clear-cut targets on climate actions and emissions reductions to lower economic uncertainties for companies from all sectors. Earlier this month, the German government conceded that the country is on track to miss its 2020 climate goal targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to 1990, Oil Price reported.

Due to the economic boom, immigration and high carbon emissions from the transport sector, Germany is on track to cut emissions compared to 1990 by 32%—an 8-percentage-point gap short of the goal. Companies from all energy sectors and environmental organizations have criticized the German government for failing to clearly state future policies, incentives, renewables targets and emissions targets.

Germany has been lately slowing down climate action “domestically and at the European level”, Simone Peter, president of the Renewable Energy Federation, told Clean Energy Wire. The uncertainties over German energy policies are a liability for companies who cannot adequately plan for spending and capacities without a clear picture of the energy and emissions policies, according to Peter. “We are at a standstill and we cannot afford this,” Stefan Kapferer, the head of the German utility association BDEW, told Clean Energy Wire.

Last year, renewables accounted for 13.1% of the German energy mix in 2017, up from 12.5% share for 2016, according to German research group AG Energiebilanzen.