With the new amendments to the law on Climate Protection, Germany is increasing its climate protection ambitions with the goal of climate neutrality to be achieved by 2045. This will considerably accelerate both economic and social changes. Many products and business areas will cease to exist in the future, while others will gain in importance or will even be newly established. Markets and jobs will change and so will the basis of our economy and prosperity. The transformation will need a considerable amount of economic resources. It is therefore all the more important to achieve the climate goals as efficiently as possible and to keep the costs as low as possible. Furthermore, Germany can benefit from the transformation in many ways. The innovative strength of businesses and research institutions is a good prerequisite to achieve technological leadership in important future markets and to increase German and European competitiveness in green technologies. Reliable framework conditions are central in this regard. A social balance is possible and deserves special attention, not least as a basis for sustainable and broad support of the measures.
The German Council of Economic Experts describes in an article on handelsblatt.com (in German only) which course of action should be set in the next legislative period and which measures would be necessary to strengthen CO2 pricing as well as reform levies and charges.
