Climate protection: Environment Minister Schulze does not think much of cheaper train tickets

Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer is under tremendous pressure. 40 percent less greenhouse gases must be produced by traffic in Germany in 2030. But the CSU politician does not want to spoil the motorists' desire, and otherwise pronounce no prohibitions for more climate protection. That's why he suggested last week to cut the VAT on long-distance tickets from 19 to 7 percent. He does not hurt anyone, and the applause of the railway customers is also certain.

But the Federal Environment Minister waves at his plans. "The measure is relatively expensive," said Svenja Schulze the SPIEGEL. But it hardly brings any savings in CO2 emissions. "Even a speed limit that could provide even a small contribution to the solution brings three times more - but does not cost the taxpayer anything," said the Minister of the Environment. "That's why we need an overall concept from the Transport Minister in the Climate Cabinet, so that we can discuss costs and benefits in comparison."

DPA

Svenja Schulze (SPD)

Schulze supports the climate protection strategy of the CEO of Volkswagen AG, Herbert Diess, who relies exclusively on electric cars with batteries in drive technology. It is important to create the charging infrastructure for this. "I do not want to discuss whether we need them now or not, we need them," Schulze said, contradicting her fellow cabinet colleague Scheuer, who also uses synthetic fuels as a car drive.

Union and SPD are divided on the issue of climate protection. In the so-called Climate Cabinet they try to dispel the different ideas in the fight against global warming. By the end of the year, laws will be agreed to ensure compliance with German climate targets.

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