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Coal is responsible for over a third of Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions and yet proposed legislation to limit emissions from burning coal is currently under threat from vested interests and coal industry lobbying.
If Germany is serious about tackling climate change, it must make a firm commitment to phase out coal by introducing tough emissions limits on the most polluting coal power stations.
A failure to introduce these limits will make it impossible for Germany to meet its commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2020 and will leave Germany’s international credibility as a climate leader in tatters.
82% of the world's coal reserves must be kept underground if we are to stay below 2°C of global warming and yet Germany is still far too reliant on dirty coal with its large open-pit lignite coal mining and significant coal imports.
Germany must commit to a just transition away from fossil fuels, starting with coal, that will re-skill workers, create new quality jobs, decrease carbon emissions and continue to lead by example in the development of renewable energy. Read more