We've upgraded this site. Find out more
Skip to content

Germany

Federative (16 Bundesländer)
Political Groups
G20, OECD, EU
World Bank Income Group
High income
Global Climate Risk Index
38.67

The annually published Global Climate Risk Index analyses to what extent countries have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc.).

Published by German Watch https://www.germanwatch.org/en/cri
Share of Global Emissions
1.7%
Legislation
24
Laws, Acts, Constitutions (legislative branch)
Policies
27
Policies, strategies, decrees, action plans (from executive branch)
Litigation
Coming soon
Court cases and tribunal proceedings
Targets
44
Climate targets in National Law & Policy

Latest Documents

, 2022

In order to mitigate the financial impact of the sharp rise in energy costs on people and the economy, the federal government launched three relief packages with a total volume of around 95 billion euros to provide relief and social support. The third  relief package was presented by the coalition parties on September 4. It includes short-term aid, housing benefit ref...

, 2022

This programme aims to make up for the difference between targets previously set and the actual emissions in the sector, in order to meet overall climate targets. Around 148 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents were emitted in the transport sector in 2021. Greenhouse gas emissions were around 3 million tonnes above the annual emissions of 145 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents...

, 2022

Germany's budget law comprises a number of climate-related clauses, notably involving low-interest loans and the direct funding of climate-focused administrations.The budget law is accompanied of the financial plan up to 2025 that aims at bringing sustainable economic growth that secures prosperity and employment.

, 2022

This law aims at bringing relief for citizens in using public transport by introducing a discounted monthly ticket for June, July and August 2022 (“9-Euro-Ticket”) and  to support the proportional compensation payments by increasing the regionalization funds to compensate for the financial disadvantages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic ("public transport rescue package...

, 2021

The GAK is the most important national funding instrument for efficient, future-oriented and competitive agriculture and forestry, coastal protection and vital rural areas. It contains a wide range of agricultural structure and infrastructure measures. It derives from the Law on the joint task "Improvement of agricultural structure and coastal protection" (GAKG).Around 1.3...

Legislative Process

Parliament is the most important organ of the legislative branch. The Federal Council is also involved in the legislative process as an organ through which the sixteen states participate in the legislation of the Federation. For federal laws to pass, they must obtain a majority in both chambers.

The Federal Government introduces most legislation, but the Federal Council and Parliament also have the right to introduce bills. After a first discussion in the Parliament the bill is passed to the Federal Council. A Mediation Committee resolves any differences over legislation between the two legislative chambers. Once the compromise bill that emerges from the Committee has been approved by a majority in both chambers and by the cabinet (comprising the Chancellor and cabinet ministers), it is signed into law by the Chancellor. The most recent election at a federal level was held in 2013 with the next scheduled in 2017.

The German Basic Law assigns no general legislative powers to the federal level in respect of environmental protection. Rather, the respective legisla­tive powers are separated for air pollution control, noise abatement, waste management, nature conservation and water supply. Environmental responsibili­ties that fall either to a limited extent under these sectoral responsibilities or are not covered by them at all, can under certain circumstances be covered by the legislative power of “law relating to economic affairs”. Legislation on climate change can in part be covered by the legislative area of “air pollution control” but must also be covered by the “law relating to economic affairs”. There is no uniform legislative area of climate change law.