Status: 03.01.2023 8:55 a.m
Climate protection minister Habeck increases the pressure on his ministerial colleague Wissing: The transport sector is lagging behind the climate targets. There is a “big gap” here. How it will be closed is still a matter of debate.
The transport sector is one of the biggest problem areas when it comes to climate protection. The traffic light parties had agreed on fixed savings targets in their coalition agreement. Climate protection minister Robert Habeck now increased the pressure within the coalition: in 2023 he wants to make significant progress in climate protection in transport, the Greens politician told the dpa news agency. There is still a large gap to be closed. “Now we have to see how we can get there this year.”
“Without Frothing at the Mouth”
Habeck’s statements can be understood as criticism of Transport Minister Volker Wissing. The FDP politician recently drew attention to the demand for more road construction. However, Habeck emphasized what they had in common in the interview: With a view to targets for reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector, he said: “Volker Wissing and I can agree on that without foaming at the mouth, because it was achieved after all: that we determined together that there is a big gap until 2030.”
The gap is so large that the measures taken so far are not sufficient, the Green Minister continued. “The Ministry of Transport says: It’s a little less. We say: a little more. But what’s most important is that we agree that there’s still a big gap that needs to be closed.”
Report attests pent-up demand
According to the Climate Protection Act, the transport sector, like other sectors, must significantly reduce annual emissions by 2030. However, previous measures were not sufficient, according to a report by the Expert Council for Climate Issues, a government advisory body. In the transport sector, a 14-fold increase in the rate of reduction is necessary to achieve the sector target for 2030.
Habeck sees the planned 49-euro ticket as a contribution to more climate protection. It could lead to a change in behavior and increased use of local public transport.
If you commute to a big city, are annoyed, have to pay high parking fees and come home or work drenched in sweat because it’s all so exhausting, it might be a good idea to take the 49 euro ticket. And then you can also be on the road in the neighboring town at the weekend and use regional trains.
Habeck also praised the expansion of e-mobility and the charging station infrastructure. The further measures would have to be debated in 2023.
The SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed in their coalition agreement to launch an “immediate climate protection program” by the end of 2022 – but that didn’t work out.