Johannesburg, 29 January, 2019 — The German Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment (known also as the Coal Commission) has agreed to a coal phase-out plan for Germany. This plan is supposed to be the basis for a climate protection law that will be implemented in 2019. The main conclusions of the Commission are the decommissioning of more than 12 Gigawatt coal-fired power stations by 2022, a complete coal phase-out by 2035 – 2038, and structural support and aid for the coal regions of about 40 Billion Euros within the next 20 years.
Comment by Happy Khambule, Greenpeace Africa’s Political Advisor:
‘Germany has finally stepped up and joined most of its European neighbours in setting a phase-out date for coal and deserves some credit for this. But the target of a phase-out by 2035 – 2038 is not enough to protect Germany or other countries from the dangerous impacts of climate change, nor to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
This proposal for Germany – the world champion in lignite and the largest coal country and industry in Europe – nevertheless is historic and sends a strong message to the rest of the world towards a global coal phase-out.
The German Coal Commission is also an example of a way to find an agreement between social, economic and environmental interests and stakeholders. If the Just Transition approach is taken seriously and all relevant stakeholders are involved, commissions can deliver agreements that everyone benefits from. We call on our Government to actively spearhead the Just Transition through a similar attempt to develop a coal phase-out plan in South Africa.’
Media Contacts:
Chris Vlavianos, Communication Officer – Greenpeace Africa, [email protected]