Germany reveals considation of 10 large international fossil fuel projects worth EUR 1 billion, despite major climate pledge

(Oil Change International, Washington, 7 December 2022) A German government State Secretary has revealed a pipeline of fossil fuel projects that shows a lack of seriousness about keeping Germany’s climate promise. The Government stated that it “currently has ten individual applications for cover under review for the granting of an export credit guarantee for supplies and services to Brazil, Iraq, Uzbekistan, the Dominican Republic and Cuba with a total volume of around one billion euros, which are connected with fossil energy projects.” Despite climate rhetoric, Germany still funding more fossil fuels than renewable energy and provides more government-backed international finance for fossil fuels than Saudi Arabia or Russia. Regine Richter, Energy and Finance Campaigner at Urgewald, said: “The German government needs to understand that you can’t say you favour climate protection and at the same time support massive fossil fuel projects. While the German government is tight-lipped about KfW loan applications, the applications for export finance alone add up to more than €1 billion for fossil fuel projects. This must end if we are to stand a chance to stay within the 1.5°C temperature limit.”