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Berlin (dpa) - Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer wants to give tax relief to citizens who rely on climate-friendly means of transport.
The CSU politician announced in Berlin that anyone who buys an e-bike or takes the train should be able to claim up to 1,000 euros per year for income tax.
This means, for example, that a family with two children can be credited up to 3000 euros for climate-friendly investments.
Scheuer said his plans were suggestions as part of the federal government's new climate protection goals.
The money for so-called job tickets in local public transport should also be fully tax deductible in future.
In future, not only a subsidy from the employer should be possible, said the minister.
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He promised: "I will and I want to achieve the climate goals."
That is why it is important to create incentives for climate-friendly behavior.
The CSU politician admitted that the plans still had to be coordinated within the government.
They meant annual shortfalls in income of five to seven billion euros for the state, but paid off in the long term.
The coalition is currently voting on an amendment to the Climate Protection Act.
This is necessary because the Federal Constitutional Court has obliged the legislature to regulate the reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions for the period after 2030 in more detail.
The Climate Protection Act stipulates permitted annual emissions for six sectors - including transport and the energy industry.
With the new climate targets, the permitted emissions must also be adjusted.
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On Thursday, a first draft of the new version of the climate law became known.
Accordingly, emissions in the transport sector should also fall more sharply by 2030 than previously planned.
The federal government wants to ensure that Germany will become climate neutral by 2045 - that is, it will only emit as much greenhouse gas as can be bound again.
The transport sector is responsible for a large part of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany.
Last year the share of emissions for this area was 146 million tons.
The current plans for the transport sector envisage that 85 million tons of greenhouse gases will be released into the air in 2030.
According to the current climate law, 95 million tons would be allowed.
Scheuer advocated more flexibility at this point.
In the transport sector, it takes longer for climate protection measures to take effect.
That is why it is important to allow more leeway in the first few years up to 2030 and then to strive for more ambitious goals.
"We need time for the effect to take effect," he said, referring to transport projects that also require longer approval procedures, for example.
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When and how exactly the promised climate bonus will be implemented is still the subject of talks within the government, explained Scheuer.
It is planned that the changed climate law with the new sector targets will pass the cabinet on Wednesday.
The specific measures that are to take effect alongside the law for the implementation of the new climate goals are still being wrestled.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210507-99-507277 / 2