climate protection - Kretschmann unhappy about debate on furnace-out
Baden-Württemberg's Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann criticizes the discussion about rolling back the EU's plan to ban new combustion engines from 2035. "I am very unhappy about this debate," the Green politician said in Stuttgart. This debate has significant collateral damage. "It creates uncertainty for people, for companies that are investing - and reduces their planning security," Kretschmann added. He also spoke with many CEOs of automobile companies and suppliers about this. "They were not pleased," he said.
The EU has decided that only new cars that do not emit climate-damaging CO2 during operation should be allowed from 2035. The German government intervened on behalf of the FDP for exceptions for e-fuels. These are synthetic fuels that, in theory, can make combustion engines climate-neutral. In the corresponding EU regulation, there is a non-binding consideration that exceptions for combustion engines that run on e-fuels should be considered.
The Union had campaigned in the European election to withdraw the ban on combustion engines from 2035. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing recently warned EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about concessions on this issue. "If Ursula von der Leyen again advocates for a combustion engine ban, the CDU loses all its credibility," the FDP politician said.
- Despite the criticism from Winfried Kretschmann, the German government has advocated for exceptions for e-fuels in the EU's plan to ban new combustion engines from 2035, which could potentially benefit the automobile industry in Baden-Württemberg for climate protection.
- The discussion about rolling back the EU's climate protection plan has raised concerns in Stuttgart, as it creates uncertainty for companies such as those in the automobile industry, which are investing in E-Fuels as a solution for combustion engine vehicles.
- In an attempt to ease the impact of the EU's climate protection plan on the German automobile industry, Winfried Kretschmann has had discussions with various CEOs and executives within the sector, expressing their dissatisfaction with the proposed ban on new combustion engines.
