Germany could scrap heat pump subsidies in net zero backlash

⭐ Join our community and access the best we offer!

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Telegraph or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Germany’s conservative CSU party is pushing to scrap heat pump subsidies and repeal the country’s green heating law, marking a strong political backlash against net-zero measures
• The shift comes amid fears that costly heat pump mandates have fuelled public anger and helped boost support for the far-right AfD

🔭 The context: The previous “traffic-light” coalition aimed to phase out oil and gas boilers by promoting heat pumps, backed by generous subsidies
• But installations often cost €20,000+, triggering widespread criticism over affordability
• The CSU, led by Bavarian premier Markus Söder, now argues that these subsidies are “excessive” and that the heating law must be scrapped to restore “technological openness”

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Scaling back subsidies and reversing the heating law would significantly weaken Germany’s decarbonisation strategy, slowing the transition from fossil-fuel heating, one of the country’s largest residential emissions sources
• It signals a broader European risk: rising political backlash could undermine progress toward 2030 climate goals

⏭️ What’s next: For the repeal to go ahead, the CSU must win support from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU and the coalition partner SPD, a politically uncertain path
• The move reflects growing tensions across Europe over the cost and pace of green mandates

💬 One quote: “The excessive subsidies for heat pumps must be stopped,” says the leaked CSU motion

📈 One stat: Heat pump installation costs in Germany can exceed €20,000, even after subsidies

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance — carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies

Click for more news covering the latest on net zero and energy transition