Germany's ruling coalition has resolved weeks of internal disputes and come to an agreement on a law that would prohibit the installation of new gas boilers. The legislation aims to assist the country in achieving its target of reducing carbon emissions by two thirds by 2030 in comparison to 1990 levels. The greening of the housing sector is essential in reaching the goal.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition has been bitterly divided about the heating plans, causing concerns for several stakeholders. The Free Democrats attempted to portray themselves as shielding ordinary citizens from the cost of climate protection measures, while the Greens were seen as the main driving force behind the legislation.
At a joint news conference in Berlin, the caucus leaders of the three parties in the alliance — the Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats — revealed the agreement. The draft law will be presented to parliament shortly.
A significant change is that homeowners will be exempt from the obligation to switch to new heating systems that use 65% of renewables if their local community has not yet submitted proposals indicating how to expand their district heating system. Cities will be required to complete strategic plans that include a decarbonisation road map by 2026, with smaller communities given until 2028 to do the same under a different law.