The Council of Experts on Climate Change was established as part of the Federal Climate Action Act, which came into effect in December 2019 and was amended in May 2021 and July 2024. The Act aims to gradually reduce Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions. It sets a reduction target of at least 65 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. By 2040, emissions must be reduced by at least 88 per cent. Germany is to achieve net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045 and negative greenhouse gas emissions after 2050.
The Council of Experts on Climate Change has the following tasks in the implementation of the Federal Climate Action Act:
- The Council of Experts on Climate Change reviews the greenhouse gas emissions data compiled annually in March by the Federal Environment Agency for the previous year and the projection data on the future development of emissions until and including 2030. The Expert Council assesses the extent to which the historical and projected greenhouse gas emissions for the years 2021 to 2030 are above or below the total annual emissions budgets for this period according to the Federal Climate Action Act. This comparison happens on an aggregated basis. The Expert Council takes into account the stipulations of the European Effort Sharing Regulation. It submits the assessment to the Federal Government and the Bundestag.
The greenhouse gas emissions of the sectors were distributed as follows in 2023:
- If the Expert Council establishes in its review of the projection data in two successive years that the sum of the total annual emission budgets for the years 2021 to 2030 will be exceeded, the Federal Government decides on measures within the same year to ensure compliance with the maximum permitted emission levels. Before the measures are adopted by the Federal Government , the Expert Council reviews the assumptions on greenhouse gas reduction that underlie the measures. The result of the review is added to the proposal for the decision.
- The Federal Government obtains an opinion from the Expert Council regarding the underlying assumptions on greenhouse gas reduction before implementing the following measures:
(1) alterations to annual emission budgets;
(2) updating of the Climate Action Plan;
(3) adoption of climate action programmes. - Every two years, the Expert Council presents an expertise to the Bundestag and the Federal Government on previous developments in greenhouse gas emissions, on trends in the total annual emission budgets and annual emission budgets, and on the effectiveness of measures in terms of achieving the targets under the Federal Climate Action Act. The Expert Council published such an expertise for the first time in 2022.
- The Expert Council can produce expertises on the further development of appropriate climate action measures. The Federal Government takes these into account when deciding on measures.
- In addition, the Bundestag or the Federal Government can task the Expert Council with special reports.
- In its expertises and opinions, the Expert Council also comments on the Federal Government’s stipulations regarding the social distributive effects, the economic viability and the effectiveness of climate action measures.
The current version of the Federal Climate Action Act, which was amended in July 2024, can be found here.
Members of the Council of Experts
The members of the Council of Experts on Climate Change are appointed by the Federal Government as of 01.09.2020 for a period of five years. The Council is bound only by the mandate established by the Federal Climate Change Act and is independent in its activities.
Scientific staff
The Council of Experts on Climate Change is supported in the fulfilment of its tasks by a Scientific Staff headed by a Secretary General.
Office
In carrying out its work, the Council of Experts on Climate Change is supported by a Secretariat, which performs the executive activities.
