Overview

• Environment Minister Carsten Schneider presented an update to the Natural Climate Protection Action Programme setting out 41 ecosystem measures, including forest conversion, gentler tillage and de‑sealing.
• The plan prioritizes rewetting drained peatlands, projected to cut about 28 million tonnes of CO2‑equivalents by 2045.
• Across ecosystems such as forests, meadows, moors and waters, the ministry projects around 77 million tonnes in savings by 2045.
• Drained peat soils currently emit more than 50 million tonnes CO2e a year—about seven percent of national emissions—while drought‑stressed forests have recently turned from sinks to sources.
• The package draws on an existing budget of more than €3.5 billion for 2024 to 2028 under the federal natural climate protection programme.