Lower Saxony Climate Council: Together for a greener future from 2026!

Lower Saxony Climate Council: Together for a greener future from 2026!

With the upcoming turn of the year, a new chapter in climate protection will be opened in Lower Saxony. The red-green state government is planning to establish a climate council, which is scheduled for the beginning of 2026. This body will play a central role in supporting the state government in planning and implementing climate protection measures. The Wesermarsch district newspaper reports that the cabinet had already decided on a corresponding concept in May, which is now on the agenda for the upcoming meeting in November.

The Climate Council will consist of a total of 15 members: six representatives from science and nine from various associations appointed by the state government. In addition, citizens should be involved in the process through a lottery so that they can contribute their own suggestions. Environmental protection organizations welcome the initiative, while the CDU opposition expresses critical voices and sees the project as costly and not productive.

Climate goals for 2040 and beyond

The state government's primary goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2040. This is in line with nationwide efforts that currently envisage ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Experts are currently reporting that Germany can theoretically achieve its climate goals by 2030 if measures are taken now for the period after that. The ZDF Expert advice has found that greenhouse gas emissions in Germany were reduced by 3.4 percent in 2024, mainly due to the expansion of renewable energy.

However, there are numerous challenges that need to be addressed. The transport and building sectors are each significantly exceeding their emissions targets, which endangers the future of the climate targets. The Federal Environment Agency's forecasts could also prove to be too optimistic, as they probably underestimate future emissions. According to the expert council, this could lead to a possible exceeding of the emissions budget.

Overarching European and national framework conditions

At the European level, the EU has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a net 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. These requirements are part of the EU climate law, which was passed in spring 2021. Under this agreement, Germany has the responsibility to initiate measures that contribute to a significant reduction in emissions. The Federal Environment Agency underlines that insufficient progress in the areas of land use and forestry also threatens the achievement of the target. It is expected that without immediate countermeasures, around 240 million tons of CO2 equivalents cannot be saved in 2045.

Climate measures are not just on the political agenda. The Climate Council in Lower Saxony is expected to play a significant role in actually converting the planned goals into tangible results and actively involving the population in this process. It remains to be hoped that the coming months will be characterized by concrete measures and a clear strategy that will make the goal of climate neutrality achievable by 2040.