Berlin, March 15, 2026: The proposed federal Building Modernization Act (GMG), intended to replace the existing Building Energy Act (GEG), necessitates decisive action from the Berlin Senate and coalition. This move is crucial as the federal government appears to be backtracking on key climate protection instruments, potentially endangering Berlin’s ambitious climate goals and exposing its residents to volatile fossil fuel prices, as evidenced by the recent surge in energy costs during the Iran conflict.
Federal Rollback and Rising Emissions
According to the 2025 Climate Balance Report released by the Federal Environment Agency on Saturday, national emissions in the building sector reached 103.4 million tons of CO₂ equivalents in 2025. This marks an increase of 3.4 million tons of CO₂ equivalents, a concerning trend given that these figures should be decreasing to meet climate targets. The report underscores a critical failure at the federal level to implement effective climate protection policies, pushing the onus onto individual states like Berlin.
The Threat to Berlin’s Heating Transition
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