Germany has unveiled its official roadmap to decarbonize its energy matrix by 2045, joining the group of nations prioritizing the phase-out of fossil sources.
During the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider detailed the country’s transition strategy. The document establishes strict targets to replace oil, coal, and natural gas with renewable alternatives, consolidating a commitment that gained initial traction during discussions at COP30.
Currently, nearly two-thirds of Germany’s energy matrix still depends on fossil fuels, with a heavy reliance on imports. Recent geopolitical scenarios have highlighted the risks of this external dependence, turning the climate agenda into an urgent matter of economic security for the German government.
Decarbonization Targets and Transport Electrification
The roadmap establishes that the share of renewable energy in electricity generation will jump from 55% to 80% by the end of this decade. Furthermore, the definitive phase-out of coal is scheduled for 2038, with the possibility of being brought forward to 2035, while total climate neutrality is expected to be achieved by 2045.
Carsten Schneider emphasized:
More and more countries are realizing how costly and dangerous their dependence on fossil fuels is. When the situation in the Strait of Hormuz determines whether people can still afford their daily commute to work, something is very wrong. We need to break our dependence on fossil fuels—and we can.
In the mobility sector, electrification is advancing rapidly, driven by multibillion-dollar subsidies aimed at passenger electric vehicles and trucks. Concurrently, district heating and industrial processes are undergoing deep structural reforms, prioritizing heat pumps, energy efficiency, and the future use of green hydrogen.
The International Landscape and Brazil’s Lag
The German initiative reflects the advancement of a global movement voluntarily coordinated after COP30 in Belém, where the debate over phasing out fossil fuels faced strong resistance from producing powers. Despite the engagement of over 100 nations in the international roadmap led by diplomat André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil is still lagging in drafting its own national strategy.
While departments such as the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment diverge over the intensity of cuts in oil and gas production, the Brazilian plan remains without a definitive launch deadline, contrasting the country with the accelerated pace of transition adopted in Europe.
