The Economy Ministry of Germany presented today its concept for creating a market for climate-friendly products as a part of initiatives to achieve its aim to become carbon neutral by 2045.
Through this concept, the ministry aims to cut emissions in Germany’s cement, steel and chemicals industries.
Germany wants to build demand for goods that are manufactured with lower greenhouse footprints. This process is usually expensive as compared to conventional manufacturing. Earlier this year, the government announced subsidies for energy-intensive firms that switch to green production.
The ministry’s concept talks of industry-specific definitions of climate-friendly cement, steel, ethylene and ammonia, and also speaks of a labeling system for the definitions.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck said, “Our vision is the wind turbine made of green steel, which is based on a foundation of green cement, and the electric car, which not only runs CO2-free but is also made of green steel.”
The ministry said that setting quotas for green goods for public procurement is a possible tool that can advance green markets until they are the standard in Germany by 2045 and in Europe by 2050.
The ministry also wants the introduction of binding requirements for raw materials and products’ emissions at the European level.