Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Brandenburg

Schleswig-Holstein

Bremen

Thüringen

Niedersachsen

Berlin

Saarland

Hessen

Nordrhein-Westfalen

Baden-Württemberg

Sachsen

Hamburg

Rheinland-Pfalz

Bayern

Sachsen-Anhalt

Germany

Compared to 2019, the number of cyclists killed in traffic will be reduced by 40% – despite significantly more cycling.



In 2019, 41% of Germans planned to cycle more in the future. This approval rating will rise to 60% by 2030.



The average length of trips made by bicycle will increase from 3.7 kilometres to six kilometres.

The number of trips will increase from about 120 in 2017 to 180 trips per person per year.

Limit the amount of electricy production from coal power plants to 30GW 2022, 17GW by 2030, and 0GW by 2038 at the latest

Limit the amount of electricy production from coal power plants to 15 GW of hard coal and 15GW of lignite by 2022, 8GW of hard coal and 9GW of lignite by 2030, 0GW of hard coal and 0GW of lignite by 2038 at the latest

climate neutral federal administration by 2030

The average of the annual emission balances of the respective target year and the three previous calendar years of the sector land use, land use change and forestry should be improved as follows:
1. to at least minus 25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030,
2. to at least minus 35 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2040,
3. to at least minus 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2045.

reduce GHG emissions by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, by 88% by 2040

increase the installed capacity of offshore wind energy 
installations to a total of 20 GW by 2030 and 40 GW by 2040

an installed capacity of biomass plants of 8,400 megawatts in 2030

an increase in the installed capacity of solar systems to a) 63 gigawatts in 2022, b) 73 gigawatts in 2024, c) 83 gigawatts in 2026, d) 95 gigawatts in 2028 
and e) 100 gigawatts in 2030

an increase in the installed capacity of onshore wind turbines 
a) 57 gigawatts in 2022, b) 62 gigawatts in 2024, c) 65 gigawatts 
in 2026, d) 68 gigawatts in 2028 and e) 71 gigawatts in 2030,

all electricity produced in a GHG neutral way by 2050

increase the share of renewable energy to 65% of gross electricity consumption by 2030

20GW of installed capacity by 2030 and 40 GW by 2040.

A reduction in primary energy consumption of 30%compared in 2030.&nbsp;

To increase the share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption by 30% in 2030.&nbsp;

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % compared to 1990.

Emissions from waste to 5 Mt of Co2-eq by 2030

Emissions from agriculture at 68 Mt of CO2-eq by 2030

Emissions from transportation at 95 Mt of CO2-eq by 2030

Emissions from buildings at 70 Mt of CO2-eq by 2030

Emission from industry at 140 Mt of CO2-eq by 2030

CO2 equivalent emissions of the energy industry at 175Mt by 2030

Germany will reduce its total GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 compared with a 1990 baseline

40% cut in GHG emissions by 2020 against a 1990 baseline

40% cut in GHG emissions by 2020; 55% by 2030; 70% by 2040; then 80-95% by 2050 - against a 1990 baseline

10% cut in electricity consumption, then 25% by 2020, 2050 against a 2008 baseline

14% final energy consumption for heat and cooling from renewables by 2020

2,800 MW renewable energy added annually by 2019, then 2,900 by 2020

Increase electricity from heat and power plants to 110 TWh by 2020, then 120 TWh by 2025

Increase heat and power plant electricity production by 110 TWh annually, then 120 TWh annually by 2020, 2025

6,500 MW increase in sea wind capacity by 2020, then 15,000MW by 2030

18% final energy from renewables by 2020, then 30% by 2030, 45% by 2040, 60% by 2050

40-45% increase in proportion renewable electricity in gross electricity consumption by 2025 (from 18% in 2020), then 55-60% in 2035, then at least 80% by 2050.

150 MW annual increase in biomass capacity, then 200 MW annual increase by 2019, 2022 against a 2017 baseline

2,500 MW annual incrase in solar capacity by N/A against a 2014 baseline

1 million electric vehicles in use by 2020; then 6 million by 2030

In 2024, NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe filed a complaint with the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court against Adidas and its statement that it would be “climate neutral by 2050”. The plaintiff alleges that the company’s climate-related advertising constituted a misleading commercial practice under the Act Against Unfair Competition. 

The plaintiff contends that Adidas failed to disclose whether the target would be achieved through direct emissions reductions or carbon offsets. The plaintiff alleges that this ambiguity misleads consumers, as the Act Against Unfair Competition prohibits deceptive and unsubstantiated advertising. 

In April of 2025, the Court ruled in favor of Deutsche Umwelthilfe, concluding that Adidas's advertising claim was unlawful under the Act Against Unfair Competition. The Court emphasized that climate-related advertising statements must be substantiated and clearly communicated.


In 2021, Katjes, a fruit gum manufacturer, claimed that all products were created in a climate-neutral manner. The advertisement claimed that the company offset its emissions through projects with the company ClimatePartner. 

The Central Office for Combating Unfair Competition (Competition Association) challenged this advertisement as misleading because consumers would assume that the fruit gums were produced without any emissions, rather than through offsets. The case was considered by two lower civil courts, which sided with Katjes on the premise that consumers can be expected to understand the term "climate neutral."

