Robert Habeck calls for accelerated action to create a climate-neutral country, stressing the challenge and opportunity it presents.
Germany’s newly appointed economy and climate protection minister, Robert Habeck, has called for the country to increase the speed at which carbon dioxide emissions are reduced, emphasizing the need for urgent action to achieve the ambitious goal of becoming climate neutral. Habeck, a member of the Green party, presented his broad climate strategy, stressing that the task is both socially and financially challenging, but also presents enormous opportunities for Germany.
Habeck proposed a threefold increase in the pace of carbon cuts, warning that the nation is “dramatically behind” in meeting key targets, including generating 80% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and achieving a 65% reduction in greenhouse gases from 1990 levels. Germany is also aiming for climate neutrality by 2045. Currently, around 42% of Germany’s energy comes from renewables.
To meet these goals, Habeck said a radical overhaul of planning and building processes would be necessary. The Green party’s pre-election manifesto included a proposal to mandate solar panels on all new buildings and designate 2% of the country’s land area for renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind farms, solar panels, and hydrogen technology. He stressed that the transition would require significant societal engagement and “fresh thinking.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of the task, Habeck was optimistic about Germany’s potential to succeed, quoting the German poet Friedrich Hölderlin: “Where there is danger, the power to save grows accordingly.”
