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Federal Climate Protection Act

Country/Territory
Germany
Document type
Legislation
Date
2019 (2021)
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Air & atmosphere, Environment gen., General
Keyword
Air quality/air pollution Basic legislation Climate change Emissions Environmental standards Pollution control Standards Protection of environment
Geographical area
Alps, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, North Sea, North-East Atlantic, Western Europe
Entry into force notes
Entry into force 18.12.2019
Abstract

Germany’s Federal Climate Protection Act has 15 Articles and two Annexes. It specifies Germany’s plan to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius and draws upon the Federal climate change goals, serving to keep to European Union targets and limits. According to the Act, a balance between environmental, social and economic consequences has been sought. The goal of limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius stems from the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In accordance with the goals stipulated in the Act, Germany seeks to honor its commitments of the of the UN climate summit in New York of the 23rd September 2019 to pursue Greenhouse Gas neutrality by 2050. Section 2 of the Act deals with specific climate targets and maximum emission rates. Accordingly, greenhouse gas emissions should gradually be reduced in comparison to 1990. A reduction rate of at least 55 percent applies by the target year 2030. The Act may be amended, should the EU or international climate targets become more ambitious. Annex 2 stipulates the exact maximum yearly emission rates, while Annex 1 specifies sectors and corresponding sources of emissions. Sectors falling under the climate targets are the energy industry, general industry, transport, housing and buildings, agriculture, waste management and others. Where the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets are not reached in a certain industry, Germany claims the right to implement an “immediate action program” (“Sofortprogramm”) within three months to bring the rate of emissions back down to target rate. Climate reports are issued every year. A council shall be created on the basis of this Act, consisting of 5 impartial experts in the field appointed for a period of 5 years. The climate council’s main function is to monitor the greenhouse gas emission data and check the reduction of greenhouse gases. Further, the council advises the German government on 1. Changes in the annual emission quantities by ordinance according to § 4 paragraph 5; 2. Update of the climate protection plan; and 3. On the decisions on the climate protection programs according to § 9. The German Länder are entitled to take more ambitious commitments than the Federal commitments, if they wish to do so. The German Federal state vows to function as a role model in in achieving climate neutrality in Federal public administration by 2030.

Full text
German
Website
www.gesetze-im-internet.de

References - Legislation

Implemented by

Ordinance on the design of the independent expert council for Climate issue and establishment of the office.

Legislation | Germany | 2020

Keyword: Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Climate change, Policy/planning, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX