Bloomberg recently reported on the division within Merkel's cabinet on what to do about global warming.
The underlying idea under the Paris Agreement is that countries are supposed to define for themselves what they believe they can do by way of carbon emissions, (in recognition, yes, of national sovereignty) but that they should then be detailed and clear about how they go about doing it, so this can all be monitored globally.
Germany's pledge was to reduce its emissions 40% by 2020. They are on a path to achieve 32% -- a considerable accomplishment, but still a "miss" on their pledge. The Merkel administration seems to have given up on doing better for 2020, but it is looking further down the road to whether it can make its 2030 target and, if so, how.
Germany's pledge was to reduce its emissions 40% by 2020. They are on a path to achieve 32% -- a considerable accomplishment, but still a "miss" on their pledge. The Merkel administration seems to have given up on doing better for 2020, but it is looking further down the road to whether it can make its 2030 target and, if so, how.
One body of opinion says the carbon pollution coming from vehicles on Germany’s roads is the place where emission cuts can and should be made. The emissions from cars and trucks (not counting those of through-traffic from foreigners just 'passing through' on Germany’s roads) amounted to 19% of the country’s 2017 carbon budget.
Germany’s minister for the environment, Svenja Schulze, (pictured above) said that the transport sector should be required to cut its emissions in half by 2030. But this idea didn't make Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer at all happy. He said: “I’m not going to support the destruction of the European car industry.”
A comment on this tomorrow.
A comment on this tomorrow.
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