The Committee on Climate Action and Energy
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The Committee on
Climate Action and Energy
Ausschuss für Klimaschutz und Energie
Informationen in englischer Sprache
New
20 2o3n
ersi
v erm
oral t
elect
20th
“Without affordable, renewable
energy, prosperity will be out of
reach for future generations. Press-
ing forward with the energy transi-
tion, not just in technological terms,
but in a socially equitable way, is
therefore one of the most important
projects in this electoral term.
Wind and solar energy must be
massively expanded, together with
the necessary power lines, while a
market ramp-up is needed in the
hydrogen sector. The newly estab-
lished Committee on Climate
Action and Energy will prepare the
legislation underpinning all of
these areas. A social and environ-
mental restructuring of the energy
sector is the only way to protect
our climate effectively.”
Klaus Ernst, The Left Party
Chairman of the Committee on
Climate Action and Energy
3
The German Bundestag’s
decisions are prepared by its
committees, which are estab-
lished at the start of each elec-
toral term. Four of them are
stipulated by the Basic Law,
the German constitution: the
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
the Defence Committee, the
Committee on European
Union Affairs and the Peti-
tions Committee.
The Budget Committee and
the Committee for the Scru-
tiny of Elections, Immunity
and the Rules of Procedure
are also required by law. The
spheres of responsibility of
the committees essentially
reflect the Federal Govern-
ment’s distribution of ministe-
rial portfolios. This enables
Parliament to scrutinise the
government’s work effec-
tively.
The committees of
the German Bundestag
The German Bundestag sets
political priorities of its own
by establishing additional
committees for specific sub-
jects, such as sport, cultural
affairs, human rights or
tourism. In addition, special The committees discuss and
bodies such as parliamentary deliberate on items referred to
advisory councils, committees them by the plenary. They
of inquiry or study commis- also have the right to take up
sions can also be established. issues on their own initiative,
The committees are composed allowing them to set priorities
of members of all the parlia- in the parliamentary debate.
mentary groups, reflecting the When necessary, they draw
balance of these groups in the on external expertise – usu-
German Bundestag. The dis- ally by holding public hear-
tribution of the chairs and ings. At the end of a commit-
deputy chairs among the tee’s deliberations – especially
parliamentary groups also on bills and motions for which
reflects their relative strengths it is the lead committee – it
in the plenary. In the current adopts a recommendation for
electoral term, the commit- a decision and a report, which
tees have between 19 and serve as the basis for the ple-
49 members. nary’s decision.
5
For the first time in the Ger-
man Bundestag’s history, a
Committee on Climate Action
and Energy has been estab-
lished in the 20th electoral
term. Energy policy was pre-
viously part of the remit of the
then Committee on Economic
Affairs and Energy. Now a
dedicated committee has been
set up for this issue and for
climate action. The SPD, Alli-
ance 90/The Greens and FDP
parliamentary groups, which
form the governing coalition
in the current electoral term,
included the following com-
mitment in their coalition
agreement:
The Committee on
Climate Action and Energy
“Achieving the Paris climate
targets is a top priority for us. To this end, it is necessary to
Climate action safeguards create the appropriate legal
freedom, justice and sustaina- foundations for the energy
ble prosperity. The social sector, industry, licensing
market economy must be authorities and the public, or
placed on a new footing as a to update existing legal reg-
socio-ecological market econ- ulations. The Committee on
omy. We will create a regula- Climate Action and Energy
tory environment which deliberates on bills from this
paves the way for innovations policy field that are intro-
and measures to put Germany duced by the Federal Gov-
on a trajectory to keep warm- ernment, by the Bundesrat,
ing to 1.5 degrees.” or “from the floor of the Bun-
In line with this pledge, the destag”. When needed, the
Federal Government has Committee draws on external
undertaken to place the expertise by holding hear-
energy transition at the heart ings of experts, and consults
of its agenda. The challenge is those affected by draft legis-
to reconcile the triad of ener- lation to hear their views. At
gy-policy goals: climate and the end of its deliberations,
environmental compatibility, the Committee submits a rec-
security of supply, and ommendation to the plenary
affordability. The focus is on of the Bundestag to adopt
expanding renewables, the bill – potentially in an
including the necessary sup- amended form – or to reject
ply networks, and boosting it. The Bundestag as a whole
energy efficiency, especially then votes on these recom-
in buildings. mendations.
