New German climate minister promises climate action programme by year-end

The new German government will present a comprehensive package of measures designed to put the country on track to meet its climate targets by the end of 2025. New Environment and Climate Minister Carsten Schneider said so in his first speech to parliament.

A new report by the country’s key climate policy advisers, the Council of Experts on Climate Change, highlighted shortcomings in climate action, particularly in the transport, buildings and forestry sectors.

"I will therefore get straight to work on a climate action programme, which we must adopt by the end of this year," said Schneider, of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

According to Schneider, it is particularly important to ensure Germany’s decarbonisation through policies that support lower-income households in particular.

The government is legally required to submit a package of measures for all sectors to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2040 are met. The programme must be approved by March 2026 at the latest, but the new minister intends to have it approved earlier.

"Our security today also includes secure supplies of drinking water and food, climate-resilient infrastructure and energy supplies, which in particular need to be protected," Schneider said, stressing that the environment and nature also play an important role in Germany’s national security.

The minister said he would focus on an intensive exchange of views among all stakeholders and emphasise common ground. Schneider, a former Minister of State for East Germany, has little experience in climate policy, but his experience navigating political differences in the east of the country and residents’ fatigue with constant change could help him increase acceptance of Germany’s climate policies.