A growing coalition of German industry executives, union leaders, and politicians is urging Berlin to push back its climate neutrality deadline from 2045 to 2050, aligning with the broader European Union target rather than maintaining a stricter national timeline.
IG BCE union chief Michael Vassiliadis and RWE chief executive Markus Krebber publicly backed the delay in the Welt am Sonntag, with Krebber arguing that Germany's go-it-alone approach raises costs for industry without delivering additional climate benefits. The IG BCE has drafted a position paper calling for the phase-out of CO2 emission permits to be stretched to 2050. German Economic Institute head Michael Hüther and Gitta Connemann of the CDU's Mittelstand association also voiced support for the extended deadline.
The Greens have rejected the proposal, calling instead for a determined "maker mentality". The governing CDU/CSU–SPD coalition currently remains committed to the 2045 target in its coalition agreement.