Germany

German Strategy for adapting to Climate Change

The Federal Government of Germany has committed to making a binding reduction of 55 percent of greenhouse gases by 2030 with the Climate Action Programme 2030 and the Climate Change Act (Klimaschutzgesetz). They claim to be moving away from coal, they want to renovate more buildings to make them energy-efficient and push climate-friendly mobility forward.

Germany's strategy for adapting to climate change was adopted by the Federal government on 17 December 2008. Its climate and energy policy is ambitious and addresses relevant emission sources while emphasizing green growth.

A Climate Change Action Plan up to 2050 was published in 2016 which has the key aims:

• Long-term target: based on the guiding principle of extensive greenhouse gas neutrality in Germany by the middle of the century.
• Guiding principles und transformative pathways as a basis for all areas of action by 2050.
• Milestones and targets as a framework for all sectors up to 2030.
• Strategic measures for every area of action.
• Establishment of a learning process which enables the progressive raising of ambition envisaged in the Paris Agreement. 

This plan was heavily criticized by environmental organisations for not being ambitious enough. 

See the latest updates to Germany's emissions reduction and sustainability plans here.

Regional Strategies within Germany

States within the German federation have also developed their own climate change strategies and action plans. These include Saxony, Bavaria, Hamburg, Hessen and Brandenberg. For more details of German regional climate change strategies please follow the 'Country Profiles' links on the European Climate ADAPT website.