10 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SPD
9 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CDU/CSU
5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Alliance 90/The Greens
4 ■ ■ ■ ■ FDP
4 ■ ■ ■ ■ AfD
2 ■ ■ The Left Party
Number of members: 34
Chairman: Klaus Ernst, The Left Party
Deputy Chairperson: Not yet elected, AfD
7
In addition to its delibera-
tions on legislation, the Com-
mittee on Climate Action and
Energy cooperates with the
Committee on Economic
Affairs to scrutinise the work
of the Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Climate
Action. Under the chairman- In view of the Putin regime’s
ship of Klaus Ernst (The Left war on Ukraine, another key
Party), the 34 members of the issue is the urgent strategic
Committee – many of them need to reduce the depend-
young parliamentarians who ence of the European Union
have been elected to the Bun- and Germany on energy
destag for the first time – imports from Russia, while at
closely monitor how climate the same time securing energy
targets are being implemented supplies.
in our society and economy, In the last electoral term,
and what legal and political the then Committee on Eco-
parameters companies need nomic Affairs and Energy
to make Europe and Germany accomplished a remarkable
more competitive as a place amount of work in the field
to do business, with the aim of energy policy. It was the
of safeguarding jobs and cre- lead committee in delibera-
ating new ones. Federal Min- tions on 26 bills (such as the
ister Dr Robert Habeck or a Electric Mobility Infrastruc-
representative attends the ture in Buildings Act and the
Committee’s meetings to Act Amending the Offshore
answer its questions. Wind Energy Act), 63 motions
8
Going forward, the Committee
on Climate Action and Energy
will continue to play a role in
achieving climate targets,
advancing the energy transi-
tion, seizing the opportunities
(for example on the hydro- for growth and competition
gen union), several statu- offered by renewables, achiev-
tory instruments (includ- ing a high level of employ-
ing on interruptible loads) ment, strengthening small and
and 171 EU items of busi- medium-sized businesses,
ness. Special mention should promoting new technologies,
be made of one of the big- or balancing economic and
gest pieces of legislation: the environmental objectives. In
Act to Reduce and End Coal- addition to discussing the
Fired Power Generation and items of business referred to it,
to Amend Further Acts (the the Committee takes up issues
Coal Phase-out Act), which arising within its remit on its
is linked to the Structural own initiative. These are topi-
Strengthening Act for Min- cal issues of climate and
ing Regions. Several hearings energy policy on which the
were held on this subject. The Federal Government briefs the
Committee members also met Committee, including the
representatives of the regions sovereignty of German and
concerned, for example European decisions on energy
experts from regional devel- policy or the Carbon Border
opment corporations and min- Adjustment Mechanism,
istries at Land level, as well as which is intended to help
mayors of towns in the Lusa- safeguard the competitive-
tian, Rhenish and Central Ger- ness of European and German
man coal-mining districts. businesses.
9
The Committee’s work
in practice
Financial affairs, the environ-
ment, health, demographic
trends, social affairs, trans-
port, building and urban
development, education, or
The Committee’s members research: all of these issues
have to closely examine a are connected to economic
large number of bills, motions activity and public services.
and communications from the The people of Germany and
Federal Government in prepa- the German economy require
ration for their deliberations. energy in the form of electric-
In addition to actively partici- ity, gas and heating. The Com-
pating in committee meetings mittee on Climate Action and
and plenary sittings, the par- Energy will work together
liamentarians regularly meet with the Bundestag’s other
delegations from foreign par- committees to create the legal
liaments and governments framework to ensure that
who are visiting Germany. energy suppliers, together
Furthermore, meetings are with the state, provide
regularly held with represent- this energy in a secure and
atives of the European Com- affordable manner. It is collab-
mission and the European orating closely with the Com-
Parliament. Delegation trips mittee on Economic Affairs
in weeks when the Bundestag on this issue. In the context of
is not sitting are also part of energy supplies, politicians
the Committee members’ specialising in environmen-
work. tal issues also have a role to
10required. Due to the coronavi-
rus pandemic, the Committee
is still holding hybrid meet-
ings, with in-person meet-
ings being combined with vir-
play, for example to balance tual formats. The topics are,
species conservation and bio- in many respects, highly tech-
diversity with the goals of the nical and require the Com-
energy transition. And when mittee’s members to study
it comes to tax incentives for documentation in detail in
expanding the role of renewa- preparation for the deliber-
bles, the Committee members ations. When necessary, the
consult the Bundestag’s pol- Members consult external
iticians specialising in finan- experts at public hearings –
cial policy. The Committee on the subject of wind and
will be working on decarbon- solar projects pursued by cit-
ising transport in partnership izens’ energy companies, for
with the Committee on Trans- example, or when it comes to
port. Meanwhile, the mem- the route of power lines. To
bers of the Committee on scrutinise the government’s
European Union Affairs are in work, the Committee also
demand in discussions on the requests detailed reports from
transposition of European law the Federal Ministry for Eco-
into national legislation. All nomic Affairs and Climate
of these issues appear on the Action, including reports on
agenda for the Committee’s the immediate action pro-
meetings, which take place grammes under the Federal
on Wednesdays from 9:30 to Climate Change Act or the
13:00 hrs in weeks when the Federal Government’s report
Bundestag is sitting. Extraor- on the implementation of the
dinary meetings are held as National Hydrogen Strategy.
