Forum

"Zeitenwende" also in energy and climate policy – this is the overall impression from the twelve energy talks at the Reichstag hosted by the Clean Energy Forum in 2024. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges, and the fight against it remains urgent. All discussions were characterized by this consensus, but also by the insight that things cannot go on like this.

Six key messages

1. There is too much rigidity and regulation in energy and climate policy, especially from Brussels. There is too little freedom for transformation paths, innovation, technology and pragmatism. Above all, climate protection must achieve more societal acceptance.
   
   
2. Germany is closely interwoven internationally. Too little attention is paid to the global dimension. Obviously, we are no longer a role model for climate protection.
   
   
3. The transformation of the economy is a top priority, but it must not lead to deindustrialization. This includes, above all, affordable electricity prices, competitiveness and less bureaucracy.
   
   
4. Further development of the electricity market design is overdue. Construction of new gas-fired power plants that are "hydrogen-ready", with a total capacity of at least 10.5 GW (preferably much more), will not tolerate any further delay. Expansion of renewable energies must be coordinated with the expansion of the electricity grids.
   
   
5. Equally urgent is CCUS (Carbon Capture Usage and Storage). Without CCUS, the climate targets will not be achieved. Therefore, the pending CCUS law should be passed before the federal election on 23 February 2025.
   
   
6. Financing of the energy transition must be consistently aligned with the goal of climate neutrality and weighed against other political goals of great importance. Climate protection must be privately financed above all, but government investment incentives are necessary. That is why there should be a special government climate protection investment fund.
   
   

The Clean Energy Forum (CEF) would like to thank all prominent and high-ranking panellists as well as the participants of the Energy Talks for joining the debate. They represented the entire spectrum of the energy and climate discussion, and despite all the dissent on specific issues, the discussions were characterized by objectivity, respect and the common will to achieve more for climate protection.