Germany scraps controversial energy law for the population. “Heating will become a private matter again”

Conservatives and social democrats in power in Berlin announced on Tuesday that they had reached an agreement on new legislation on the energy efficiency of buildings, practically burying a controversial law introduced by former German environment minister, environmentalist Robert Habeck, notes AFP, taken over by Agerpres.

Entered into force in 2024, this law supported by the Greens in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition stipulated that any new heating installation should run at least 65% with renewable energies.

These ambitious environmental objectives were, however, perceived by a large part of the population as being expensive, too bureaucratic, all accompanied by complex implementation, considered too hasty. “All methods of warming are possible again,” the head of the conservative parliamentary group, Jens Spahn, told a press conference with the leader of the Social Democrats, Matthias Mirsch, to present their agreement.

A draft law is due to be finalized by Catholic Easter (April 5), and the new legislation is expected to be passed by July 1. “Heating will once again become a private matter. Citizens will once again have the freedom to decide for themselves how they heat their homes. We are removing the constraints and unnecessary bureaucracy of Robert Habeck's old laws,” added Spahn.

According to the terms of the agreement concluded on Tuesday between the parties in the coalition of conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz, everyone will be able to choose their new heating system as they see fit: oil, gas. Only the introduction of an “organic quota” is foreseen. For example, for gas heating, a certain percentage of so-called green gas, climate-protecting biomethane, will have to be mixed with natural gas. According to the agreement, this “organic share” must be at least 10% starting in 2029, then increase in three stages until 2040.

The agreement reached on Tuesday was immediately criticized by environmental organizations such as Greenpeace, as Germany risks not meeting its climate change targets for 2030 and 2045. “With these changes, the government is giving a huge gift to the fossil fuel industry, significantly weakening consumer protection and burying climate protection in the construction sector,” Greenpeace said.