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Germany
In recent decades, Germany has built a solid reputation as a leader in energy sustainability and as an influential actor in climate policy. Domestically, its strong record in environmental protection has extended to climate change, where Germany has pioneered important policies to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Internationally, Germany is a regular advocate of stringent measures on global warming mitigation and adaptation, and serves as the host to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Substantial job growth and a dominant position in the global market for sustainable technologies suggest that Germany will remain a vital actor in efforts to contain global warming.
Background
Several factors have contributed to the emergence of ambitious climate policies in Germany. A high population density and concentration in large urban centers, coupled with a strong manufacturing base, prompted early confrontation with the detrimental impacts of economic activity on the environment. Meanwhile, a limited endowment with natural resources fostered a culture of efficiency and prudent use. In response, an active environmental movement emerged in the 19th century, although it did not acquire political influence until the second half of the 20th century, during which environmental concerns—including, eventually, global warming and climate change—were embraced by all major parties across the political spectrum. Early policies on greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation date back to 1990, when the federal government adopted the first legislation guaranteeing a feed-in tariff for renewable energy.
Since then, German climate policy has grown into a complex and far-ranging instrument mix comprising dozens of policies on various issues in different sectors. By 2009, these policies had helped Germany emit 28 percent fewer GHGs than in 1990, avoiding significant fossil fuel imports and occupying 16 percent of the global market for environmental technologies. In the renewable energy industry alone, estimates have posited the creation of 340,000 new jobs, with further expansion going forward. Not all factors contributing to this success can be ascribed to propitious decision making: historical transition processes, such as postwar reconstruction and, more recently, the reunification of East and West Germany, have also contributed to the renewal of infrastructure and replacement of outdated industrial facilities. Yet, Germany remains a staunch advocate of vigorous action against climate change, with an ascending Green Party occupying positions of power even in conservative districts, and stakeholders from nearly all sectors of the economy generally supporting the direction taken by the German government.
Energy Concept of 2010
German climate policy has been traditionally guided by broad programmatic documents setting out a number of targets for different sectors, along with timetables for their achievement. The latest such strategy, the Energy Concept (Energiekonzept), was adopted by the federal government in September 2010 after months of heated political debate regarding the role of nuclear power in the energy mix. Setting out a broad framework for German climate efforts until 2050, its express aim is to turn Germany into one of the “most energy efficient and greenest economies in the world while enjoying competitive energy prices and a high level of prosperity.” To this end, the energy concept defines ambitious targets for the medium and longer term: primary energy consumption is to fall by 20 percent from 2008 levels by 2020, and at least by 50 percent until 2050; renewable energy is to account for 18 percent of final energy consumption in 2020, and at least 80 percent of electricity consumption in 2050; and GHG emissions are to see cuts of 40 percent by 2020 and at least 80 percent by 2050, both relative to 1990 levels. Although only a political document, without the binding status of parliamentary legislation, this strategy document will guide the activities of the federal government and its subordinate agencies. Moreover, in the past, such strategies have rarely been abandoned and have typically been tightened even further by subsequent governments.
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