Federal Climate Protection Act (KSG).

The Climate Protection Act establishes a framework for achieving national climate protection goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Germany. It sets specific targets for emissions reductions, including contributions from land use, land-use change, and forestry. The law outlines the overall emissions limits for each year, the monitoring of emissions, and penalties for non-compliance. The act also includes provisions for climate protection planning, requiring the development of climate protection programs and regular reporting. An Independent Expert Council on Climate Issues is established to advise on climate matters, with the power to issue regulations. The public sector is given a leading role in setting an example by ensuring climate neutrality in federal administration and encouraging cooperation between federal and state governments. Additionally, the law provides for transitional provisions as the country moves toward its climate goals.
Germany’s Federal Climate Protection Act has 16 Articles and three Annexes. It specifies Germany’s plan to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius and draws upon the Federal climate change goals, serving to keep to European Union targets and limits. According to the Act, a balance between environmental, social and economic consequences has been sought. Section 2 of the Act deals with specific climate targets and maximum emission rates. Accordingly, greenhouse gas emissions should gradually be reduced in comparison to 1990. A reduction rate of at least 55 percent applies by the target year 2030. Annex 2 stipulates the exact maximum yearly emission rates, while Annex 1 specifies sectors and corresponding sources of emissions. Sectors falling under the climate targets are the energy industry, general industry, transport, housing and buildings, agriculture, waste management and others. Where the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets are not reached in a certain industry, Germany claims the right to implement an “immediate action program” (“Sofortprogramm”) within three months to bring the rate of emissions back down to target rate. Climate reports are issued every year. A council shall be created on the basis of this Act, consisting of 5 impartial experts in the field appointed for a period of 5 years. The climate council’s main function is to monitor the greenhouse gas emission data and check the reduction of greenhouse gases. Further, the council advises the German government on 1. Changes in the annual emission quantities by ordinance according to § 4 paragraph 5; 2. Update of the climate protection plan; and 3. On the decisions on the climate protection programs according to § 9. The German Länder are entitled to take more ambitious commitments than the Federal commitments, if they wish to do so. The German Federal state vows to function as a role model in in achieving climate neutrality in Federal public administration by 2030.