Is Germany (Quietly) Rejecting the Green Deal? - Good Times Bad Times (The 20s Report)
- Germany's phase-out of nuclear energy has led to a severe energy crisis, with electricity prices up to three times higher than in China and a shift from net exporter to largest net importer in the EU.
- Industrial competitiveness has plummeted, with 272,000 industrial jobs lost since 2019 and declining exports, particularly to China, which has become Germanys largest supplier.
- The German government is now considering revising climate goals, with the CDU pushing for "flexible targets" and "technological openness" due to economic pressures.
- To address high energy costs, Germany is accelerating plans for new gas-fired power plants, despite criticism that this undermines climate goals and increases fossil fuel dependency.
- The energy transition has contributed to a growing fiscal crisis in local municipalities, with deficits exceeding 30 billion in 2025, threatening public services and social stability.
- A potential coalition crisis looms as the CDU and SPD disagree on climate policy, with the CDU pushing for reform and the SPD maintaining its commitment to climate neutrality.