Miersch urges government to hold an "open debate" on CO2 pricing / SPD parliamentary group leader: "We must not destroy social cohesion for the sake of climate protection" - call for a "price cap"

Osnabrück (ots) – SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch has urged the federal government to hold an "open debate" on the European emissions trading system for buildings and transport. "No one can currently predict how expensive the expansion of CO2 pricing will make fuel and heating from 2027 onwards," Miersch said in an interview with the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ), warning: "We must not destroy social cohesion for the sake of climate protection." Chancellor Friedrich Merz has repeatedly cited European emissions trading as a key lever for reducing CO2 emissions. "The CO2 market makes sense once the conditions are in place. But we're not there yet," Miersch said. "We must be extremely careful that large segments of the population are not overburdened by CO2 pricing. And we absolutely must ensure social balance. The federal government would be well advised to conduct this discussion openly, otherwise a train will be heading our way that we can no longer stop." Specifically, the SPD parliamentary group leader called for "tools to curb market developments, such as a price cap or price corridors. Otherwise, people will take to the barricades, not just in Eastern European countries with poorly insulated houses." Reliable support for citizens is also needed. The "traffic light" coalition has painstakingly established a subsidy for climate-neutral heating systems, with up to 70 percent reimbursed. "The new government must very quickly provide clarity on the continued funding of climate-neutral heating systems such as heat pumps," the SPD parliamentary group leader demanded. "There can be no compromises; legal certainty for consumers must be created quickly. Without maintaining the subsidies, the heat transition will hit the wall." The government has the option of providing money for the heat transition and climate-neutral public and private mobility through the Climate Transformation Fund, he emphasized. The instruments are on the table: social leasing, purchase incentives for electric cars, and the expansion of public transport. "The responsible ministries must really quickly provide clarity on how the instruments will be used. But until they take effect, we cannot allow the European emissions trading system to run wild," Miersch told the "NOZ" newspaper. The long-time climate politician expressed caution about climate funding: "For many experts, climate funding is a jack of all trades. But no one can buy a heat pump or an electric car with a few hundred euros at the end of the year," Miersch said. "On the other hand, there are quite a few people who don't need a refund of the CO2 price. I therefore see climate money as one element among others, and it shouldn't be distributed across the board per capita according to the scattergun approach." Press contact: Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung Editorial Office Telephone: +49(0)541/310 207 Original content from: Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, transmitted by news aktuell Original report: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/58964/6050941