“This situation might create a new momentum for the Cop in Antalya, that countries are more open, including also those who were a little bit reluctant that we need to do the next steps to transition away from fossil fuels.”
Renewables make up about 60% of Germany’s energy supply, with coal accounting for about 22% in 2024. The country’s last coal-fired plants are due to be phased out by 2038, though some have been brought back online in recent weeks due to the crisis from the closure of the strait of Hormuz.
Flasbarth said, like in Australia, faster efforts to promote electrification were essential, including in passenger and freight vehicle technology.
“Electrification is the key track we all need to use,” he said.
“We started too late. We should have started this transformation much earlier and now our companies are surprised that China is faster. But nobody forced our industry to be so reluctant to invest in electric vehicles and I’m sure we will catch up … because it’s one of the backbones of our national industries.”
Darling Downs cattle and cropping farmer Sally Higgins has been named as the summit’s youth climate champion. The talks will feature core principles of “dialogue, consensus and action”.
