National Climate Protection Program

The German government first presented the National Climate Protection Programme in October 2000, with the aim of a 25% CO2 emissions reduction from 1990 levels by 2005. The programme set reduction objectives by sector and developed a number of related measures. These included an increase in energy production from combined heat and power plants, an Energy Savings Ordinance and a voluntary pledge by German industrial associations to reduce their emissions. Later developments included tax breaks and an agreement with the automobile industry to help proliferation of energy-efficient cars, and an additional levy on air traffic is considered. The original National Climate Protection Programme was updated in 2005 (see separate entry).