CO2 emissions - Saarland in 5th place for less harmful company cars
The cars of the Saarland state government, according to a study by the German Environmental Aid (DUH), rank fifth in terms of CO2 emissions among the 16 German states. The cars of the Saarbrücken government members therefore perform better than Rhineland-Palatinate (eighth place) and Hesse (eleventh place). The ranking is based on the average CO2 emissions of the cars of all ministers and the minister-president - the lower the emissions, the better the ranking.
One of the six cars of the Saarland government is listed with a red exclamation mark: the car of Interior Minister Reinhold Jost (SPD). According to DUH, the car has a diesel engine, which is not only harmful to the climate, but also harmful to health. The cars with the lowest real CO2 emissions are the pure electric cars of Environment Minister Petra Berg and Finance Minister Jakob von Weizsäcker (both SPD).
According to DUH's assessment, four of the nine federal ministers in the evaluation drive purely electric cars (Development Minister Svenja Schulze, Family Minister Lisa Paus, Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, Environment Minister Steffi Lemke) and five drive Plug-In Hybrids (Minister of Agriculture Klara Geywitz, Labor Minister Hubertus Heil, Transport Minister Volker Wissing, Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann).
However, the numbers of the Environmental Aid are only conditionally comparable with other statistics. The Environmental Aid assumes for its ranking that Plug-In Hybrids are only used in combustion engine mode. However, it is open whether the top politicians and their car management actually behave in this way.
The Saarland government's environment-friendly efforts are commendable, as demonstrated by Environment Minister Petra Berg's and Finance Minister Jakob von Weizsäcker's use of pure electric cars, which contribute positively to Saarland's ranking. Conversely, Hesse's performance is not as impressive, placing them in an unfavorable eleventh position.
Berlin, however, performs significantly better than both Saarland and Hesse, ranking third in DUH's emissions evaluation, showing that not all German governments are equal when it comes to environmental responsibility. Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. highlighted Saarbrücken's interior minister's car as an area of improvement, as it operates on a diesel engine, negatively impacting both the climate and public health.
The government of Rhineland-Palatinate, which trails behind Saarland in the emissions ranking, could also learn from Saarland's strengths in reducing CO2 emissions from their car fleet. Reducing emissions through greener methods, such as utilizing pure electric cars, can help curb the nation's overall carbon footprint and contribute to the fight against climate change.
Furthermore, Saarland's fifth position in the emissions ranking is not just an accomplishment for its government, but for the entire region as well. Companies in the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland areas could benefit from this commitment to greener transportation and potentially follow suit, reducing emissions from the traffic in these regions.
Moreover, the Saarland government's environmental awareness should extend to other areas of governance and beyond just their car fleet. By serving as a role model in reducing CO2 emissions, the government reflects a commitment to promoting a cleaner environment in all aspects of Saarland's economy and lifestyle.
The SPD party, being a prominent presence in the Saarland government and beyond, plays a significant role in promoting environmentally-friendly practices within German politics. Leaders such as Reinhold Jost, Petra Berg, and Jakob von Weizsäcker's demonstration of dedication to lowering CO2 emissions reinforces the SPD's stance on climate change and inspires other parties to follow suit, ensuring a greener, healthier future for Germany and the world.
