Germany’s 2038 coal exit date was set following a hard-fought battle during which the ruling Conservatives (CDU/CSU) and their Social Democrat coalition partners (SPD), went against a recommendation by a committee of experts and environmental groups to phase out coal by 2030. 

The exit date controversy, already fraught, was further fueled by a landmark ruling by the German constitutional court requiring a tightening of the country’s climate law, as well as the increased EU ambition to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030.

Now, as Germany’s election campaign moves into the final phase, with the SPD drawing level with the CDU/CSU for the first time in 15 years, the rival former coalition partners must choose whether to promise more climate action in order to win voters from the Greens.

Guest post from EurActiv