Study: The price on CO2 emissions must become the central element

According to a study, the price on CO2 emissions must become the central element on the way to achieving climate targets. "The CO2 price and the design of an overall climate-neutral economic framework and market design are the foundation for achieving climate neutrality," says the study by the German Energy Agency (Dena). Dena presented a "leading study on the start of climate neutrality". Climate neutrality by 2045 is the federal government's goal, which is also achievable, according to the study, in which ten scientific institutes and more than 70 companies participated and which should give the future federal government a "practice-oriented perspective". However, Germany must "get new momentum in energy and climate policy", demanded Dena boss Andreas Kuhlmann. Too much has been left behind in the past few years. A CO2 price on the use of fossil fuels in all sectors generates income for the state, which it can use to make renewable electricity cheaper and to offset social hardship for citizens. According to the study, this market-based approach is the cheapest way to ensure that Germany's bottom line will be practically no more greenhouse gases in 2045. The decisive course would have to be set in the 2020s. With the help of the CO2 price one must build on four pillars: more energy efficiency, the direct use of renewable energies, synthetic fuels with the use of hydrogen as well as CO2 reduction with the help of afforestation or storage of the gas.