Germany’s government waters down a cost-cutting plan that infuriated the country’s farmers
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Germany’s government waters down a cost-cutting plan that infuriated the country’s farmers

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The German government on Thursday watered down cost-saving plans that have infuriated farmers, announcing that it is giving up a proposal to scrap a car tax exemption for farming vehicles and will stagger cuts to tax breaks for diesel used in agriculture. The cuts were part of a package agreed last month by leaders of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s unpopular three-party coalition to fill a 17 billion-euro hole in the 2024 budget. The budget revamp was necessary after Germany’s highest court annulled an earlier decision to repurpose 60 billion euros originally meant to cushion the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic for measures to help combat climate change and modernize the country. A government statement Thursday said Scholz, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner have now agreed to maintain the car tax exemption for farming vehicles in order to save those concerned “in some cases significant bureaucratic effort.” The tax breaks on diesel will no longer end all at once, giving farmers “more time to adapt,” it added.

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History of this topic

German lawmakers approve contested cuts to farmers’ fuel subsidies and a revamped 2024 budget
10 months, 3 weeks ago

German lawmakers approve contested cuts to farmers’ fuel subsidies and a revamped 2024 budget

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German lawmakers on Friday approved cuts to fuel subsidies for farmers that prompted angry protests, along with a 2024 budget the government had to revamp after a court ruling blew a hole in its financial plans. Parliament’s lower house voted in favor of the overhauled 476.8 billion budget for Europe’s biggest economy and legislation including measures to fill …

Protests by farmers and others in Germany underline deep frustration with the government
11 months ago

Protests by farmers and others in Germany underline deep frustration with the government

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Such demonstrations underline deep frustration …

Vantage | Why Germany's farmers have taken over its roads
11 months, 1 week ago

Vantage | Why Germany's farmers have taken over its roads

Firstpost  

In major German cities, a striking sight has captured the attention of residents and onlookers: long rows of tractors forming a formidable presence in the heart of the capital, Berlin, and surrounding iconic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate. The banners displayed by the German farmers echo sentiments that transcend borders with messages like “No farmers, no food, no future”, underscoring …

Germany agrees 32 billion euro tax cuts to give economy 'big boost'
1 year, 3 months ago

Germany agrees 32 billion euro tax cuts to give economy 'big boost'

Hindustan Times  

Germany's coalition on Tuesday set aside weeks of squabbling to agree to a total of 32 billion euros in corporate tax cuts over four years to boost the flagging economy. According to the draft seen by Reuters, in its first year the stimulus package, modest in the context of a $4 trillion economy, will cause a tax revenue shortfall of …

War, transport weigh on Germany’s efforts to curb emissions
1 year, 9 months ago

War, transport weigh on Germany’s efforts to curb emissions

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany cut its greenhouse gas emissions by almost 2% last year, beating previous estimates but still falling far short of the cuts needed to meet its medium-term climate goals, officials said Wednesday. But the cut in Russian fossil fuel supplies also prompted the German government to reactivate shuttered coal and oil power plants, pushing up emissions in the …

German parliament clears way for huge energy relief package
2 years, 2 months ago

German parliament clears way for huge energy relief package

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The German parliament on Friday cleared the way for the government to provide up to 200 billion euros in subsidies to households and businesses to ease the strain of high energy prices, a plan that has been greeted with suspicion elsewhere in Europe. The package, which is expected to run through 2024, also is supposed to help limit …

German government: Economy to shrink in 2023 as war bites
2 years, 2 months ago

German government: Economy to shrink in 2023 as war bites

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The German government on Wednesday slashed its growth forecast for this year and predicted that Europe’s biggest economy would shrink in 2023 as it deals with the fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine, including Moscow cutting off natural gas supplies. Habeck said that despite the grim growth projections, employment would likely remain “robust.” Russian imports once accounted for …

Germany to Reduce Government Incentives to Buy Electric Cars
2 years, 4 months ago

Germany to Reduce Government Incentives to Buy Electric Cars

News 18  

The German government plans to reduce incentive payments for buyers of electric cars and end subsidies for buying plug-in hybrids at the end of this year. At present, buyers of electric-only cars are eligible for government incentives of up to 6,000 euros and people who buy plug-in hybrids can get up to 4,500 euros. Starting in January, government incentives for …

Germany faces gas supply 'crisis,' declares alarm level
2 years, 6 months ago

Germany faces gas supply 'crisis,' declares alarm level

The Hindu  

Germany activated the second phase of its three-stage emergency plan for natural gas supplies on Thursday, saying Europe's biggest economy faces a “crisis” and warning that storage targets for the winter are at risk due to dwindling deliveries from Russia. The government said the decision to raise the level to “alarm” follows the cuts to Russian gas flows made since …

Germany faces ‘gigantic’ task meeting energy, climate goals
2 years, 11 months ago

Germany faces ‘gigantic’ task meeting energy, climate goals

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany’s new climate minister said Tuesday that the country faces a “gigantic” task if it wants to achieve its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring sufficient energy for its energy-hungry industry. The government plans to phase out coal power “ideally” by 2030 as well, filling the gap with less polluting natural gas until enough renewable energy …

Germany to slip back in cutting greenhouse gases, emission to grow by largest amount since 1990: Study
3 years, 4 months ago

Germany to slip back in cutting greenhouse gases, emission to grow by largest amount since 1990: Study

India Today  

Germany is forecast to slip back below the threshold it had set for cutting greenhouse gases by 2020, amid a post-pandemic recovery and unfavorable conditions for renewable energy, according to a report by an environmental think tank Sunday. Berlin-based Agora Energiewende examined data from the first half of 2021 to forecast that total emissions in Germany this year will be …

Germany maps path to reaching ‘net zero’ emissions by 2045
3 years, 7 months ago

Germany maps path to reaching ‘net zero’ emissions by 2045

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The German government adopted an ambitious plan Wednesday to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2045, five years earlier and with deeper cuts than previously planned. The roadmap approved by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet sets out a number of measures for achieving the new target, including spending more to expand renewable energy sources and …

Germany aims for net zero emissions by 2045, 5 years earlier
3 years, 7 months ago

Germany aims for net zero emissions by 2045, 5 years earlier

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German officials proposed Wednesday that the country could bring forward the date for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to “net zero” to 2045, after Germany’s top court ruled that existing plans place too much of the burden for curbing climate change on young people. The proposed targets so far include few details on how the emission cuts would …

Germany says it beat 2020 goal to cut greenhouse emissions
3 years, 10 months ago

Germany says it beat 2020 goal to cut greenhouse emissions

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany’s economy minister says the country beat its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% last year compared to 1990 levels. Peter Altmaier said figures show Germany’s emissions of planet-heating gases were 42% lower in 2020 than three decades ago, confounding warnings that the country couldn’t meet its goal. While the coronavirus pandemic helped reduce emissions, Altmaier …

Germany agrees to amend energy law to boost renewables
4 years ago

Germany agrees to amend energy law to boost renewables

Hindustan Times  

Germany’s ruling coalition has agreed changes to a new energy law that aims to boost renewable power and help the country meet its goal of producing 65% of its electricity from green sources by 2030, parliamentary sources told Reuters. The energy law is now expected to go before a parliamentary committee on Tuesday ahead of votes in the lower house …

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