Lawsuit against the federal government: Germany threatens billions of payments due to violation of EU climate protection regulations

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Die Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) klagt erneut gegen die Bundesregierung wegen mangelhafter Klimaschutzpolitik. Die DUH sieht Verstöße gegen geltende EU-Verordnungen im Bereich der Landnutzung und in den ESR-Sektoren. Sollten die EU-Klimaschutzvorgaben nicht eingehalten werden, drohen Deutschland ab 2030 hohe Zahlungen für den Erwerb von Emissionszertifikaten. Die Klagen liegen vor dem Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg. Weitere Informationen und die Klageschriften finden Sie hier.
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) is once again suing the federal government for poor climate protection policy. The DUH sees violations of applicable EU regulations in the area of ​​land use and in the ESR sectors. If the EU climate protection requirements are not met, Germany will face high payments for the acquisition of emission certificates from 2030. The lawsuits lie ahead of the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court. Further information and the plaintiffs can be found here. (Symbolbild/MB)

Due violations of applicable EU requirements: New climate lawsuits against the federal government

The German Environmental Aid (Due) has again submitted complaints against the federal government for its inadequate climate protection policy. The due is of the opinion that the federal government violates EU regulations in the area of ​​land use and in the ESR sectors, especially traffic and buildings. The lawsuits specifically refer to compliance with the EU climate protection regulation and the LulucF regulation. If Germany does not comply with the binding EU climate protection requirements, it could have to make payments in the double-digit billion dollar height from 2030 in order to acquire emission certificates from other EU countries. The lawsuits were submitted before the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court.

The Due is suing for compliance with the applicable EU regulation for the so-called ESR sectors. According to this regulation, all Member States are obliged to reduce their emissions in the areas of traffic, buildings, small industry, waste and agriculture by 50 percent compared to 2005. Germany will significantly miss this goal due to the increased emissions in the traffic and buildings with the current course. In comparison to all other Member States, Germany is currently at the end and is heading for one of the greatest targets. So far, the Federal Government has not taken any effective measures to meet the requirements of the EU regulation.

Jürgen Resch, Managing Director of Due, emphasizes the need for a change of course, especially in the traffic sector in order to comply with European climate protection requirements. The Federal Government cannot handle the EU guidelines with its gutted climate protection law. If the Federal Government does not act, the taxpayer threatens additional payments in billions in billions. Resch points out that a speed limit of 100/80/30 could not cost anything, but could save more than 11 million tons of CO2 per year. Due wants to implement the implementation of the binding EU climate protection requirements and calls on Minister Volker Wissing to end his climate blockage policy.

Barbara Metz, managing director of the Due, indicates the lack of progress in the installation of heat pumps, the low renovation rate and the risk of promoting buildings in the household dispute. She warns against ignoring the urgent challenges in the area of ​​the building sector, as this will lead to problems in a few years. Both the state and the residents of neglected buildings would pay for this. Metz calls for a nationwide, state -funded redevelopment offensive to relieve the crisis and households that are affected by energy poverty in the long term.

Germany also threatens to also miss the legally binding EU requirements in the area of ​​land use, land use changes and forestry (LULUCF). Germany is obliged to achieve clear goals for storing greenhouse gases through ecosystems. Since no sufficient correction measures have been taken, the Due has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government.

Sascha Müller-Kraenner, managing director of the Due, draws attention to the fact that the EU Commission has already asked Germany to tighten the package of measures for land use. In this way, the wood strike for energy generation is to be massively reduced, drainage is stopped and bogs should be stopped again. Since forests, bogs and grassland take time to develop their full climate effect, urgent action is now required. The lawsuit increases the pressure on the federal government to take sufficient measures in the area of ​​land use.

The plaintiffs can be viewed at the following link: https://l.duh.de/p240807

Background: In your climate protection progress report (October 2023) and your evaluation report on the draft of the German National Energy and Climate Protection Plan (December 2023), the EU Commission has stated that Germany is heading for massive targets in the ESR sectors and in the LULUCF sector and additional climate protection measures are required. According to the applicable EU regulations, the Federal Government must take effective corrective measures in both areas. This has not been done so far.

If the EU climate protection requirements in the ESR sectors are not met by 2030, Germany is forced to buy emission certificates from other EU member states. If the Federal Government maintains its current course, payments in the double -digit billion dollar height may be necessary, which would have to be financed from the budget. In the event that Germany misses the targets in the LULUCF sector by 2030, compensation payments are also incurred.

Ort:

Berlin