Emissions trading at heart of German CDU's climate concept
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E-mail Xinhua, September 17, 2019
BERLIN, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party on Monday decided on its climate concept, focusing on CO2 pricing through a national emissions trading system.
The CDU, which is in a governing coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), would close a "thematic gap" with its climate concept, said Andreas Jung, vice chairman of the party's parliamentary group.
CO2 emissions would be capped "in a market-oriented way" by the national emissions trading system, noted Jung, adding that the CDU would oppose a CO2 tax.
The CDU's concept envisages a lower limit on CO2 prices in order for such prices to have an effect, as well as an upper limit to prevent prices from "going through the roof," Jung said. German citizens would be relieved by lower electricity prices.
In addition, the CDU's climate concept also contains tax incentives for the renovation of buildings, a scrappage premium for oil heaters, an extension of the toll for trucks on German roads as well as a reform of the vehicle tax.
"Those who emit less CO2 pay less, those who emit more CO2 pay more," said Jung, adding that this principle would be the basis of the CDU's climate concept.
German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, however, demanded guidelines instead of incentives. "We must no longer just make support programs and not set rules," he said, adding that rules would be needed so that everyone knew what to do.
On Friday, the climate cabinet, consisting of high-ranking members of the German government, such as the ministers of finance, interior and transportation, is scheduled to decide on a general concept for Germany to reach the climate goals set for 2030.
Robert Habeck, chairman of Germany's Green Party, criticized the CDU's concept as being "not effective for the climate."
The CDU would "basically keep everything the same" and just adds money into system, Habeck said in an interview with the public broadcaster ARD on Monday.
With regard to climate protection, "things are going head over heels at the moment," emphasized the chairman of Germany Free Democratic Party (FDP), Christian Lindner.
"It must be ensured that all measures maintain our economic efficiency, enable a free way of life and are also technically feasible," Lindner told the German press agency. Enditem
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