Contents page 1 — “I’m red environmental policy” page 2 — “The public pressure is rising” page 3 — “The Minister of transport must deliver” page 4 — “I’m red environmental policy!” On a page
read Next week Monday, the UN starts climate change conference in Katowice, Poland. What contributed to Germany, the long-time internationally as a model was and, most recently, little progress in climate protection? The SPD politician Svenja Schulze since March, the Federal Ministry for the environment, and represents Germany at the climate conference.
TIME ONLINE: Frau Schulze, what are the advances in climate policy, Germany brings to the climate summit?
Svenja Schulze: We can report from the structural change in Commission, so in our process, the Coal phase-out. This search for Consensus, the different stakeholders are involved, followed interested in the 40 other coal regions in Europe. It is our way to reach the climate goals, but to prepare for the affected people and regions, new perspectives.
TIME ONLINE: The structural change Commission, has known decided as a coal Commission, but just to days through to next year – two months longer than originally planned.
Svenja Schulze Minister for the environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety. It belongs to the SPD. © Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Schulze: Despite the delay I am very confident that at the end of a viable consensus is available that contains both a roadmap for the coal phaseout as well as for the structural change in the affected regions. But if you are to Katowice questions: you will of Course be interested in the world climate change conference, many of our Coal phase-out. But the Central issues in the Negotiations will be different.
TIME ONLINE: What is there to go?
Schulze: In Katowice, there is the question of how we implement the decisions of the climate summit in Paris. That so many States have agreed on a common goal, was an incredible performance. Now it is about how we can achieve this goal. So, what are the rules we follow, how to achieve transparency, and how it is measured, what individual States?
Second, we need to consider how the States their goals for the climate – as in the Paris agreement can raise. Because we know that If we redeem all of the previous promises, will warm the earth, however, it is more by three degrees than two, or even 1.5 degrees, as in Paris, agreed.
And thirdly, we need solidarity with the Poorest. The industrialized countries have promised, from 2020, $ 100 billion a year from public and private sources. You want to support the poorest countries to adapt to climate change. This sum must be. The Federal government will at any rate hold your promise.
TIME ONLINE: as you say, all States must set even more ambitious climate goals and to achieve them. Since Germany has to show for it, just not as much.
Schulze: The picture is not so clear. In an international comparison, we are doing quite well. We show that one can avoid as an industrial country for carbon dioxide. We have such a high share of Renewable in our network like no other country in the world. Envy still to the Renewable energy sources act, and in the energy sector, our CO2 decreased emissions. And so my admiration is not for countries exiting from the coal, but is still high or even increasing nuclear power share. It is true, however, that we must be in the transport, buildings and agriculture. We urgently need more liability.
Zeit ONLINE: What do you do as the Minister of the environment?
Schulze: I will bring in the coming year, a climate protection act. And the other ministries – transport, building, agriculture – need to propose concrete measures how to achieve your goals for the reduction of CO2 emissions.