A leading German economist is questioning the nation’s ability to meet its climate neutrality goals by 2045. Veronika Grimm, a renowned economist and advisor, expressed skepticism in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, suggesting that current progress does not place Germany on track to achieve this ambitious target.
However, Grimm argued that Germany’s contribution to global climate change mitigation is less about reducing its own emissions and more about fostering technological innovation and championing international collaboration. She emphasized that Germany’s share of worldwide emissions is relatively small and its true leverage lies in developing and exporting climate-friendly technologies and supporting climate action internationally. Preventing the stifling of Germany’s economy through overly aggressive climate policies is crucial, she added.
Grimm criticized the government’s recent announcement to scrap the planned heating law, characterizing it as a “political narrative” while acknowledging the continuing need for regulations. She voiced support for the strategy of Minister for Economic Affairs, Katheirena Reiche (CDU), to increase natural gas power plant capacity, stating that these facilities are necessary. She deemed the construction of large-scale energy storage solutions to buffer renewable power generation as an “inefficient” approach.
