German transport minister under fire for weekend driving ban threat

German Transport Minister Volker Wissing faced criticism on Friday after suggesting the imposition of weekend driving bans during the summer months to comply with climate protection laws, sparking a dispute within Berlin’s ruling coalition over decarbonization efforts.
While greenhouse emissions in Europe’s largest economy reached their lowest level in 70 years in 2023, the transport sector has consistently fallen short of meeting its climate targets.
Under the current climate protection law, ministries overseeing underperforming sectors are required to implement immediate programs to rectify the situation.
The transport minister has hesitated to introduce such a program for the sector, arguing that upcoming amendments to the climate protection law would allow for missing CO2 reduction targets if Germany’s overall emissions target is achieved.
The transport ministry stated that reforming the sector presents unique challenges due to its significant impact on people’s daily lives, which cannot be rapidly altered.
Despite months of negotiations within the government coalition of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and pro-business FDP, an agreement on the amendments has not been reached.
In an effort to expedite approval of the changes, Wissing warned that the ministry would be compelled to implement driving bans to meet current legal requirements if the amendments were not enacted before mid-July.
Wissing’s letter to coalition parliamentary group leaders drew heavy criticism from coalition partners and environmental groups, who deemed it irresponsible fear-mongering, particularly when public enthusiasm for further green policies appears subdued.
The transport ministry clarified on Friday that the minister’s letter was not a threat but rather an expression of the opinion that parliament should fulfill its responsibility and finalize the amendments.
However, Green Party parliamentary group leader Katharina Droege characterized the letter as unwarranted fear-mongering and urged the minister to propose sensible measures for enhancing climate protection in the sector.
Meanwhile, SPD deputy parliamentary group leader Detlef Mueller denounced such tactics, emphasizing that scaremongering through outlandish proposals would hinder progress on climate protection in the transport sector.
FDP party leader and Finance Minister Christian Lindner supported Wissing’s stance.