What happens in German #energytransition and #climate policy in 2026? @benjwhereman.bsky.social, @carokyllmann.bsky.social, @samelang.bsky.social and I put together an overview. Use it to plan the year ahead, and let us know what we've missed!

📣 NEW! 2025 – Germany's #energy and #electricity mix Fresh update with preliminary full-year data: www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/g...#energy#electricity#energytransition #renewables #fossilfuels #windpower #solar #coal #natgas

Will the EU continue its rollback of climate policy ambition in 2026? If so, the framework that is meant to guide the union through the 2030s risks falling well short of what's needed to ultimately reach climate neutrality by 2050.

Europe’s 2026 independence moment: The four tests that will define it An orientation briefing on what the political dynamics of 2025 reveal about the EU's capacity to act in 2026

Preview 2026: Germany’s climate action programme must focus on social dimension – researcher "Next year, crucial political decisions will have to be made if Germany wants to achieve its climate targets," says @brigitteknopf.bsky.social www.cleanenergywire.org/news/preview...

#Preview2026: Germany urged to fight harder to protect EU emissions trading ambition – researcher Weakening the ETS w/o strengthening other policies risks collapsing climate action structure, "tanking overall clean investments," says @ph-jaeg.bsky.social www.cleanenergywire.org/news/preview...

Security of supply in focus as Germany must move fast on new gas power plants in 2026 – analysts www.cleanenergywire.org/news/securit... Photo: RWE #preview2026 @auroraer.bsky.social

Germany covers nearly 56 percent of 2025 electricity use with renewables www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany... #renewableenergy #solarpower #windpower

How can Germany exit #coal, #oil and #gas while guaranteeing supply security and avoiding costly reserve capacities? The govt has not given this enough thought, say advisors “The general lack of strategies is a significant problem" - Felix Matthes @oekoinstitut.bsky.social

Germany's government said it will adopt a climate action programme by March 2026. Read up on the plans in our Q&A: Germany’s Climate Action Programme 2026 www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/q... #ClimateAction #CO2

Years of delay, not a whole lot has changed. Germany says it needs around 10 GW new gas-fired power plants by the early 30s to secure electricity supply As these will not run very much -mainly at times of little wind/sun- state support is needed to get them built. How much? Auctions will show...

2025 set to be second or third warmest year on record, continuing exceptionally high warming trend wmo.int/news/media-c... #climate #StateofClimate

Smaller German industry is not happy about the #ETS2 delay. Firms already pay a national carbon price for #heating & #transport fuels, which they say puts them at a disadvantage in the EU Others say the 1-yr delay removes transition incentives @derbdi.bsky.social @kerstinandreae.bsky.social

EU governments decided to postpone the full introduction of the new emissions trading system #ETS2 by one year to 2028 German env min Schneider expects approval by the European Parliament, and says that the GER govt would now debate the details of Germany's national carbon price system in 2027

It is always about the total volume of emissions on the way to climate neutrality 2050. Today's decisions by EU member states -- a weak 2040 target and postponing the start of the #ETS2 -- mean more ambition needed in the later years, and more emissions overall until mid-century

Th EU 2040 climate target deal "is an important step forward for the climate and good news for the German economy, because it creates a level playing field," says env min Schneider Adds: "on this basis, Europe can play a leading role at #COP30"

Voters in the Netherlands head to the polls this week for 2nd time in less than 2 years: Dutch elections underscore risk to EU climate ambition amid political instability www.cleanenergywire.org/news/dutch-e... #verkiezingen2025

Dutch elections underscore risk to EU climate ambition amid political instability NL voters head to polls on 29 Oct; frequent snap elections have made it harder to maintain consistent #climate and #energy policies www.cleanenergywire.org/news/dutch-e...

German local utilities urge “clear rules for orderly gas exit” as many lack grid transition plan As climate neutrality deadline nears, 46% of municipal utilities and local energy suppliers are unclear on what to do with their gas networks, VKU survey found www.cleanenergywire.org/news/german-...

🔜Next Tuesday: our webinar on #COP30 Journalists will get tips on how to cover the Belém climate talks in Brazil and from afar 🤝In collaboration with @n-ost.bsky.social Speakers: 🇧🇷 Daniela Chiaretti 🇹🇯 Timur Idrisov 🇬🇧 @chloefarand.bsky.social Sign up: www.cleanenergywire.org/webinars/cli...

"Expect an extensive and contentious revision of the EU's climate and energy policy framework in the summer" 2026, says @e3g.bsky.social's @pepeescrig.bsky.social based on leaked Commission work programme www.linkedin.com/posts/pepees...

Germany's Merz emphasised EU competitiveness in his speech to parl, demanding an end to overregulation, faster processes + more open markets "This does not contradict our clear commitment to our climate targets by 2045 + interim targets by 2040" Unclear if he referred to GER or EU 2040 target

Germany spent €6.1bln on international climate finance last year, but 2025 target "great challenge" Uncertainty over Germany’s contribution comes at time when other major donors announce cuts

Turning German forests, peatland and soils into net carbon sink “generational task” – env min Germany to fall short of 2030 climate target for land use, but environment ministry plans to boost natural carbon sinks www.cleanenergywire.org/news/turning...

