Ministers plan to accelerate Germany’s emissions reduction target

Rape fields are in full blossom on the outskirts of Frankfurt (Michael Probst/AP)

German ministers have proposed accelerating plans to cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by setting a new goal of reaching “net-zero” by 2045.

Under the proposal announced by Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, the country would increase its emissions reduction targets from 55% to 65% below 1990 levels by 2030, and to 88% by 2040.