Emissions trading: Greens: Rich countries destroy business models of the future

Berlin. The Greens accuse Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche of actively slowing down companies when it comes to climate protection. "She is destroying business models of the future," said deputy parliamentary leader Andreas Audretsch to the German Press Agency. "Katherina Reiche is stabbing in the back those companies that have invested in new technologies."

The CDU politician Reiche principally supports proposals by the EU Commission to weaken emissions trading. However, large companies such as Salzgitter AG, Heidelberg Materials, Saarstahl, SAP and others have spoken out in favor of strong emissions trading, Audretsch said. "They have all invested in new technologies, they all want to conquer new markets - the minister is throwing rocks in their way, they are being actively slowed down and blocked," the Green politician criticized.

Emissions trading is the EU's central climate protection instrument on the path to climate neutrality in 2050. Companies must prove they have rights to emit climate-damaging gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). They can trade them as needed, which is intended to serve as an incentive in energy-intensive industries to save greenhouse gases.

Over the years, the number of available certificates decreases - this is intended to lead to more climate protection in an efficient way. The EU Commission has proposed, among other things, that the number of certificates should decrease more slowly than previously planned.