Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has underlined Germany's climate protection goals despite the energy crisis resulting from the Ukraine war.
“It is bitter that we now have to temporarily use some power plants that we have already shut down because of Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine.
But it's only for a very short time," said Scholz in his weekly video message published on Saturday.
"Because we are really getting started now and want to do everything we can to fight the climate crisis."
Scholz said it would ensure that the expansion of renewable energies finally progressed.
“Wind power on the high seas, on land, solar energy, biomass.
We need all of this to produce electricity and to be able to produce hydrogen so that we have an industrial future without CO2 emissions.
We want to achieve that by 2045.” After the first laws were introduced, more should follow this year.
The Chancellor explained: “Germany is one of the most successful industrialized countries and nowadays that means that we also have a lot of CO2 emissions.
That's why we have to make an extra effort, and we're making an effort.” The aim is to be one of the first countries to be CO2-neutral and at the same time globally competitive.
In order to save gas in view of the confrontation with Russia as an energy supplier, power plants that are operated with coal and oil and are currently in the grid reserve should be able to return to the electricity market for a limited period until the end of winter.
The Petersberg Climate Dialogue will take place this Monday and Tuesday.
Scholz, among others, is expected to speak there on Monday.
The meeting is also intended to help prepare for the world climate conference in Egypt in November.