“COP31 can be a conference of real progress”
UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya: Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider explains how global warming can be brought back down to 1.5 degrees.
Interview: Kim Berg Minister Schneider, what are your expectations for the COP31 UN Climate Change Conference?
In Antalya, the aim is to step up the pace of climate action. I’ll be pushing for the most concrete measures possible: electrification, country-specific roadmaps for moving away from fossil fuels and tapping into new opportunities, for example by tackling the extremely harmful greenhouse gas SF6. COP31 can be a conference of real progress. The difficult global situation is a key factor here, too. The economic benefits of moving away from fossil fuels are obvious: it combines energy independence, affordability and climate action. We’ll be seeing far more businesses in Antalya than we did in Belém last year. So Antalya will be a business conference too, highlighting the huge opportunities in emerging markets for climate technologies, particularly for German companies.
The economic benefits of moving away from fossil fuels are obvious: it combines energy independence, affordability and climate action.
What are the three main goals Germany hopes to achieve at COP31?
Given the unequivocal message from science, our overarching goal must be to accelerate global climate action and bring the temperature trajectory back down towards 1.5 degrees as quickly as possible. Specifically, the conference can generate momentum in three areas. First, more countries could set out concrete roadmaps showing how they intend to move away from fossil fuels. Second, we could make progress on electrification worldwide, sending a strong signal to markets. And third, we should further strengthen recognition of science as the foundation for our actions. COP31 should also focus on advancing our global goals to protect, restore and strengthen nature, the oceans and forests.
Quick facts
Where is Germany particularly strong in terms of climate action?
Germany has a strong clean-tech sector. That means climate action offers enormous opportunities for our economy. Our companies are already switching to electric vehicle fleets. They’re using industrial heat pumps to electrify processes – in other words, to power them directly with electricity. Combining the expansion of renewable energy with systematic electrification also reduces energy costs in the medium and long term. That makes us more competitive and safeguards good jobs. The share of renewable energy in Germany’s gross electricity consumption rose to 57 per cent in the first half of 2026. We’re showing that clean tech is a growing sector of the economy: in Germany, it accounts for nine per cent of value added, more than 3.4 million jobs and average growth of around five per cent.
