Germany unveils ground-breaking climate package

[bananas]

http://theclimategroup.org/news_and_events/news_and_comment/germany_unveils_ground_breaking_climate_package

Germany unveils ground-breaking climate package

December 06, 2007

The German Cabinet yesterday agreed upon a ground-breaking package of measures in the fight against climate change. German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters, “I think this is the biggest and most ambitious set of laws and guidelines you’ll find anywhere in the world.”

The 14-point package commits the country to major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and intensive cultivation of renewable energy sources. By 2020, over half of the country’s electricity will be sourced either by renewable or super-efficient energy systems. GHG emissions face a 40% reduction over the same period. The Merkel government additionally pledged over 3 billion euros in finance and subsidies to aid the implementation of these measures.

The government timed the unveiling of these measures to the UN Climate Change conference commencing in Bali this week. The commitments set a new benchmark for negotiations, which many hope will pave the path for a new agreement that will take over after the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012. This move by Germany offers hedging negotiators proof that governments are able and willing to set firm targets against climate change.

It also establishes the country, which chaired both the G-8 and the EU in 2007, as a global trailblazer in the fight. German Chancellor Merkel said of the measures: “We hope that the example set by our decisions will be followed and that we come together internationally to implement ambitious climate goals.”

The 14-law package is the first phase of a 29-point climate policy package that the Merkel government announced back in August. The remainder of the package, which covers vehicle emissions standards and may include a CO2 tax for trucks, will be unveiled in May 2008.

[kestrel91316]

1. This is what true leadership is. I wish we had a president who would

wake the fuck up and pay a little attention to it.

[NickB79]

2. Does it say anything about the 66 million tons of coal per year they plan to import by 2020?

Or is that verboten?