On July 5, 2024, the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) overruled the lower courts for the following reasons:
1. Advertising a product as climate neutral can always be significant in the purchasing decision of customers
2. Environmental claims made in advertising have an increased risk in misleading customers due to the high personal value that the environment has for consumers
3. When making environmental claims, companies need to clarify the content of terms indicated green features of a product within the advertisement itself
4. Reduction and compensation of emission are two possible ways of achieving "climate neutrality" but are not equally valid.
5. The ambiguous term "climate neutral" may only be used if the company explains how the neutrality is achieved. Explanations must include specific details of the measures as well as any offsetting measures the company intends to take.
6. Requiring the consumer to visit separate websites for these explanations is not sufficient. If the required explanation is not contained directly in the advertisement, the term "climate neutral" is deceptive and incorrect. 


In 2024, Greenpeace Germany, Germanwatch, several of the Neubauer youth complainants, and over 50,000 supporters filed a new constitutional complaint challenging Germany’s amended Federal Climate Protection Act (Klimaschutzgesetz – KSG). They argue that, despite the Federal Constitutional Court’s landmark climate ruling of March 24, 2021 and the European Court of Human Rights’ April 2024 confirmation of robust legislative climate duties, the 2024 KSG violates their fundamental rights.

The complaint targets the Second Act Amending the KSG, in force since July 17, 2024. The amendment replaces binding, sector-specific annual emissions caps and mandatory “immediate action” programs with a cross-sector, multi-year control system based on projections of cumulative emissions for 2021–2030 (and later 2031–2040). Corrective action is triggered only if those aggregate totals are projected to be exceeded. There is no meaningful steering for the period after 2030 and no mechanism at all after 2040. According to the complainants, this framework delays mitigation and structurally shifts reduction burdens onto future generations.

They further argue that the KSG allows total emissions that exceed Germany’s remaining Paris-compatible CO₂ budget under Article 20a of the Basic Law. The German Advisory Council on the Environment estimates that the 1.75°C-based budget of 3.9 Gt CO₂ would be exhausted by 2033 under current law, and that the 1.5°C budget is already spent. Even these insufficient targets are unlikely to be met, as recent emissions reductions stem mostly from economic slowdown rather than structural climate policy. The Council of Experts on Climate Issues projects continued shortfalls, including in meeting EU Effort Sharing Regulation obligations.

Based on the Federal Constitutional Court’s climate jurisprudence, the complaint alleges that Germany must adopt a Paris-compatible emissions pathway, initiate reductions early enough to avoid a future “emergency brake,” and distribute mitigation burdens fairly across generations. The complainants contend that the 2024 KSG violates the climate protection mandate in Article 20a GG, the intertemporal protection of liberty under Article 2(1) GG in conjunction with Article 20a, and state duties to protect life and health under Article 2(2) GG. They also invoke the European Court of Human Rights’ interpretation of Article 8 ECHR, which requires Paris-aligned targets, credible pathways, and effective enforcement—elements the new KSG allegedly fails to provide.

Procedural Update:
In August 2025, the Federal Constitutional Court invited the federal government, several ministries, and expert bodies to submit observations. The German Advisory Council on the Environment has already provided its opinion. A decision from the Federal Constitutional Court is expected in 2026.

The constitutional complaint alleges a continuing legislative failure to adopt effective climate measures in Germany’s transport sector. Building on the Federal Constitutional Court’s 2021 Neubauer decision and the ECtHR’s 2024 ruling affirming strong climate duties, the complainant argues that government inaction violates fundamental rights.

Five low-income individuals dependent on private mobility—four in rural areas with poor transit access and one with a disability—file the complaint with Greenpeace and Germanwatch. They argue that further delays will force drastic future restrictions such as driving bans and prohibitive CO₂ prices, disproportionately harming those unable to shift to public transport or electric vehicles.

The complaint highlights years of missed transport-sector targets and the minister’s failure to produce lawful “immediate action” programs. Instead of strengthening compliance, the 2024 amendment to the Climate Protection Act eliminated binding sector targets and sector-specific remedies, easing pressure on transport—an issue also raised in a separate mass complaint.

Projections by the Environment Agency and the Council of Experts show that any apparent progress relies on other sectors compensating for large transport deficits. By 2040, Germany is projected to overshoot its pathway, with millions of combustion cars still on the road and no feasible plan for climate-neutral operation. Germany is also likely to miss EU Effort Sharing targets, while the 2027 ETS 2 may cause steep CO₂ price spikes and major social impacts.

The complainants argue that inaction consumes the remaining Paris-compatible CO₂ budget and pre-determines severe future restrictions on freedom. Scenario analysis shows that delay until 2030 would require unrealistically rapid emissions cuts. They also allege intertemporal and social inequality, as burdens fall hardest on those least able to pay. Only immediate, concrete measures in transport (or, subsidiarily, across sectors) can protect their constitutional and human rights; improving the legal framework alone is insufficient.

Geography

Germany

Recent cases