Following an agreement between Germany and France to introduce flexibility into the planned 2035 ban on combustion engines, Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) is advocating for reductions in CO2 emissions within other sectors.
On Friday in Berlin, Schneider proposed that railways could utilize more climate-friendlier steel in their construction. He explained that if the rail industry acquires recycled and sustainably produced steel with state support, it could result in roughly 75 percent fewer CO2 emissions than steel produced conventionally.
This measure would simultaneously help establish a market for green steel and ensure the continuous utilization of German steel mills, according to the minister. “I am always concerned about jobs during this transformation,” Schneider stated.
He emphasized that the decision to gradually phase out the internal combustion engine is not a new development. He confirmed this policy was already agreed upon within the governing coalition, and that compensating for emissions in other areas was also part of the original plan.
