State Climate Protection Act

The state parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate passed a new climate protection law in a roll-call vote. The state climate protection law stipulates that Rhineland-Palatinate should be climate-neutral by 2040, meaning that it should not emit more harmful gases than nature can absorb. By 2030, emissions are expected to fall by 67 percent compared to 1990 and by 83 percent by 2035. In addition, from 2030, all electricity will come from renewable energies such as wind and solar energy. The so-called CO₂ shadow price is to be introduced as a new instrument. This makes climate-damaging construction methods artificially more expensive to plan, so that climate-friendly solutions are preferred. Forests, moors and green spaces should be additionally protected because they store CO₂ and ensure biodiversity. A digital register is intended to document progress in climate protection. The bill was approved in the final vote with 53 votes in favour. 46 MPs voted against and there were no abstentions.