Niedersachsen Minister-President Olaf Lies (SPD) is questioning Germany’s current climate targets. Speaking to the weekly magazine “Die Zeit,” Lies stated that he is willing to accept a delay in achieving climate neutrality, potentially pushing the deadline from 2045 to 2048, if that delay allows for securing jobs and stabilizing the economy.
While insisting that climate protection should not be fundamentally dismissed, Lies argued it should not come at the expense of German industry and jobs. He expressed concern that policymakers have set an overly rigid timeline, disregarding the dramatic changes and realities of the last few years.
Lies generally supports the EU Commission’s plan to relax the European Emissions Trading System, believing that climate policy must be adapted to current realities. Specifically, he advocates for energy-intensive industrial companies that emit CO2 to receive free CO2 certificates for a longer period than currently planned, provided they guarantee employment and investment.
However, he noted that the EU Commission’s current proposal lacks this crucial aspect: companies should only receive climate protection relief if they provide guarantees regarding jobs and employment.
