Germany: Parliament passes climate law as scientists brand plan 'insufficient'

W/S Bundestag, Berlin
M/S MPs preparing to vote
M/S MPs
M/S Angela Merkel voting
W/S MPs voting
M/S MPs voting
C/U Board with running order
SOT, Wolfgang Schauble, Bundestag president, (German): "Total ballots handed in: 611. Three-hundred-and-fifty-six voted yes. Two hundred voted no. Fifty-five abstained. The draft law has been hereby passed."
W/S Bundestag
W/S Scientists protest for climate
M/S Scientists
C/U Sign reading 'everything has been said, now handle it'
C/U Sign reading 'Right wing populism and the climate catastrophe are threatening our lives.'
W/S Protest
M/S Protesters
C/U Protesters
C/U Protesters
SOT, Isabell Braunger, scientist, (German): Nevertheless, we stand here because scientific insights show that the measures taken in the climate protection law are insufficient to reach the climate goal [Paris climate objective of two degrees]. We know that there are actually technological and social innovations with the help of which we could reach that goal."
W/S Demo joining scientists
M/S Protesters
W/S Protest
SCRIPT
The German parliament passed a major climate protection package in Berlin on Friday. The legislation was adopted by a majority of 356 votes and sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
A number of climate scientists gathered at the Chancellery opposite the Bundestag, in a silent protest over what they called "insufficient" measures to reach the climate objective of the Paris agreement.​
Germany will attempt to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 55 per cent of the level it had in 1990 by 2030. The cuts are expected to affect energy, housing and transport sectors. The coalition has come under criticism for abandoning its 2020 target.