Germany has for the first time committed to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045, publishing a roadmap that campaigners describe as a notable shift away from oil and gas.
Key facts
- Germany has committed to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045.
- The pledge was set out in a government roadmap published on Wednesday.
- It marks the first time Germany has made an explicit promise of 'transitioning away' from fossil fuels.
- Previous German pledges were only for 'carbon neutrality'.
- Campaigners called the plan a 'notable shift' away from oil and gas.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has committed for the first time to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045, according to the Guardian. The pledge was contained in a roadmap published by the German government on Wednesday.
The document set out an explicit promise of “transitioning away” from fossil fuels, marking a change in the language and ambition of the country’s climate commitments. Previous pledges had been framed only in terms of achieving “carbon neutrality”.
Campaigners described the plan as a “notable shift” away from oil and gas, the Guardian reported. The distinction matters because carbon neutrality can be reached through a mix of emissions cuts and offsets, while an explicit commitment to phasing out fossil fuels signals a more direct move away from oil and gas use.
The commitment comes despite what the Guardian described as fierce debate within Germany about its green policies. The country’s energy and climate agenda has been the subject of ongoing political contention.
As Europe’s largest economy, Germany’s shift in language could carry weight beyond its own borders, given the country’s role in wider European energy and climate policy. The full details of how the phase-out will be delivered were set out in the government’s roadmap.
Why it matters
Germany is Europe's largest economy, so a firmer commitment to move away from fossil fuels carries significance across the continent. The shift from a carbon-neutrality goal to an explicit phase-out pledge signals a more direct approach to cutting oil and gas use.
Frequently asked questions
By when does Germany plan to phase out fossil fuels?
Germany has committed to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045, according to a government roadmap published on Wednesday.
How is this different from Germany's previous climate pledges?
Previous pledges were only for 'carbon neutrality', whereas the new roadmap sets out for the first time an explicit promise of 'transitioning away' from fossil fuels.
How have campaigners responded?
Campaigners said the plan marks a 'notable shift' away from oil and gas, as reported by the Guardian.