As the country prepares for a winter of uncertainty amid fears that Russian gas could be cut off completely and electricity could be in short supply, the pro-business tripartite coalition of the Social Democrats, Greens and FDP are looking for ways to ease the situation . Also central to the debate is how Germany hopes to maintain its climate targets, particularly after a recent decision – backed by the Green Economy Minister – to reignite highly polluting power plants for a limited time. The proposal gaining increasing traction and making its mark in newspaper editorials and late-night TV talk shows is to keep the country’s remaining three nuclear plants, which are due to shut down at the end of the year, continue to operate, a move strongly opposed. by the Green party since it was formed in the 1980s. Speed limit signs on the A5 motorway near Frankfurt. There are calls to introduce speed limits on the motorway to help fight climate change. Photo: Michael Probst/AP Meanwhile, the FDP has not publicly said it is ready to drop its longstanding opposition to a motorway speed limit, but the opposition Christian Democrats, under pressure from close allies, have hinted they may be ready to consider likely to support a temporary limit. Germany’s last three remaining nuclear plants produce enough electricity to heat about 7 million homes, or to meet just 6% of the country’s electricity needs. Discussions about keeping them open remain speculative, but comments from both sides of the debate suggest they may be moving toward a compromise. Greens co-leader Richard Lange said on Sunday that now was not the time to think about extending the life of plants, but said that because of the energy crisis and the impact it had on lower-income families, her party needed to be ready to consider all options. “At every moment in this crisis we must react according to the current situation and consider every measure. This is what we have done in the past … and this is what we will continue to do,” he told German television. He said the Greens’ main concern was the impact of higher energy bills. “We have to prevent a wave of poverty,” he said. In response, Christian Democrat MEP Jens Spahn, who along with the FDP has long opposed a speed limit, said: “If the Greens said they would let nuclear power run for another half a year, then I think you should also be prepared to talk about the speed limit.’ He told German TV breakfast program Morgenmagazin that in a time of national emergency, “everyone should be ready to jump over their own shadows.” Experts said the tepid manner in which the two issues were being discussed did not reflect the complexity behind them. The two issues are said to be to Germans what gun ownership is to Americans. The phasing out of nuclear power plants in Germany was prompted by the Fukishima accident in Japan in 2011, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine has sparked a new debate. A government report concluded that extending their use was not advisable as it would “make only a small contribution to energy security” and “increase costs elsewhere”. It said their supply challenge would mean they would not deliver electricity until the autumn of 2023 and would need to run three to five years longer for investments in staff and infrastructure to pay off. He also said that security measures to protect the plants, including from air strikes, meant they were not feasible as a short-term solution. And all this before taking into account any potential legal challenges. In theory, putting a speed limit on the parts of the highway that don’t have one would be easier. Proponents say it will increase safety and reduce emissions. A limit of 130 km/h (80 mph) could reduce CO2 emissions by 1.9 million tonnes per year, according to the German environment agency. Opponents argue it would not make the roads safer – most deaths occur on country roads, not motorways – and insist it should cling to freedom of speed, as it is one of the few areas of German life that remains relatively lawless. FDP voters are among the strongest supporters of no speed limit and keeping nuclear power, while Green voters are almost equally in favor of a speed limit and abandoning nuclear power. And just as the Greens argue that a speed limit would reduce emissions, FDP members are likely to argue that keeping the three nuclear plants open would save around 30 million tonnes of CO2 a year. ADAC, which represents around 21 million German drivers, said around 50% of its members are in favor of introducing a limit and 45% are against.
