Baerbock: Climate neutrality by 2045
Foreign Minister Baerbock praises the anchoring of climate action in the Basic Law. Federal Chancellor Scholz sees great opportunities. Guterres: “Every single one of us has to do more.”
Berlin (dpa) – Speaking at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue hosted by the Federal Foreign Office – an international meeting to prepare for the next Climate Change Conference in Brazil in November – Acting Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the latest amendment to the Basic Law a milestone. It means that the goal of climate neutrality by 2045 is now enshrined in the German constitution. “I believe that sends out a vital message,” said Baerbock. The Minister also emphasised that 100 billion euros had now been earmarked for green infrastructure projects.
Criticising the USA’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, Acting Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he saw great economic opportunities in climate action, noting that the global market for climate-friendly key technologies was growing rapidly. The approved capacity of onshore wind power almost doubled last year in Germany compared to the previous year, said Scholz. And according to the Federal Chancellor, photovoltaics facilities equivalent in size to 38 football pitches are installed in Germany every day.
Joining the event remotely, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised that greater efforts were needed to combat climate change in view of record temperatures: “Every single one of us has to do more.”