CDU & Greens' energy politicians clash over Germany's coal exit speed
The CDU and the Green Party are at odds over the future of coal in Germany, energy politicians' remarks made at a conference organised by the Tagesspiegel newspaper in Berlin have shown. [Also see the factsheet When will Germany finally ditch coal?]
Thomas Barei脽, energy policy representative of Chancellor Angela Merkel鈥檚 conservative CDU party, said a German coal exit would have to happen 鈥渙ne way or another鈥�, but added that its exact timing and structure still had to be debated. Germany鈥檚 looming phase-out of nuclear power production, which is slated for completion by 2022, puts too much strain on the country鈥檚 energy system, as it cannot cope with a simultaneous exit from coal, its most important fossil power source, Barei脽 said.
The nuclear phase-out is part of Germany鈥檚 Energiewende, the process of steering the world鈥檚 fourth largest economy towards a low-carbon energy system. It will continue under Germany鈥檚 new government, irrespective of eventual coalition combinations, but the steps and pace necessary to reduce the country鈥檚 CO2 footprint vary greatly among political camps. Emissions from coal-fired power plants make up about one third of Germany's total greenhouse gases.
Barei脽 argued that even an immediate closure of Germany鈥檚 oldest coal plants - a prominent Green Party demand - was a 鈥渧ery ambitious鈥� goal, and it also presented a potential risk to the security of the country鈥檚 power supply, because renewable power sources could not instantly replace hard coal and lignite plants. Nevertheless, Barei脽 said he was 鈥渃onfident鈥� that a coalition agreement with the Green Party and the market liberal FDP could be concluded.
The Green Party鈥檚 Julia Verlinden said she was less certain whether a so-called 鈥楯amaica鈥� coalition, dubbed this way because of the parties鈥� black, yellow, and green colours mirror the Caribbean country鈥檚 flag, can be forged. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure that we鈥檒l make it, as very difficult talks lie ahead鈥�, Verlinden insisted, referring to the negotiations that are scheduled to start on 18 October.
Verlinden said the speed and shape of a coal exit should not be subject to fundamental debate if Germany was to honour its own 2020 climate protection targets, as well as its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. 鈥淎 coal exit has to come quickly鈥�, Verlinden said, pointing at Germany鈥檚 risk to miss its emissions reduction goal and the recent increase in CO2 output. 
In her view, an eventual 鈥楯amaica鈥� coalition agreement must include a clear roadmap for a coal exit, as well as concrete measures for further emission reduction in all sectors. Such an agreement must also remove the limits to the expansion of renewable energy sources to ensure the security of Germany鈥檚 power supply. In its election manifesto, the Green Party calls for a complete phase-out of coal-fired power production by 2030.
Leading Green Party politicians recently signalled they were confident a pro-climate coalition with the FDP and the conservative CDU/CSU alliance was possible if progress is made on climate protection. The three-camp coalition is currently seen as Germany鈥檚 only viable coalition option after the vote on 24 September, as the Social Democrats (SPD), the conservatives鈥� former coalition partner, announced that it will join the opposition. However, they made clear that a number of potential climate and energy policy stumbling blocks could still obstruct or even prevent the formation of a Jamaica government.
Weather decisive for reaching 2020 goals?
The Green's Verlinden said that the CDU鈥檚 current climate policy was not leading Germany anywhere near to achieving its 2020 targets, stressing that the country鈥檚 emissions had actually been rising lately. The CDU鈥檚 Barei脽 countered that party leader Angela Merkel had 鈥�always taken climate seriously鈥�, and that Germany needed to continue its efforts to remain at the vanguard of international climate protection.
However, Barei脽 conceded that the 2020 goals might indeed not be achieved, as merely two years remained for initiating the necessary policy measures. 鈥淭he weather alone can be an obstacle here鈥�, Barei脽 noted, adding that particularly cold winters or little sun and wind would have an immediate effect on the country鈥檚 emissions and the share of renewable power production in the immediate future.
Energy economist Claudia Kemfert, who was also present at the Tagesspiegel conference, seconded Verlinden by saying that there was 鈥渘o other option鈥� for the country to reach its 2020 emissions reduction targets but to shut down its dirtiest coal plants.
However, according to Kemfert, an eventual 鈥楯amaica鈥� coalition would offer a chance for a 鈥渇resh start鈥� of climate protection efforts in Germany. The economist said that the parties鈥� different areas of expertise, such as the Greens鈥� focus on the environment or the FDP鈥檚 insistence on market-based instruments, were compatible and could produce innovative solutions for emissions reduction.
