Germany’s lawmakers have passed a plan that will see coal-fired power plants phased out by 2038 to support the country’s attempts to transform its economy. “The days of coal are numbered,” said Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, who bragged that it would make Germany the first industrialized nation to move beyond both coal and nuclear power. While climate change denialists and ultra-free marketeers warn the plan is unworkable and foolhardy, environmental activists charge that it’s a case of too little too late. While Germany shut down its black coal sector in 2018, that hasn’t stopped it from importing the fuel and continuing to mine lignite. The government has promised €40bn in support for regions impacted by the transition away from coal, angering those who believe that rather than putting greater strain on tax payers, emissions costs should have been raised instead.
