The amendment to add a new Article 143h of the Basic Law, Germany's constitution, allows for a special fund with its own credit authorisation for additional investments in infrastructure and for additional investments to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, with a volume of up to €500 billion. The amendment also sets aside €100 billion from this special fund for climate projects toward bringing emissions down to net zero, a goal already set down in Germany's Climate Action Act. Another €100 billion from the special fund shall be made available to states for investments by the states in their infrastructure. This amendment was made alongside other amendments to authorise increases in defence, infrastructure and foreign aid spending.
In addition, Article 20a of the German Basic Law – which was cited by the Constitutional Court in the case of Neubauer et al. v. Germany (2021) – states: “The state shall also protect the natural foundations of life in responsibility for future generations.”
