It is hard to imagine, but in middle of 20^th century Germany was one of the  worst environmental friendly countries.  For example, in the 1970s, the river Rhine  looked as   cesspool,  because it was poisoned by heavy industry.  However, Germany’s  representatives   said no to all  effort by the US and the Scandinavian countries to  decrease sulfur-dioxide      emission or prohibit  ozone-depleting  hydrochlorofluorocarbons.  Industry owners and   workers were convinced  that any  regulations would destroy their jobs.  Therefore, they tried  to  prove that all plants and  factories did not contribute anything to pollution, but as they   started  doing research,  they figured   out  that industries damaged environment a lot.  Since  that  period  Germany has changed  its policy.

Today we can say that Germany is one of the most “green” countries in the world; it is not just because salmon returned to Rhine.  It happened because Germany has created a list of new environmental policy.  After long political debate, Germany’s government adopted new Energy Concept document in September 2010.  This document has setting out a framework for Germany’s energy policy until 2050.   Using this policy makes Germany one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly countries in the world, while having a good living standards and qualities of life.  New energy policy expresses the goals for medium and longer terms;

• primary energy consumption is to fall by 20 percent from 2008 levels by 2020, and at least 50 percent by 2050
• renewable energy is to account for 18 percent of final energy consumption in 2020, and at least 80 percent of electricity consumption in 2050
• Greenhouse gas emissions are to see cuts of 40 percent by 2020 and at least 80 percent by 2050, both relative to 1990 levels.

They want to achieve these goals through taxes and other fiscal instruments.  For instance, if you visit Germany in future, you will notice that gas is much more expensive there than in many other countries.  In 2011 a gallon of regular gas cost more than $7, it is double than in the US.  Difference in price is due to taxation.  In 1999, the Germany passed the Ecological Tax Reform Act, which presented gradual increases in the tax rate on oil, gas and electricity.  This reform has actually worked well, because in 2000 gasoline consumption decreased by 4.5% compare to previous year, and it continued to decrease in 2001 and 2002, around 3% in each year.  The CO2 reduction is estimated to have 3% annually.

Click here to see more Germany policies    www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/981

In conclusion, we can say that Germany turned from the least environmental conscious country to the greenest one.  They achieved it through raising taxes and using special fiscal instruments.  As we can see, those changes really helped to reduce consumption of fuel and other nonrenewable sources of energy.

Sources:

Blue, Laura, and Schwandorf. “The Environment.” Time. Time, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013

How Germany Became Europe’s Green Leader.” Www.il.boell.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013

Welcome to the Website of the Green Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag.” English. N.p.,     n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.