Germany sets 2045 target to phase out fossil fuels

Germany’s government has published a national roadmap committing the country to phase out coal, oil and gas by 2045, setting an explicit fossil-fuel exit goal for the first time. The plan also targets increasing renewables’ share of electricity generation from 55% to 80% and cutting methane emissions by 30% by 2030. The roadmap was published on Wednesday, September 23, according to the reports. Earlier German commitments focused on carbon neutrality rather than an explicit end to fossil-fuel use. Germany is the third European country reported to have published a national roadmap of this kind, after France and the Netherlands. The government plan calls for expanding renewable power, increasing reliance on electric vehicles and using European Union carbon-trading schemes to encourage industrial polluters to move away from fossil fuels. The reported targets include raising renewables’ share of electricity generation to 80% by 2030 and reducing methane emissions by 30% over the same period. The government has also reaffirmed a coal exit by 2038, according to one report, which said an earlier 2035 target remains possible.