11Klaus Ernst,
The Left Party
Chairman
Trade union secretary,
b. 1 Nov. 1954 Deputy Chairperson
in Munich. yet to be elected,
Bundestag Member AfD
since 2005 Deputy Chairperson
Committee members
The 34 members of the Committee on
Climate Action and Energy
12Dr Thomas Gebhart,
Dr Nina Scheer, CDU/CSU (substitute
SPD member) Lisa Badum,
Parliamentary-group Parliamentary-group Alliance 90/The Greens
coordinator coordinator Parliamentary-group
Lawyer, political Political scientist, coordinator
scientist, musician, business administrator, Political scientist,
b. 11 Sep. 1971 b. 20 Dec. 1971 b. 2 Oct. 1983
in Berlin. in Kandel. in Forchheim.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2013 since 2009 since 2017
Ralph Lenkert,
The Left Party,
Olaf in der Beek, Karsten Hilse, Parliamentary-group
FDP AfD coordinator
Parliamentary-group Parliamentary-group Toolmaker, state-
coordinator coordinator certified mechanical
Self-employed, Police officer, engineering technician,
b. 31 July 1967 b. 12 Dec. 1964 b. 9 May 1967
in Bochum. in Hoyerswerda. in Apolda.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2017 since 2017 since 2009
13Bengt Bergt,
Sanae Abdi, SPD
SPD Workers’ council
Development chairman, technical Timon Gremmels,
cooperation project translator and SPD
manager, technical writer, Political scientist,
b. 7 July 1986 b. 7 May 1982 b. 4 Jan. 1976
in Tétouan (Morocco). in Luckenwalde. in Marburg.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2021 since 2021 since 2017
Markus Hümpfer, Helmut Kleebank, Andreas Mehltretter,
SPD SPD SPD
Engineer, Nurse, teacher, Economist,
b. 17 Mar. 1992 b. 18 Nov. 1964 b. 10 Dec. 1991
in Schweinfurt. in Berlin. in Moosburg an der Isar.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2021 since 2021 since 2021
14Katrin Zschau,
Robin Mesarosch, Andreas Rimkus, SPD
SPD SPD Regional trade union
Parliamentary adviser, Master electrician, secretary,
b. 1 Apr. 1991 b. 24 Dec. 1962 b. 9 June 1976
in Herrenberg. in Düsseldorf. in Greifswald.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2021 since 2013 since 2021
Dr Hans-Peter
Friedrich,
CDU/CSU Fabian Gramling, Thomas Heilmann,
Lawyer, CDU/CSU CDU/CSU
b. 10 Mar. 1957 Audit manager, Lawyer,
in Naila, Upper b. 5 Apr. 1987 b. 16 July 1964
Franconia. in Stuttgart. in Dortmund.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 1998 since 2021 since 2017
15Andreas Jung,
CDU/CSU Jens Koeppen,
Mark Helfrich, CDU/CSU policy CDU/CSU
CDU/CSU spokesman Master electrician,
Business administrator, Lawyer, entrepreneur,
b. 8 Sep. 1978 b. 13 May 1975 b. 27 Sep. 1962
in Itzehoe. in Freiburg. in Zeitz.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2013 since 2005 since 2005
Anne König,
CDU/CSU Dr Andreas Lenz, Maria-Lena Weiss,
Comprehensive school CDU/CSU CDU/CSU
headteacher, Business administrator, Lawyer,
b. 4 Dec. 1984 b. 23 Apr. 1981 b. 4 Apr. 1981
in Münster. in Ebersberg. in Tuttlingen.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2021 since 2013 since 2021
16Dr Ingrid Nestle,
Alliance 90/The Greens
Kathrin Henneberger, Bernhard Herrmann, Alliance 90/The Greens
Alliance 90/The Greens Alliance 90/The Greens policy spokeswoman
Employee, Hydraulic engineer, Industrial engineer,
b. 1 Apr. 1987 b. 13 Jan. 1966 b. 22 Dec. 1977
in Cologne. in Luckenwalde. in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2021 since 2021 since 2017
Michael Kruse, Anikó
Katrin Uhlig, FDP Glogowski-Merten,
Alliance 90/The Greens FDP policy spokesman FDP
Research assistant, Entrepreneur, Art scientist,
b. 5 July 1982 b. 30 Dec. 1983 b. 25 Mar. 1982
in Duisburg. in Hamburg. in Havelberg.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2021 since 2021 since 2021
17Marc Bernhard,
Konrad Stockmeier, AfD Steffen Kotré,
FDP Lawyer, business AfD
Market researcher, administrator, Engineer,
b. 3 May 1977 b. 5 Feb. 1972 b. 29 Apr. 1971
in Heidelberg. in Reutlingen. in Berlin.
Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member
since 2021 since 2017 since 2017
Dr Rainer Kraft,
AfD
Chemist,
b. 8 Jan. 1974
in Grafelfing.
Bundestag Member
since 2017
18Information online
The Committee on Climate Action and Energy
www.bundestag.de/en/committees/a25
Website for downloading and ordering
the German Bundestag’s information materials
www.btg-bestellservice.de
20Contact details for the Committee Secretariat
Deutscher Bundestag
Ausschuss für Klimaschutz und Energie
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin
Tel.: +49 30 227-34209
Email: klima-energie@bundestag.de
21Herausgeber: Deutscher Bundestag, Referat Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin
Koordination: Dr. Elisabeth Heegewaldt, Elmar Ostermann
Published by: German Bundestag, Public Relations Division
Coordination: Dr Elisabeth Heegewaldt, Elmar Ostermann
Texts: Georgia Rauer; revised by: Parliament and Members Directorate
(p. 4 – 5); Secretariat of the Committee on Climate Action and Energy (p. 6 – 21)
Edited by: Dr Christian Jerger
Translated by: Language Service of the German Bundestag, in cooperation
with Emma Hardie
Design: Marc Mendelson, revised by Nolte Kommunikation
Graphic: p. 7 Marc Mendelson, revised by Nolte Kommunikation
Bundestag eagle: Created by Professor Ludwig Gies, revised in 2008 by büro
uebele
Photos: Public Relations Division picture desk: Sylvia Bohn, Julia Jesse
Photo credits: p. 2 Deutscher Bundestag (DBT) / Linus Lintner Fotografie;
p. 8, 9, 10, 11, 19 DBT / Werner Schüring; p. 10 DBT / Florian Gärtner /
photothek; p. 23 DBT / studio kohlmeier
Portrait photos: p. 3, 12 Katja Julia Fischer (Ernst); p. 13 spdfraktion.de /
photothek (Scheer); Dr Thomas Gebhart / Björn Iversen (Gebhart); Lisa
Badum / Stefan Kaminski (Badum); engelskraemer.de (in der Beek); Karsten
Hilse / Photostudio Kellermann Wittichenau (Hilse); DBT / Inga Haar (Lenkert);
p. 14 spdfraktion.de / photothek (Abdi); Bengt Bergt / Kai Köckeritz (Bergt);
spdfraktion.de / photothek (Gremmels); spdfraktion.de / photothek (Hümpfer);
Helmut Kleebank / Foto Fehse (Kleebank); spdfraktion.de / photothek
(Mehltretter); p. 15 spdfraktion.de / photothek (Mesarosch); spdfraktion.de/
photothek (Rimkus); spdfraktion.de / photothek (Zschau); DBT / Inga Haar
(Friedrich); DBT / Inga Haar (Gramling); Thomas Heilmann (Heilmann);
p. 16 DBT / Stella von Saldern (Helfrich); DBT / Simone M. Neumann
(Jung); DBT / Simone M. Neumann (Koeppen); Anne König / Anja Tiwisina
(König); Andreas Lenz / András Dobi (Lenz); Tobias Koch (Weiss); p. 17
BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN Bundestagsfraktion / Stefan Kaminski
(Henneberger); BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN Bundestagsfraktion / Stefan
Kaminski (Herrmann); DBT / Inga Haar (Nestle); BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN
Bundestagsfraktion
/ Stefan Kaminski (Uhlig); Michael Kruse FDP Hamburg /
Patrick Lux (Kruse); FDP Kreisverband Braunschweig / Michael Ciecimirski
(Merten); p. 18 Oskar Weiß (Stockmeier); Marc Bernhard (Bernhard); Steffen
Kotré / Hagen Schnauss (Kotré); Dr Rainer Kraft / Hagen Schnauss (Kraft)
Printed by: Druckhaus Waiblingen Remstal-Bote GmbH
As at: February 2023
© Deutscher Bundestag, Berlin
All rights reserved.
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public relations activities. It is provided free of charge and is not intended
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parties or parliamentary groups in their own public relations activities.The German Bundestag takes decisions on what are at times highly complex and controversial bills and parliamentary initiatives relating to the entire spectrum of policy fields. The committees play a central role in parliamentary deliberations. They are the forum where the Members thrash out compromises and draw on expert advice before submitting their reports and recommendations for decisions to be voted on by the Bundestag as a whole. www.bundestag.de/en/committees The most up-to-date version of this leaflet is available as an accessible PDF file:
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