German finance minister calls for ‘buy European’ approach in clean tech and infrastructure With billions in new infrastructure investments, e.g. "I would like to see European-produced steel being used,” said Klingbeil www.cleanenergywire.org/news/german-... photo: DB

State secretary Wetzel @bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de speaks out in favour of onshore #CO2 storage in Germany. However, that decision is up to the federal states. I wouldn't bet on it.

Looks like Germany has a long way to go until first auctions for new gas power plants start. Then, projects must still win the auction, before they can apply for permits & start construction i.e.: no way there will be new plants by 2030? @hannskoenig.bsky.social @osborneclarkeuk.bsky.social

Apply now to be part of our study trip to Hamburg "Can hydrogen deliver on its climate promise?" from 19 to 22 October 2025. www.cleanenergywire.org/research-tou...

A taxonomy ruling by the ECJ, the State of the European Union speech, a new Strategic EU-India Agenda, a high-speed rail network plan, and a global vision w/ #energy + #climate diplomacy objectives ahead of #COP30 This and more in our updated EU agenda www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/w...

10 Sept is "taxonomy day" at EU court Environmental law NGO @clienteartheur.bsky.social has published this useful media advisory with some background www.clientearth.org/latest/press... More in our EU agenda: www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/w... @angelikapullen.bsky.social

Back to school after the summer break! In the words of Daveed Diggs as Jefferson in Hamilton: 🎵"What'd I miss?"🎵 Well, on all things #climate & #energy in Germany, here ya go: www.linkedin.com/posts/cleane...

Open door once more for Canadian LNG supplies to Europe? www.linkedin.com/posts/julian...

What a day! Canada wants to massively build up infrastructure to allow the country to export more critical minerals -- and in the medium term also #LNG But will Europe still need it by the time that infrastructure is built? Read my piece, tell me what you think ⬇️

Canada steps up energy and minerals commitment to Europe “There's a huge range of immediate opportunities with respect to #CriticalMinerals, & medium term opprts. regarding all forms of energy, incl #LNG, #hydrogen.” -PM Carney www.cleanenergywire.org/news/canada-...

Germany reviews “climate contract” industry transition support scheme, CCS still focus for next round Review "w/ a view to making it unbureaucratic, technology-neutral, efficient + effective in prep. for a 2nd round" -econ min www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany...

Canada's prime minister Carney travels to Germany to deepen ties "There's a broad range of areas, from #CriticalMinerals to #energy and #defence and #security, where we are intensifying our discussions with Germany," he said www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

So what is this "reality check" that has German energy & climate stakeholders wait and comment - and argue - in anticipation? I've summarised what we know about the #energytransition report, likely to come out in early/mid-Sept: what it is, who criticises it & why, + what we know about its impacts

Must-read for anyone looking for a thorough, clear, and meticulous analysis on the performance of Germany's coalition government in its first 100 days, detailing what has been achieved and what remains open on #climate and #energy One to bookmark: www.cleanenergywire.org/news/merz-go...

Germany's defence spending spree could aid green industry shift – with right policies “It’s clear that #climate protection must not impede the capabilities of our weapons systems" - defence min spokesperson www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany...#climate#industry

Q&A: German law reform to permit carbon storage and transport Why does Germany need the reform? Where will it allow the storage of CO2? Will Germany allow CCS for coal power? ... www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/q...

German economy minister Reiche argues that as gas will continue to play a role in the coming years: “It is right – if gas-fired power plants remain on the grid to guarantee security of supply – that they can be equipped with climate protection technology, which in this case is CCS and CCU.”

Gov't cabinet approves draft law to allow & promote large-scale buildup of carbon storage and transport infrastructure in Germany Projects to be classed as being of "overriding public interest" which simplifies planning, permitting & construction www.cleanenergywire.org/news/governm... #CCS #CCU

Funding backup gas power plants in Germany: Current government plans for a capacity market could turn out to be "expensive for all electricity customers," says @mikellner.bsky.social‬

RP reports that Germany's government cabinet might adopt the long-awaited draft carbon storage & transport law reform this week (6 August) It's largely based on a draft from the previous govt. Here's all the background you might need for your coverage: www.cleanenergywire.org/dossiers/eus...

Most of political Brussels has left for the summer break. Difficult talks on the 2040 EU climate target await once things pick up again in Sept. This and more in the Dispatch from the EU, by ‪@emibarbiroglio.bsky.social in coop w/ @carbonpulse.bsky.social www.cleanenergywire.org/news/dispatc...

Some healthily honest machine room talk by German env min Schneider @umweltministerium.de He wants to get the legally binding climate action programme out of the way before a raft of regional elections could make political decisions harder to reach in Germany in 2026

Innovation and technology are key German contribution to solving climate change – chancellor Merz "We want to use state-of-the-art technologies to respond to this challenge" www.cleanenergywire.org/news/innovat...

Five things the new EU budget would mean for energy and climate www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

Major corporations still lack credible climate strategies – report www.cleanenergywire.org/news/major-c...