London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Apr 02, 2025

Germany's Likely Next Chancellor Puts Economy Before Climate Policies

Germany's Likely Next Chancellor Puts Economy Before Climate Policies

Conservative Friedrich Merz vows to prioritize industrial competitiveness over ambitious green energy goals, challenging Germany’s climate policies.
Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has pledged to shift focus away from aggressive climate policies and prioritize restoring the country’s industrial competitiveness.

Speaking in Bochum on Monday, Merz criticized the policies of the outgoing coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which heavily focused on climate protection.

The coalition, including Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens, had committed to phasing out coal by 2030, ahead of the official EU deadline, alongside an ambitious transition to renewable energy.

Merz, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has expressed concerns over the decommissioning of coal and nuclear plants without viable replacements.

He emphasized the risks of such policies to Germany’s industrial base and vowed to reconsider the pace of the energy transition.

“Decommissioning what we have is out of the question unless we have reliable alternatives,” Merz stated.

As the CDU and their allies lead in the polls ahead of the February 23 elections, Merz faces the challenge of forming a coalition with the SPD or the Greens, given the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is also gaining support.

Despite this, he ruled out any cooperation with the AfD.

Merz also questioned the feasibility of hydrogen-powered steel production, a key part of Germany’s green steel ambitions, and criticized the government's €2 billion investment in hydrogen-based technology for steelworks.

Instead, he suggested focusing on carbon capture technologies as a way to reduce emissions from industrial production.

The response from the Greens and SPD was swift.

Green Party candidate Robert Habeck countered Merz’s claims, arguing that steel produced with coal-fired power has no future in the global market.

SPD leaders warned that rolling back climate policies would undermine crucial investments and jobs in green industries.

With climate change policy at the heart of Germany’s political debate, Merz's stance marks a significant divergence from the outgoing government’s green agenda.

As the elections approach, the clash between economic priorities and climate ambitions will continue to shape the country’s future leadership.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Europe Pursues Digital Autonomy Amidst Transatlantic Strains
OpenAI Lands Unprecedented $40 Billion Funding.
Charity Chairwoman Accuses Prince Harry of Bullying and Harassment
DOGE revealed that USAID provided $84 million to the Clinton Foundation. Of this amount, $3 million was spent on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and $10 million was used to acquire a lavish mansion.
The State Department has announced the formal closure of USAID.
Apple's Innovation Deficit: Falling Behind in AI and Foldable Technology as Chinese Developments Progress
President Trump Proposes Military Intervention to Obtain Greenland
Passenger Taken into Custody After Engaging in Masturbation on SWISS Air Flight
Barcelona player Dani Alves found not guilty of rape accusations.
PUTIN'S LIMOUSINE DETONATES—SECURITY CHAOS ENSUES
French Foreign Ministry Denounces U.S. Interference in Corporate Diversity Initiatives
Copyright Issues Emerge as AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Images Gain Popularity
This is what we refer to as CREATIVITY.
Removing the Political Opponent Means Dismissing the Remnants of Turkey's Economy.
Malaysia Strengthens Semiconductor Regulations in Response to U.S. Pressure to Restrict AI NVIDIA Chip Exports to China.
OpenAI Launches New Image Generation Tool for ChatGPT
Ex-FIFA President and French Football Icon Acquitted of Corruption Allegations
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Under Investigation After Journalist Added to Secret Military Chat
Ex-Business Partner of Hunter Biden Discusses Possible Pardon from President Trump
U.S. Attorney General Announces Task Force to Prosecute Government Fraud
American Brands Face Consumer Boycott in Europe Amid Escalating Trade and Political Tensions
White House Investigates Security Breach After Journalist Accidentally Added to Secret Yemen Strike Chat
Samsung Executive Han Jong-hee Dies Suddenly Amid Ongoing Corporate Challenges
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has just signed off on a national debt hike to fast-track Germany’s militarization
Heathrow Airport Restarts Services as Investigation into Power Outage Commences
Pope Francis Released from Hospital Following Pneumonia Treatment
Pope Francis Appears in Public for the First Time in Five Weeks After His Hospital Stay
Usha Vance to Head U.S. Delegation During Greenland Visit Amid Discussions on Annexation
Trump suggests US could join British Commonwealth if offered by King Charles
Elon Musk Files Lawsuit Against Jamaal Bowman for Defamatory Remarks
European Countries to Boost Defense Expenditures in Response to Changes in U.S. Assistance
Iconic Boxer George Foreman Dies at 76
European Airline Shares Fall Following Disruption from Heathrow Power Outage
Pope Francis Set to Leave Hospital Following Recovery from Pneumonia
Thousands Take to the Streets in Amsterdam to Protest Racism and Fascism
Revealing the Electromagnetic Characteristics of the Great Pyramid of Giza
President Trump Cancels Security Clearances for Notable Political Figures.
The Development of China's Automotive Sector
Netanyahu Dismisses Shin Bet Chief Amid 'Loss of Trust' and 'Qatargate' Corruption Investigations Involving Netanyahu's Advisors
UK Conservatives Remain Optimistic Despite Polling Challenges
Labour MPs Unveil Initiative to Combat Harmful Influencers and Advocate for Healthy Masculinity
Miami Beach Mayor Cancels Plan to Expel Cinema Following Documentary Showing
Thousands of Drones Illuminate the Sky in Honor of Trump.
Leaders of the US and Ukraine Participate in Constructive Call During Ongoing Conflict
Elon Musk's X Experiences Valuation Recovery to $44 billion.
UK Government Set to Implement Major Budget Cuts in Spring Statement
US Federal Reserve Downgrades Economic Growth Outlook Due to Tariff Uncertainty
EU Claims US Tech Giants Have Violated Digital Regulations
Canada Denounces the Execution of Its Citizens in China Amid Rising Tensions
European Union Moves Toward Joint Debt for Military Spending
×