Sustainable Germany: A View from the South; July 2002 -- pdf

fluence on the political decision-making process. The goal for coal energy still remains
30% of total energy production.
10. The diversification of energy sources has been led by technological research and innovative
schemes that have introduced new players in the energy markets of renewable
energies. A key instrument to achieve this has been the preferential prices for
renewable energies feeding into the grid. Both wind and solar energy are expanding
rapidly as a result.
11. While some of the climate protection measures applied in Germany have proved efficient
and popular at the micro-economic level (such as the "100,000 roofs" programme
and the adoption of renewable technologies), other macro-economic measures
such as the eco-tax implementation, are under great political pressure by sectors
that feel their particular short term interests are affected by the taxation of fossil fuels.
The future and sustainability of the energy tax is unclear even though it has
proven a valuable instrument to reduce fossil fuel consumption and enhance technological
innovations, while helping to provide new job opportunities for thousands of
Germans.
12. The renewable energy act has paved the way for an impressive surge in renewable
technologies. Wind mill power generated can already replace one nuclear plant, and
its projected growth will have the potential of replacing up to three nuclear plants by
2010.
13. As a result of the Renewable Energy Law and the impact of eco-tax, by 2010, regenerative
energies will provide up to 12,5% of total energy consumption , while at
the same time, this sector will help to substantially reduce CO2 emissions and generate
more jobs than all nuclear plants.
14. After two years of performance, even sectors which are critical of the eco-tax, recognise
that this has contributed substantially to CO2 reduction, and predict a reduction
of up to 2-3% by 2005. Fuel and diesel demand is beginning to slow down and
show a downward trend.
15. Climate protection and energy efficiency has had a differential impact on some sectors'
responses. While the manufacturing industries have clearly reduced their carbon
output, the transport sector's has increased, and is subject to further increases on energy
use and CO2 emissions in the future. The transport sector has failed, mainly due
to the predominance of consumption patterns and motorization demands due to preferences
that have overtaken the efficiency gains generated by technological
achievements in car production. Increased aviation travel and freight transportation
continues to be a major emissions contributor.
16. The nuclear energy phase-out has been a major recent achievement on energy restructuring.
According to the official information received by the team, setting up a
schedule for decommissioning nuclear plants along with new directives to reduce
atomic waste transport has increased ecological safety in Germany.
17. There is a big gap between policy initiatives at a regional and national level, and between
the way it is implemented at local and household level. There is a lack of efforts
to involve people at the grassroots level and in planning and decision making,
not only at the local level but also at a regional and national level.
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