Impacts of Germany's heating law on climate protection unknown, report says

The German government appears to have no concrete data on the climate protection effects of its planned building modernization law, commonly known as the heating law. According to a media report, the government lacks reliable figures regarding the law's impact on CO2 emissions and overall climate goals.

Funke Mediengruppe newspapers cited a government response to a query from the Green Party, stating that a "robust assessment of the law's climate impact can only be carried out after the legislative process is completed." This suggests that the full consequences of the legislation, intended to promote climate-friendly heating systems, are not yet quantifiable by the government.

Furthermore, the government reportedly possesses no forecasts concerning the future price development of essential energy sources such as natural gas, biomethane, and green hydrogen. The response indicated that such projections "could not be reliably produced" at this stage. This lack of foresight on energy prices could have significant implications for consumers and the feasibility of transitioning to new heating technologies.

Additionally, the government has not provided information on whether the proposed legislation, spearheaded by Economic Affairs Minister Katherina Reiche, complies with EU law. The article notes that this information is still being updated, indicating the ongoing and potentially uncertain nature of the legislative process and its associated impacts.