German transport minister rejects autobahn speed limit after report shows climate benefits
威力彩玩法 / tagesschau.de
German transport minister Volker Wissing has renewed his rejection of a general speed limit on the country鈥檚 autobahns after a report found that the measure could save almost three times more emissions than previously thought. "Speed belongs to the citizens' own responsibility as long as others are not endangered," the Free Democrat (FDP) said, according to a on tagesschau.de. "The state should hold back here." Wissing added that high energy prices "are already causing many people to drive more slowly." Germany鈥檚 environment agency UBA said in a that a motorway speed limit of 120 kilometres per hour would reduce CO2 emissions by about 6.7 million tonnes a year. In an earlier report from 2020, using a different methodology, the UBA had said that a speed limit would reduce emissions by 2.6 million tonnes.
Germany aims to become climate neutral by 2045, and Wissing is under great pressure to finally launch a programme to lower transport emissions, which have remained stubbornly high for decades. The government is currently working on a comprehensive climate action programme to get the country on track towards its climate targets. Emission-cutting steps in the transport sector are a particular focus, because the sector鈥檚 CO2 output continues to exceed government plans. Transport and environmental association Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) a speed limit was 鈥渋ndispensable鈥� to make the sector more climate-friendly. 鈥淣o other transport measure can contribute more to climate protection. In addition, it can be implemented immediately, and at almost no cost,鈥� the lobby group said. But a transport ministry spokesperson said a speed limit was currently not under consideration.
A general speed limit is politically controversial in Germany, and has been discussed for many years. Both the Greens and Social Democrats were in favour of introducing it, but the pro-business FDP prevented adoption in the government鈥檚 coalition treaty. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a social Democrat (SPD), said last year: 鈥淭his government didn鈥檛 agree on it. And that鈥檚 why it won鈥檛 be introduced.鈥� Germany is the only country in Europe that has no speed limit on large parts of its motorway network.
