Climate Change and Renewables

With the "Fit for 55" package, the European Union has set itself the ambitious target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Europe is to become climate-neutral by 2050. 

The EU member states have recently approved a series of legislative proposals. For example, the Renewable Energy Directive (Red III) aims to increase the share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption to at least 42.5 percent, and if possible to 45 percent by 2030. Environmental and climate protection shape legislation at both European and national level – be it in the area of supply chains, hazardous substances legislation, circular economy legislation or nature and species protection legislation.  

After the German Federal Constitutional Court declared parts of the German Climate Protection Act of 2019 unconstitutional in its ruling published on 29. April 2021, the national climate targets were also significantly tightened in the summer of 2021 with the subsequent amendment to the Climate Protection Act. Germany is to become climate-neutral by 2045. By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by 65 percent compared to 1990. 

A key obstacle to the implementation of major infrastructure projects continues to be planning and approval procedures, which regularly block accelerated expansion due to their complexity and duration, as do administrative court proceedings.

Our legal services at a glance

Rödl & Partner advises in the field of energy and environmental law on all legal issues relating to renewable energies, the necessary planning and licensing law and the relevant legal framework of environmental law and assists its clients in court and out-of-court proceedings.