In order to help the transportation and construction sectors achieve their carbon dioxide reduction targets, Germany has introduced an immediate climate protection plan. It is explicitly stated that starting from 2024, Germany will no longer be allowed to install new gas heating systems.
In 2020, Germany achieved its established goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to 1990. However, in 2021, one year later, it failed to meet the target, with greenhouse gas emissions causing climate damage increasing by 4.5% and only decreasing by 38.7% in the long run. The federal government, especially in the fields of construction and transportation, has failed to achieve national climate goals. The competent department has a deadline of three months to submit the improvement plan, which expires on Wednesday.
Starting from 2024, the German government will no longer provide funding for new gas heating equipment for renovation and new federal funds, as well as climate friendly district heating. Building Minister Klara Geywitz and Economy Minister Robert Habeck hope to improve climate protection through various measures. These measures are part of an emergency plan aimed at ensuring that the construction sector emits fewer greenhouse gases.
The specific implementation is to revise the Building Energy Law, which requires that starting from 2024, new gas heating systems must achieve a renewable energy utilization rate of at least 65%, and pure gas heating systems are no longer allowed to be used. The government’s funding for efficient construction will be readjusted, with a focus on renovating houses. Each department also hopes to more effectively promote the transformation of regional heating networks towards renewable energy and waste heat. Training will also be provided for process enterprises to install heat pumps.
In the construction industry alone, it is necessary to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 152 million tons more than before by 2030. Politicians say that the emergency plan will greatly narrow this gap. The main measures are renovating more houses and establishing heating systems that do not use fossil fuels, which will not impose an excessive economic burden on citizens.
