Climate-neutral Germany – “It won’t fail because of money,” says Robert Habeck
There are a number of suggestions in the room so that public and private investments increase significantly, according to Robert Habeck
Source: REUTERS
The way to a climate-neutral country can be financed, said Greens boss Robert Habeck at “Markus Lanz”. He speaks of around 50 billion euros in necessary investments every year. He does not give details of the financing before the traffic light negotiations.
GRünen boss Robert Habeck countered fears that the country’s path to climate neutrality could not be financed. “It will not fail because of the money to make Germany climate-neutral,” said Habeck on Tuesday evening in the ZDF program “Markus Lanz” shortly before the start of the coalition negotiations between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP. There are a number of proposals in the room so that public and private investments increase significantly. Habeck spoke of around 50 billion euros in necessary investments annually. The Green leader did not want to give details of the necessary financing with reference to the negotiations between the traffic light partners.
The three parties do not want to shake the debt brake. This possibility is due to the outcome of the Bundestag election lost, said Habeck. He pointed out that a change of course would require a change in the Basic Law, for which the Union would also be needed – which, however, would face a traffic light coalition as the strongest opposition force and, like the FDP, is a staunch advocate of the debt brake.
“Document of the will to agree”
Habeck also rejected criticism of gaps in the exploratory paper. Explorations are actually tests to determine whether one has enough trust in one another to resolve difficult conflicts. Habeck called the paper a “document of the will to agree”. Not all subject areas were “discussed in depth”. There are also formulations that need to be dissolved and relined.
In the twelve-page result paper after the exploratory phase, the parties’ negotiators had ruled out new taxes and emphasized not to increase taxes such as income, corporate and value-added tax. In addition, the debt brake should be adhered to, which allows the state only a small amount of new loans.
There are also plans for a higher statutory minimum wage of 12 euros per hour, an accelerated expansion of renewable energies and, ideally, a coal phase-out by 2030. The three partners are expected to start the coalition negotiations on Thursday.