Whichever way you look at it, Germany is going to play a highly significant role if Europe is to meet its climate targets by 2050. After 16 years of rule by Angela Merkel came to an end at the end of 2021, where climate policies increasingly took a back seat, a new coalition government, lead by Olaf Scholz, has placed decarbonisation of the economy at the centre of the cross-party agreement. Europe's largest economy is aiming to reach net-zero by 2045 - but can the country achieve this and how? And can Germany then also lead from the front on the international stage? This week, Jan, Michaela and David are joined by Claudia Kemfort, professor of energy economics and energy policy at the German Institute for Economic Research and Leuphana University to discuss how Germany's new government, and its economy, are tackling the energy transition. Listen and subscribe to Watt Matters wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @WattMattersPod or email us at [email protected]. You can also find FORESIGHT Climate & Energy on LinkedIn.SHOW NOTES:Jan’s What Caught My Eye:National Grid ESO and Octopus Energy launch trial to unleash demand flexibility this winter - https://www.nationalgrideso.com/news/national-grid-eso-and-octopus-energy-launch-trial-unleash-demand-flexibility-winterClaudia’s What Caught My Eye:Stärkung von Agri-PV-Anlagen: Habeck startet Solar-Offensive auf dem Acker - https://www.msn.com/de-de/nachrichten/other/st-c3-a4rkung-von-agri-pv-anlagen-habeck-startet-solar-offensive-auf-dem-acker/ar-AATGlXI?ocid=BingNewsSearchMichaela’s What Caught My Eye:Twitter post by Lisa Desjardins - https://twitter.com/lisadnews/status/1490787167874043908?s=24David’s What Caught My Eye:Government hits accelerator on low-cost renewable power – GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-hits-accelerator-on-low-cost-renewable-powerRECOMMENDATIONS:- Podcast: To those of our listeners who understand German, we can highly recommend listening to Claudia Kemfert’s podcast, Kemfert’s Klima-Podcast - https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/podcast/kemfert-klima/klimawandel-aktuell-klimapolitik-100.html- Article: Energy transition faces a shortage of key workers - https://foresightdk.com/energy-transition-faces-a-shortage-of-key-workers/?token=skills_gapWatt Matters is supported by Siemens Smart Infrastructure. Siemens Smart Infrastructure is shaping the market for intelligent and adaptive infrastructure by connecting energy systems, buildings and industries. Combining the real and the digital world, it enhances the way people live and work and significantly improves efficiency and sustainability. Learn more about Siemens Smart Infrastructure here: https://new.siemens.com/global/en/company/topic-areas/smart-infrastructure.htmlTRY FULL ACCESS TO FORESIGHT CLIMATE & ENERGY FOR €1 A DAYJoin over 100,000 policymakers, energy experts in business, finance, and academia, city leaders, and leading NGOs in having access to FORESIGHT Climate & EnergyGET YOUR 30 DAY TRIAL: www.foresightdk.com/subscribe/.

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