Last minute change due to traffic light
Spahn: The heating law is “running gag – just not a funny one”
06/15/2023, 11:58 am
A procedure for changing the law is usually clearly structured. With the heating law, which includes the plans for a gradual changeover, things are getting mixed up. The traffic light coalition around Economics Minister Habeck defends this – the opposition sharply criticizes the approach.
Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn has sharply attacked the traffic light coalition because of the unusual approach to the heating law. The CDU politician spoke of a “messed up” procedure that was an “imposition”. The Bundestag is now dealing with an outdated law, he said at the first reading of the draft for a gradual replacement of oil and gas heating systems.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Construction Minister Klara Geywitz defended the course of the coalition. Against the background of the fight against climate change, they emphasized the need to replace the heating system. After two hours of controversial debate, the present bill was referred to the responsible committees, which should clarify details for changes.
On Tuesday, a top group of SPD, Greens and FDP agreed on major changes to the original draft of the Building Energy Act (GEG), the so-called Heating Act, passed by the cabinet. The aim is for the Bundestag to pass the law before the summer recess, which begins after July 7th.
The “guard rails” decided by the traffic light provide that new regulations for existing buildings only apply when municipal heating plans are available. Gas heaters may continue to be installed in new buildings if they can in principle be converted to hydrogen and these new buildings are not built in new development areas. Recent decisions to amend the original government bill have not yet been incorporated into the bill.
Spahn: “Law for the bin”
“The traffic light and the GEG have long been a running gag, just not a funny one,” complained Spahn, who spoke of a “law for the bin”. The FDP agreed to the adoption in the cabinet in order to then push through a 180-degree turnaround. That promotes frustration in politics. There are many inaccuracies, for example to promote the switch.
Habeck said the traffic light had inherited a large climate gap from the previous Union and SPD government. It had already been reduced by measures taken by the coalition. For more climate protection, a reversal in the heating sector is unavoidable. The planned changes change the “entrance” to the law. The Building Energy Act is to be linked to a law on municipal heating planning.
Habeck justified the previously agreed changes to the deadlines by saying that the gas shortage threatening at the turn of the year had “been made manageable”. Because municipal heat planning is interlinked with the Building Energy Act (GEG), there is now a gradual entry into the specifications for heating systems. The core of the law, that no new oil and gas heating systems should be installed, will remain in place, stressed Habeck.
Geywitz also criticized that far too little had happened under the previous governments to be able to achieve climate neutrality in the building sector by 2045. The now planned link with heat planning makes sense. People wanted direction. Geywitz went on to say that CO2 pricing would increase oil and gas prices in the coming years.
AfD senses “green climate sect”
FDP parliamentary group leader Lukas Köhler said: “The focus of the law was wrong.” At first, this was aimed solely at heating, but now the state has to present and explain how the local heating networks are doing, and then the citizens can decide on this basis. AfD politician Karsten Hilse spoke of a “green climate sect” and a devastating draft law. All citizens should be pressed into a “climate yoke”.
Ralph Lenkert from the left faction called the traffic light’s communication on the heating law “puke”. He said: “I hope – and if I were religious, I would pray – that you didn’t completely screw up the heat transition.”