2023-07-01 14:09:43
The economist Veronika Grimm has criticized the traffic light coalition’s compromise on the heating law. “They wanted to make a very ambitious shot. It didn’t turn out that way,” Grimm said in an interview of the week on Deutschlandfunk. The climate protection goals in the heating sector would probably not be achieved with the law, and it was also very complicated. “Of course, this is a result that was not actually desired,” said Grimm, who is a member of the Advisory Council for the Assessment of Overall Economic Development.
The revised draft of the heating law, which is to be passed next week, has been in the Bundestag since Friday. The draft envisages that from 2024, heating systems that are operated with at least 65 percent renewable energies must be installed in new development areas. Originally, all new heaters from 2024 should meet this requirement. Now the schedule is based on the heat planning of the municipalities.
The economist Grimm said that even with the revised draft, a certain degree of uncertainty remains, for example with regard to financial support. “Immense sums” were promised. You believe that burdens should be intercepted. At the same time, the climate goals could not be bought with state money. The promise to relieve everyone so that “it doesn’t hurt so much anymore, you won’t be able to keep that for long”.
The amendment to the Building Energy Act is intended to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector fall so that Germany can meet its climate targets. In the traffic light coalition, there was a dispute over the project for weeks. The new draft provides various mechanisms for financial support, such as a general hardship clause for homeowners who would be financially overwhelmed by a heating replacement or whose buildings are particularly unsuitable for it.
Greens: Clear the way for final consultations
In a special meeting on Friday, the FDP parliamentary group approved the amended template from the Ministry of Economics, according to information from parliamentary groups with a “predominant majority”. Group leader Christian Dürr told the “Rheinische Post” that his group had “released the draft as a basis for consultation for the expert hearing on Monday”. The climate committee of the Bundestag is to decide on the changes on Wednesday so that the Bundestag can pass the law by Friday at the latest. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) accused the coalition on Friday afternoon: “We still don’t have a draft law, although the hearing is on Monday.”
From the point of view of the Greens, the way is clear for the final deliberations on the Building Energy Act. “This ensures comprehensive consultation of the coalition proposals,” explained their parliamentary group deputies Julia Verlinden and Andreas Audretsch. You spoke of a “milestone for climate protection”: “We are keeping our promise and are increasing funding for climate-neutral heat to up to 70 percent.”
Julia Löhr, Berlin Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 4 Marcus Theurer Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 17 Anna-Lena Niemann Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 12
Habeck spoke in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” of a “law that promotes climate protection as far-reaching as few others before it”. There is a time extension at the start. “Nevertheless, this law will define German heating policy for two and a half decades.” The heating network areas would be expanded street by street. “And if someone comes up with the idea of installing a heat pump now, it’s really worth it through funding,” said the Green politician, who had lost a lot of popularity in the dispute over the law. At the end of February, an early draft from his ministry became known. Since then, the criticism has not stopped. The coalition partner FDP even insisted on agreeing on changes before the first consultation in the Bundestag.
CDU/CSU faction leader Merz called the coalition’s actions “completely unacceptable” during a press appearance in Munich. He spoke of disrespectful dealings with the Bundestag and the experts. “This is without precedent,” said Merz.
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