| |
|
|
|
|
|
||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
The Week in Germany: Business and Technology December 8, 2006 Environment is the Number Two Issue on the Minds of Germans – Policies Reflect Citizens’ Concerns A survey commissioned by the Federal Environment Ministry found that the environment had risen to second place among the largest problems faced by Germany. Second only to unemployment, protecting the Earth took priority over other serious concerns including social justice (third place) and the overall economic situation (fourth place). The study also identified a strong commitment on the part of the population to increasing the use of renewable energies. Ninety percent favored expanded use of solar energy, and 70 percent favored investment in offshore-wind energy. German businesses get more help paying for electricity from renewable resources A law that will provide an additional €100 million ($133) in relief for electricity-intensive businesses went into effect on December 1. The subsidies will go to cover the additional cost of energy from renewable resources, such as wind, solar and biomass. About 330 enterprises and rail companies will receive the subsidies, which now amount to €400 million annually. The Act also vests the Federal Network Agency with new responsibilities in the field of consumer protection. Its task will be to ensure that electricity utilities do not charge their customers excessive prices for electricity from renewable energy sources. Transport Minister Tiefensee Has EU Airline Emissions in His Sights Two-thirds of Germans surveyed by the environment ministry want to see Germany at the cutting edge of climate protection. Transport minister Wolfgang Tiefensee announced in an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper this week that Berlin will seek to secure an agreement on emissions reduction for airlines when it takes the reins during its six-month EU presidency in the first half of 2007. “We want to make progress on the EU commission’s plans to extend emissions trading to air traffic,” he told the Handelsblatt.
|
|
More from Germany.info  Newsletters
 Printer-Friendly
Page
Email This Article |
||
|
|||||
|
|||||
