The German cabinet has passed a comprehensive legislative package to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 1990 levels by 2020. Subsidies for sustainable refrigeration systems are part of a €400 million incentive programme to promote energy efficiency this year.
Using CO
2 and other natural refrigerants in commercial refrigeration may become even more cost-efficient in Germany, following an announcement of the Environment Ministry today, 19 June, starting this year. Based on a “StatusCheck” to evaluate the energy efficiency potential of existing systems, the government thus co-funds new energy-efficient installations using climate-friendly refrigerants, state-of-the-art components, and control mechanism monitoring a system’s life cycle climate performance.
The so-called “Impulse Programme for Commercial Refrigeration” is one of four key pillars of Germany’s climate protection initiative. From a total of €400 million, this year alone 280 million euro will be dedicated to the promotion of national initiatives demonstrating the efficiency of available climate-friendly technologies and removing barriers to use them more widely. The remaining €120 million will go to international projects.
40% emission reductions by 2020
The incentive programme followed yesterday’s approval of the second phase of Germany’s ambitious climate-protection package. Among the set of measures, targeting an overall 40% reduction of national greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, are higher energy efficiency standards in the buildings sector, as well as tighter rules for calculating individual heating costs. This would lead to significant cost savings for homeowners while also creating 500,000 new jobs, according to the Environment Ministry.
Combined with earlier measures passed last December, the German government expects the package to achieve a 35% reduction by 2020, with the remaining 5% coming from additional initiatives yet to be announced. If fully implemented, the measures would double the reduction targeted at the EU level by all 27 Member States. Last year, Germany already cut emissions by 20%, bringing the country nearer to achieve its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol.
However, plans to change the basis for vehicle tax from engine capacity to the amount of emissions, were postponed indefinitely.
The complete package, twice delayed in the past months, now has to be passed by both houses of parliament before becoming law.
