The German phase-out of nuclear power - no longer just stupidity, but a real nuisance

At the World Climate Conference in Sharm al-Sheikh, which begins on Sunday, Germany's new "foreign climate policy" will celebrate its premiere. For the first time, the Federal Ministry for the Environment is not leading the negotiations to save the global climate, but the Federal Foreign Office. The bundling of competencies in the hands of diplomatic professionals should actually strengthen Germany's influence on CO2 reduction efforts in the world. Unfortunately, the opposite will probably be the case.

Because chief diplomat Annalena Baerbock and her climate secretary Jennifer Morgan not only appear empty-handed in the Egyptian seaside resort, but also as moral lightweights. Because the role model function of the once admired pioneer of the energy transition Germany has become obsolete internationally. Hardly any coal-fired developing country will let our energy and climate politicians have a guilty conscience.

The emissaries of the Federal Foreign Office can save themselves warnings and reproaches of this kind. The announcement by the federal government that it would be the only country in the world to phase out coal and nuclear power at the same time was met with disbelief but admiration at climate conferences. The general assessment was: "If anyone can do it, it will be the Germans."

Tempi passati, the Germans didn't make it. This hardly disputed statement will resonate as a basso continuo in all conversations in Sharm al-Sheikh. While Germany's nuclear phase-out was last seen internationally as nothing but stupidity, it is now perceived as a real annoyance. Because it also drives up the prices for electricity and CO2 rights in neighboring countries and makes it more difficult to save gas across borders.

Shortly before the conference, the federal government announced that it would relax its climate protection law. The maximum annual CO2 levels for each individual economic sector, which were once decreed in an attempt to socialist planned economy, have proven to be unenforceable.

In Sharm el-Sheikh, the failure of the law could be seen as further evidence of German over-ambition. Germany's only contribution would then be to set a negative example. One can learn from him that excess regulation and technology bans in climate protection do not lead to the goal.