Most leading German parties stand by 2045 climate neutrality target ahead of snap election
ZDF
Most of Germany鈥檚 leading parties say they are committed to the country鈥檚 2045 climate neutrality target. In the last major聽聽on public broadcaster ZDF before the snap election on Sunday (23 February), chancellor Olaf Scholz鈥檚 SPD, the Green Party, the Left Party, and the conservative CDU/CSU alliance all supported the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions five years before the EU target year 2050.
Carsten Linnemann, secretary general of the CDU, said his party aimed to use as little regulation as possible to achieve the target, arguing that 鈥減olicymakers have to determine the amount of CO2聽emissions, engineers and the industry must find ways to achieve it鈥�. Linnemann said his party did not intend to do away with Germany鈥檚 Building Energy Law if it leads the next government, and vowed to ensure greater technology openness in the sector. The country鈥檚 heating transition has been a major point of contention between the CDU/CSU and the outgoing government coalition.
The SPD鈥檚 secretary general, Matthias Miersch, said that focusing on CO2聽prices, an approach proposed by the conservative alliance, would lead people 鈥渋nto a CO2聽price-trap鈥� with upward spiraling costs. Green Party foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said reaching the climate targets would ultimately benefit Germany鈥檚 industry, which had a lot to gain by selling 鈥渃limate neutral steel and climate neutral cars鈥�. Left Party co-leader Jan van Aken argued that failing to act on climate change would be more expensive and lead to greater social injustice in Germany than investing in decarbonisation today.
The pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the nationalist-left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) all rejected the 2045 target. FDP leader Christian Lindner said reaching the target would mean high costs, mirroring the statement of AfD leader Alice Weidel. BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht claimed 鈥測ou cannot become climate neutral with today鈥檚 technologies鈥� but added she would have 鈥渘othing against鈥� achieving climate neutrality in 2045.
Climate change has shifted out of the focus during the current campaign compared to previous elections in 2017 and 2021. Concerns about migration, international security, economic stability, and competitiveness have dominated debates, with the cost of the energy transition for citizens and companies often being a controversial issue also among parties generally supporting effective climate action.
