Germany would not meet climate targets for another two years

Germany’s new economy minister has warned that the country will not meet its climate goals and needs to step up efforts to achieve it.

Projected reductions in greenhouse gas emissions likely won’t be met next year, and 2023 looks tough too, he said. Robert Habeck, who is also a co-leader of the Greens party, told the weekly Die Zeit in an interview published on Wednesday.

“We are starting with a drastic deficit”Said Habeck, who succeeded Peter Altmaier this month.

Changes to combat climate change will cause disruption and the country will have to prepare for the frustration of workers in industries such as coal mining, who face cuts in the shift to cleaner energy sources.

Germany has been struggling to fulfill its ambitions to become a leader in climate protection. Europe’s largest economy has expanded wind and solar power, but remains heavily reliant on coal to power its vast industrial operations.

The new governing coalition, formed by the Chancellor’s Social Democrats Olaf Scholz, the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, has vowed to step up measures to combat climate change. Habeck acknowledged that the exit of industries such as coal mining is taking a toll on employees and affected regions.

“There will also be disappointment and maybe anger, I have no illusions“, He said Habeck, which also oversees climate and energy policy. But he argued that new technologies will create more jobs. “We will not lose our jobs, but quite the opposite“, He said.