18 May 2026
The Expert Council on Climate Issues sees a need for further action to achieve Germany’s climate targets. Following the release of the new review report, LMU geographer and Expert Council member Prof. Dr. Julia Pongratz joined a live BR24 interview.
The Expert Council on Climate Issues has published its new review report on German greenhouse gas emissions and the federal government’s current climate projections. In the report, the independent advisory body concludes that the measures taken so far are unlikely to be sufficient to meet the statutory climate targets in the long term.
Prof. Dr. Julia Pongratz, holder of the Chair of Physical Geography and Land Use Systems in the Department of Geography at LMU Munich and a member of the Expert Council on Climate Issues, appeared live in a BR24 interview to discuss the report. During the interview, she analyzed the current emissions data and the Expert Council’s assessment.
The Expert Council is particularly critical of developments in the land use sector (LULUCF): Instead of becoming a growing CO₂ sink as required by law, forests, peatlands, and soils will remain a source of greenhouse gases in the long term, according to current projection data. In addition, the council sees a need for further action in the areas of buildings and transportation.
In the interview, Julia Pongratz discusses the importance of land use and natural CO₂ sinks for climate protection, as well as the challenges involved in achieving Germany’s climate targets.
The full press release from the Expert Council on Climate Issues can be found here.
See the full interview here.