Advancing the greenhouse gas reduction commitment more boldly

UFOP on today's decision by the Federal Cabinet on a law to accelerate the decarbonisation of the transport sector

Berlin, 03 February 2021. The Federal Cabinet today adopted the draft law on the further development of the greenhouse gas quota. The Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants e.V. (UFOP) sees a need for improvement in the increase of the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction obligation In view of the maximum emission levels specified in the Climate Protection Act for this sector, the Bundestag would have to gradually increase the GHG quota each year from 2022 in the upcoming legislative process. This would mobilise the available sustainably certified biomass potential.

The UFOP questions the multiple crediting of e-mobility provided for in the draft bill from a climate policy perspective. The focus here is not on climate protection, but on a financing model for infrastructure development. This indirect additional subsidy is unacceptable, especially since billions are being spent from tax revenues to accelerate customer growth at charging stations. Here, the energy suppliers must accept the entrepreneurial risk, the UFOP demands. In addition, the federal government must now significantly accelerate the expansion of renewable energy production, especially since competition for green electricity will increase considerably as a result of the promotion of heat pumps and other customers from industry and the mineral oil sector. In this phase, sustainable biofuels are all the more important in helping to bridge this pent-up demand. Because of the effects of the pandemic on the economy and household income, the UFOP expects that the holding period of vehicles with combustion engines will also be extended if the funds for a new purchase are not available. However, climate change does not wait for a transformation according to wishful thinking, the funding union emphasises.

The UFOP therefore appeals to the Lower House of Parliament, Bundestag, and Upper House, Bundesrat, to continue the fundamentally balanced and socio-politically responsible approach of an openness to technology in this law. The transformation process to new propulsion systems affects many livelihoods and families, including education and career choices. It would be irresponsible, also in view of the climate protection policy in third countries, to rely unilaterally on a drive train which, due to the lack of expansion of renewable energies, would not be able to achieve the climate policy breakthrough in the next few years. The UFOP fears that otherwise vehicles with highly efficient combustion engines and state-of-the-art exhaust gas purification will be built there. Suppliers and vehicle manufacturers could move away at any time.