The German Chancellor’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its coalition partners Social Democrats (SPD) are set to proposal a landmark climate change plan in a bid to avert the global crisis. On Friday the German Government will outline a range of plans in order to cut harmful CO2 emissions and expand the use of renewable energy, in order to reach its 2030 target. The proposal, which is yet to be signed, would put a cap on carbon emissions from buildings to transportation.
It would also require fossil fuel suppliers to buy certificates to trade – increasing costs.
The most radical move would see the creation of an emissions trading scheme to cover transport and heating.
Germans would effectively be subjected to a ‘carbon tax’ as suppliers would pay for certificates.
Leading environmentalist Dr Frank Uekotter has hit out at the idea and said the project could “turn into a disgrace”.
Dr Uekotter lecturer in Environmental Humanities at the University of Birmingham, added a “massive embarrassment is looming” for the German Government.
Dr Uekotter wrote in the German magazine Focus Online: “The CDU is planning a new concept for climate protection with emission certificates, subsidy programmes, bonuses and an ‘innovation turbo’.
“This is why the project could turn into a disgrace and how there could be clarity in climate policy again.
“On Friday, the federal government will finally decide on its programme for climate protection.
“Good things come to those who wait, says a proverb, but it doesn’t look like it in this case. A massive embarrassment is looming.”
Germany has already scrapped its self-imposed 2020 emissions cut target.
The EU largest economy has since made a commitment to the European Union to cut carbon emissions by 55 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2030.
One option being considered by the Bundestag to cut carbon is to reduce the price of electricity by financing a levy for renewable energy – using revenues from the CO2 certificates.
A draft Government document also outlines new incentives for Germans to purchase electric vehicles and will increase the number of cars available for less than 30,000 euros.
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“The CDU wants to counteract this with tradable emission allowances for traffic and buildings.
“This is not just an antiquated concept, but also a pre-announced fiasco. The certificates will probably either be too expensive or too cheap.”
Dr Uekotter added: “That also probably dawned on the CDU. With the concept, that the federal executive passed on Monday, they demand minimum and maximum prices for the certificates. But what if the prices explode because there simply are not enough certificates?
“Then additional certificates should be issued under certain conditions. Stock market professionals are already rubbing their hands. In the global casino artificial price barriers are above all a challenge for the creativity of the speculators.”
(Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg)