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🗞️ Driving the news: Germany’s new environment minister Carsten Schneider has vowed to stay the course on climate neutrality by 2045, despite resistance from within the governing coalition and business leaders
• Schneider insists climate protection remains a government priority, even as conservatives push for cheaper energy and new gas plants
• He is tasked with overseeing both domestic and international climate policy, a responsibility that could spark tensions with Germany’s economics ministry
🔭 The context: Schneider, a Social Democrat with little prior experience in climate policy, took office in May and has begun touring projects and companies advancing green solutions
• Critics argue Germany’s 2045 climate goal is unrealistic, with CDU Chancellor Friedrich Merz downplaying the country’s global impact on emissions
• Industry leaders warn of high costs for the energy transition, while German society shows signs of “climate fatigue” amid economic concerns and international crises
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: As Europe’s largest economy, Germany’s decisions on energy and emissions resonate far beyond its borders
• A firm commitment to 2045 neutrality could accelerate renewable investments and pressure other major emitters to act
• Failure to maintain momentum risks undermining international climate talks and delaying urgently needed emissions cuts
⏭️ What's next: Schneider plans to build bridges with key global emitters such as China and India ahead of the COP climate summit in Belem
• Domestically, he faces the challenge of keeping climate policy socially fair, with €100 billion earmarked for green measures under a new €500 billion investment plan
• Business leaders and conservatives will continue to push back, leaving Schneider to navigate between climate ambition and economic pressures
💬 One quote: “The government has a clear mandate under the Basic Law: to make Germany climate neutral by 2045. That is also our responsibility to society, and I feel committed to it.” – Carsten Schneider, German Environment Minister
📈 One stat: €500 billion — the new government’s investment package, of which €100 billion is dedicated to climate protection
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