A plan for a gradual phase-out of fossil fuels has been unveiled in Germany. This target is to be achieved by 2045. The plan combines the country’s climate ambitions with its drive for energy independence.
As reported by DW, Germany’s Environment Minister Carsten Schneider made this statement on Wednesday, 23 September, at the UN General Assembly.
Following France and the Netherlands, Germany became the third country to publish a specific plan of this kind. Meanwhile, at the COP28 climate conference in 2023, 200 countries made such commitments.
The decisive factor is the war
This plan was Germany’s response to the fuel crisis that began with the war in Iran. The conflict disrupted global fuel logistics and drove up fuel prices.
"It is not just extreme weather events around the world that demonstrate how urgently we need to do more to protect the climate. If the situation in the Strait of Hormuz determines whether people can still afford their daily commute to work, that is not an ideal state of affairs," Schneider remarked.
The official considers a timeframe of 19 years to be entirely realistic and emphasises that Germany could serve as a model for other countries in its energy transition.
As of 2024, 65 per cent of the energy consumed by Germans was generated from fossil fuels. 98 per cent of the oil and 95 per cent of the gas required were imported, costing the country $86.5 billion. However, due to the war in the Middle East, these figures have risen significantly.
Reaction from the environmental community
Environmental experts have generally welcomed this plan by the German government, but have pointed out some inconsistencies. For instance, Mira Jäger, an energy expert at Greenpeace, highlighted the federal subsidies to the oil industry, which are slowing down the development of renewable energy.
At the same time, the WWF emphasised that this plan adds nothing new, but merely reworks existing initiatives.
EcoPolitic reported that in the second quarter of 2026, renewable energy sources generated 54.1 per cent of the energy in the European Union. Solar power led the way in terms of production volumes.
At the same time, against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, biofuel production may increase. Analysts forecast a 70 per cent increase by as early as 2030.
