Germany’s coalition government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has amended a key heating law to scrap mandates that previously required new systems to use 65% renewable energy. The new legislation allows homeowners to continue using oil and gas and restorung freedom of choice while moving away from the Green party’s more ambitious 2023 targets. While the government argues that a gradual increase in biogas will still meet the goal of cutting emissions, the opposition Greens have denounced the move as a total abandonment of climate protection. Despite the change, subsidies for modern heating systems will remain in place through 2029 to assist with the ongoing transition.
Date: February 25, 2026. Source: theguardian.com