Editing Angela Merkel (section)

=== Climate policy ===
Merkel has been credited as a key part of 2007 [[G8]] negotiations that led to a significantly more ambitious [[renewable energy]] transition commitment than had been anticipated.<ref>{{Cite news |title=EU-Klimaziele: Merkel freut sich über "Durchbruch" |language=de-DE |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/merkel-freut-sich-uber-durchbruch-1461181.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=1865-2263 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728171523/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/merkel-freut-sich-uber-durchbruch-1461181.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2010, the coalition government published a long-term plan for [[Sustainability|sustainable]] development of the [[electrical grid]] until 2050; efforts to transition to sustainable and otherwise preferable sources of energy have been termed [[Energiewende|Energy Transition]] ({{lang|de|Energiewende}}). Although the initial plan was criticised for lifetime extensions of [[nuclear power plant]]s, it was amended following the [[Fukushima nuclear disaster]], and the last nuclear power plants in Germany were shut down in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jacobs |first=David |date=2012 |title=The German Energiewende – History, Targets, Policies and Challenges |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24324660 |journal=Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=223–233 |jstor=24324660 |issn=1869-4942 |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827153149/https://www.jstor.org/stable/24324660 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Deutschlands letzte Atomkraftwerke vom Netz genommen |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/atomkraftwerke-stilllegung-105.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415223357/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/atomkraftwerke-stilllegung-105.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Atomkraft-Aus: Letzte deutsche Akw endgültig abgeschaltet |url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/atomkraft-ausstieg-akw-abgeschaltet-aus-100.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.mdr.de |language=de |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416062538/https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/atomkraft-ausstieg-akw-abgeschaltet-aus-100.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The plan also aimed at a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, a goal that was initially achieved largely due to reductions in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erfolgsmeldung mit Schönheitsfehler – Deutschland erreicht seine Klimaziele für 2020 – dank Corona |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/erfolgsmeldung-mit-schoenheitsfehler-deutschland-erreicht-100.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=4 January 2021 |language=de |archive-date=29 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129004823/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/erfolgsmeldung-mit-schoenheitsfehler-deutschland-erreicht-100.html |url-status=live}}</ref> However, emissions increased to a level above the target in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bauchmüller |first=Michael |date=21 December 2021 |title=Klimaschutz: Deutschland verfehlt wieder sein Klimaziel |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/klimaschutz-corona-emissionen-1.5493011 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221133945/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/klimaschutz-corona-emissionen-1.5493011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2023 |title=Energieverbrauch sinkt, Emissionen stabil: Warum das so ist |url=https://www.zdf.de/uri/3ff3b9c3-9626-47be-9cfa-0544647917e5 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.zdf.de |language=de |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728162311/https://www.zdf.de/uri/3ff3b9c3-9626-47be-9cfa-0544647917e5 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In preparation for the 2015 [[2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference|Paris Climate Change Conference]], Merkel announced that Germany would significantly increase its contributions to international climate aid and financing by 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2015 |title=Germany increases funding for climate action |url=https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/archive/archive/germany-increases-funding-for-climate-action-442202 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Bundesregierung |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215025035/https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/archive/archive/germany-increases-funding-for-climate-action-442202 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, some observers criticised Merkel's lack of action with regards to climate change that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Climate plan: Hendricks demands Merkel put down her foot" |url=https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/industry-grid-fee-rebates-rise-germany-retired-climate-pioneer/climate-plan-hendricks-demands-merkel-put-down-her-foot |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Clean Energy Wire |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201023842/https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/industry-grid-fee-rebates-rise-germany-retired-climate-pioneer/climate-plan-hendricks-demands-merkel-put-down-her-foot |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Angela Merkel und der Klimawandel: Klimakanzlerin außer Dienst |language=de-DE |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/klimakanzlerin-ausser-dienst-6020302.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=1865-2263 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728171522/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/klimakanzlerin-ausser-dienst-6020302.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, Merkel criticised the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]]'s decision to withdraw from the 2015 [[Paris Agreement]] and reaffirmed the commitment of the remaining [[G20]] members to the treaty.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 June 2017 |title=Angela Merkel: Trump can't stop us on Paris deal |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-trump-cant-stop-us/ |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=POLITICO |archive-date=2 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602121312/https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-trump-cant-stop-us/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Halasz |first1=Angela|last2=Dewan|first2=Stephanie |date=8 July 2017 |title=G20 closes with rebuke to Trump's climate change stance |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/08/europe/g20-merkel-trump-communique/index.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=CNN |archive-date=8 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708152917/https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/08/europe/g20-merkel-trump-communique/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In early 2019, a governmental commission appointed by the coalition government approved a plan to phase out [[Coal-fired power station|coal power plants]] by 2038, allocating a budget of {{Currency|40|EUR|linked=no}} billion to the plan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buck |first=Tobias |date=26 January 2019 |title=Germany set to phase out coal-fired power stations by 2038 |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cfae297e-213c-11e9-8ce6-5db4543da632 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127053532/https://www.ft.com/content/cfae297e-213c-11e9-8ce6-5db4543da632 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 January 2020 |title=Germany agrees plan to phase out coal power by 2038 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51133534 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=21 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121041216/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51133534 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2019, the Merkel government announced a set of climate change mitigation policies with a total budget of {{Currency|54|EUR|linked=no}} billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eddy |first=Melissa |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany Unveils $60 Billion Climate Package |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/germany-climate-protection-merkel.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920172021/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/germany-climate-protection-merkel.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Although described as a "new beginning for Germany's climate policy" by then-minister of the environment [[Svenja Schulze]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buck |first=Tobias |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany unveils sweeping measures to fight climate change |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/26e8d1e0-dbb3-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17 |access-date=30 June 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920172059/https://www.ft.com/content/26e8d1e0-dbb3-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17 |url-status=live}}</ref> the package was widely criticised; environmental protection groups have labelled it insufficient, and opposition parties have argued that it is ineffective.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany plans €54bn climate deal amid 500 protests |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49767649 |access-date=30 June 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920165710/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49767649 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Polarized public over Germany's climate plan? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/does-germanys-weak-climate-plan-reflect-a-polarized-public/a-50681461 |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=9 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009110911/https://www.dw.com/en/does-germanys-weak-climate-plan-reflect-a-polarized-public/a-50681461 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Not even the bare minimum: unpacking Germany's 2030 climate package |url=https://climateanalytics.org/blog/2019/not-even-the-bare-minimum-unpacking-germanys-2030-climate-package/ |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Climate Analytics Blog |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603073756/https://climateanalytics.org/blog/2019/not-even-the-bare-minimum-unpacking-germanys-2030-climate-package |url-status=live}}</ref> Prominent climate scientists have called it "a failure of the political system"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Götze |first=Susanne |date=20 September 2019 |title=Klimapaket der Bundesregierung: So beurteilen Experten die Einigung |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/klimapaket-der-bundesregierung-so-beurteilen-experten-die-einigung-a-1287888.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920193108/https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/klimapaket-der-bundesregierung-so-beurteilen-experten-die-einigung-a-1287888.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and "ridiculous".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kritik an Bundesregierung – Latif: Klimapaket verdient den Namen nicht |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/kritik-an-bundesregierung-latif-klimapaket-verdient-den-100.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=26 September 2019 |language=de |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116225327/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/kritik-an-bundesregierung-latif-klimapaket-verdient-den-100.html |url-status=live}}</ref>