PERFORMANCE

The German climate discussion unfairly ignores building emissions, according to a researcher

In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Lamia Messari-Becker, a buildings and physics professor at the University of Siegen, stated that the climate discussion in Germany has been overly concentrated on wind and solar power, neglecting the huge volume of emissions that come from houses. “Construction and housing are responsible for a third of CO2 emissions, as well as more than half of resource use and waste,” she told the newspaper. “Looking just at electricity exposes climate policy’s flaws.” What we want is a true heating shift in construction and living.” She stated that house heating, which accounts for the majority of power consumption, cannot be covered by solar roof panels. Investing in geothermal energy, she argued, might be a better option.

Germany has yet to establish a building and heating energy transition strategy. Last month, the country’s Expert Council on Climate criticized a sector-specific emergency program for having little impact on carbon reductions.

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