The Green Party has urged the German government to reverse course on its climate policy after new climate data were released, warning that otherwise it could face multibillion‑euro fines from the European Union.
“We are sounding a final warning to the government that a radical shift is now necessary” said Julia Verlinden, deputy chair of the Greens’ parliamentary group, to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. “If the 2030 and 2040 targets are missed again, the government will have to pay massive EU compensation payments that could instead be invested in competitiveness and climate protection”.
Verlinden cited the new climate‑protection programme that, by law, must be presented within ten days. She calls it “the last program that can still significantly influence goal attainment”. The party is waiting to see whether the new legislation, which declares that any gaps in government programmes are unlawful, will be enforced strictly.
The Green deputy also criticised the current policy of the ruling SPD‑Green coalition sharply. According to her, the planned grid package and the intention to stop solar‑roof subsidies are leading the government in the wrong direction. “The proposed ‘Higher‑Heating‑Costs Act’ alone could double the climate gap in the building sector, according to the Öko‑Institute” she added. She called for a complete turnaround in traffic policy, urging large‑scale investment in climate‑friendly mobility, such as reliable public transport and rail.
“Climate‑policy sabotage” was also called out by the Fridays for Future movement, citing the emission figures released on Saturday. “The balance shows what we all secretly know: the current government is steering us straight into the climate crisis” said spokesperson Carla Reemtsma of the Funke Mediengruppe. She complained that the coalition barely met the 2025 targets by luck and that the 2030 goal will remain missed, while plans for more highways and fossil heating are “bordering on climate sabotage”.
Reemtsma demanded that the government abandon its “shutting down of renewables” approach and introduce a clear plan to phase out coal and gas. She pointed to rising oil and gas prices amid the war in Iran as evidence of the danger of fossil‑fuel dependence.
According to the climate‑protection movement, annual CO₂ cuts must be multiplied. Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Economy Minister Katharina Reiche-both CDU-are said to be continuing to roll back past climate‑successes. Reemtsma emphasised that, to avoid being remembered as a government of climate retreat, the black‑red coalition must change course now.
