Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has committed to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045. This commitment was detailed in a roadmap published on Wednesday by the German government, marking the first explicit promise of “transitioning away” from fossil fuels, as previous pledges focused on “carbon neutrality.”
The plans include an aim to increase renewable energy’s share of electricity generation from 55% to 80% by 2030. This involves adding 12GW of onshore wind capacity and targeting 215GW of solar energy by the same year. The government also reaffirmed its previously stated goal of winding down coal use in the next decade, with a view to exiting coal in 2038, and potentially as early as 2035.
Additionally, the roadmap outlines a 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030, aligning with a global methane pledge signed in 2021. Andreas Sieber of 350.org described the plan as a “notable shift” towards making fossil fuel phaseout an explicit policy goal.
Germany is the third major developed economy, following France and the Netherlands, to publish such a roadmap. This follows an international conference in Colombia in April where participants promised to set out plans for a full fossil fuel phaseout.