Eight EU countries have called on the incoming European Commission in a letter to increase the climate ambition from the current 40% emission reduction target to a 55% reduction over ten years. The letter, co-signed by the Netherlands, will be discussed tonight in Brussels at the hearing of Frans Timmermans.
The German government refused to sign the letter addressed to Frans Timmermans, the proposed EU commissioner for the European Green Deal, ahead of his hearing in the European Parliament later today.
"The European Union must commit itself to a substantial improvement in climate ambition before the end of the year," the appeal states, signed by the environment ministers of Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
Notably, Germany did not join the call. Initially, German politics thought that more attention and funding should be allocated to better and expanded climate policy. At the European elections in May, the Greens emerged as the second largest party, and according to recent opinion polls, they are now the largest party in Germany.
The German government instead wants to weaken the climate targets presented last month, reports Der Spiegel. The federal government proposes to no longer have a national CO2 reduction target for 2040. According to Der Spiegel, this emerges from an amended climate plan held by the magazine, which differs from the plan presented in September.
According to Minister Helge Braun (SPD) of Merkel’s chancellery, there is no "weakening on essential points".
The weakening of the climate plan is said by Spiegel Online to have been initiated by the CDU.
The plans are to be approved by the government on Wednesday. The intention is for the Bundestag and Bundesrat to agree before the SPD party congress on December 6. That congress will also address the continuation of the grand coalition between CDU/CSU and SPD.
Environmental activists welcome the initiative of the group of eight EU countries but were deeply disappointed by Germany's refusal to sign the letter.
Many are already angry about Merkel’s weak plans to reduce emissions domestically.
Frans Timmermans will be asked tonight whether he supports 'Von der Leyen’s green deal' or Merkel’s weakened climate policy.