Germany Set To Become the First Major Economy to Phase Out Coal and Nuclear Power

By: Marcus Day

PGE Bełchatów power plant and coal mine by Roman Ranniew

New York — Germany is trailblazing a new route for global economies by putting itself on track to be the first major power to phase out coal and nuclear energy. This announcement came after the German parliament voted on the plan to eliminate coal use by 2038 and nuclear power by 2022. To help affected regions and communities with the loss of employment as a result of the closures, approximately $45 billion will be allocated to assist in the transition. Details of how this money will be distributed are limited. 

Germany is already a leader in clean energy production, producing 40% of its electricity from renewables. An impressive 21% is from wind power. By 2030, 65% of the country’s power will come from renewables; simaltaneously several other major economies are lagging behind in comparison. Renewables make up just 17% of America’s electricity and 16% of Russia’s.

However, many critics have come after this recent plan, arguing it does not make the transition quickly enough. According to the Associated Press (AP), Greenpeace Germany and other environmental groups have harshly chastised the more conservative transformation. They claim the move will not reduce Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions fast enough to meet the targets set out in the Paris Climate Accord, reports Frank Jordans of the AP. 

To abide by the Accord’s guidelines, greenhouse gas emissions need to be halved by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050. This current plan does not appear to bring Germany to that goal. The targets set by the Climate Accord hope to reduce increases in global temperature, keeping the increase below 2 degrees Celsius in the next century. 

Environmental advocates have also criticized the subsidies offered to coal companies to shut down their plants, arguing the funds would be better spent in the renewable energy sector. 

Despite its critics, Germany joins a cohort of other nations setting phase out and renewable energy goals. Sweden is set to eliminate fossil fuels from it is electricity generation by 2040. Costa Rica and Scotland have already reached this goal, now producing over 95% of their electrify via renewable sources.