Et experts were not needed to pour the clear wine on German climate policy. It was clear from the moment they were set that their climate goals would be utopian. There was certainly a pragmatic reason for accepting this, to set ambitious goals in motion for changes that would not exist if good intentions remained the same.
But what also played a role was now discussed during the presentation of the report by the Expert Council, which was anchored in the Climate Protection Act. Climate researchers have long been in favor of a radical “paradigm shift”, and that means nothing other than enforcing utopia with a crowbar.
traffic problem
The reason for the drama is traffic and buildings. In traffic, electrification of the vehicle fleet would have to be enforced overnight. But not only enough e-cars are missing. Charging infrastructure, networks and electricity will only be sufficiently available in years. It is similar in the building sector. The plan goals could only be achieved with coercive measures. Is this what the “great transformation” should look like?
The Expert Council’s proposal to radically cap the amounts of carbon dioxide that can still be emitted in these sectors is linked to emissions trading. However, large parts of the population could simply no longer afford housing and mobility. This goes far beyond the “restrictions” the Federal President spoke of recently.
The model has worked well in the energy industry, but it started much earlier and more would be possible. The government rejects the storage of carbon dioxide as well as climate-friendly sources such as nuclear power. It does not allow the sectors to be offset against each other. German climate policy thus boils down to the question of whether it wants to subject the economy and society to climate dirigisme or whether it accepts that Germany alone cannot save the climate.
