Facts on the German state elections in Bavaria

12 Nov 2018, 17:05

Julian Wettengel

Facts on the German state elections in Bavaria

Bavaria, the picture-book state with its rich green alpine landscapes, Walt Disney-inspiring Neuschwanstein Castle, Oktoberfest and champion football club FC Bayern Munich boasts the highest amount of installed capacity of solar PV, geothermal and hydro power of all federal states. In 2016, 43.3 percent of power generation came from renewables, most of it from hydro, PV and bioenergy. At the same time, Bavaria still produces almost 40 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy and will likely depend on imports after nuclear power plants are switched off by 2022. In 2015, the state government adopted the Bavarian Energy Programme with climate and energy targets for one of Germany's richest states. Voters headed to the polls on 14 October. [Update adds new cabinet positions]

[Also read the 威力彩玩法 article Bavarian vote shakes Berlin coalition, leaves energy policy in limbo and the election preview Shake-up in Bavaria's election may impact German energy policy]

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Population: (January 2018)
State capital:
Votes in the Bundesrat:

Government:
Christian Social Union in Bavaria () and Free Voters
State premier: (CSU)
: Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters)
: Thorsten Glauber (Free Voters)
: Michaela Kaniber (CSU)

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New Bavarian government coalition plans state climate protection law

Bavarian conservative parties Christian Socialist Union (CSU) and Free Voters have signed a for the coming five years in Germany鈥檚 southern economic power house and largest federal state. The alliance aims to make climate protection a 鈥渃onstitutional goal鈥� and introduce a climate protection law which will include concrete CO鈧� targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to under two tonnes per citizen annually by 2050. 鈥淲e are setting a conscious signal for sustainable ecology. Bavaria can become greener, without the Greens,鈥� said current state premier Markus S枚der (CSU), who will likely remain head of government. Many conservatives had called for improvements and changes in this regard, and the CSU had 鈥渓earned鈥� from this, he added. The parties emphasised that they see 鈥渢he most regional and decentralised energy supply possible as a great opportunity for local value creation鈥�. Renewables expansion will be done 鈥渋n agreement with鈥� the population and municipalities, and cities will be made greener with the coalition鈥檚鈥淐ity.Climate.Nature鈥� initiative. At the federal level, the new state government will call for more renewables capacity for Germany鈥檚 south in upcoming auctions, advocate the expansion of European emissions trading, and support federal initiatives for an internationally coordinated introduction of a CO鈧� price.

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State parties鈥� websites (in German):

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Climate and energy targets in Bavaria

The state government鈥檚鈥溾€�, decided in 2015, stipulates several energy transition targets for 2025. Primary energy consumption is to be reduced by 10 percent, compared to 2010, and renewable energy should cover 20 percent of primary energy consumption and 70 percent of power generation. The programme acknowledges that the nuclear exit and renewables expansion must not place an additional burden on the climate.

鈥淭he phase-out of nuclear energy cannot mean a return to coal as the most important source of energy. Bavaria's energy policy therefore aims to ensure that renewable energies account for as much of electricity generation as possible.鈥� To guarantee supply security for Bavaria鈥檚 economy, 鈥渕odern gas power plants and demand-oriented hydropower and biogas plants are indispensable.鈥�

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