Merkel to limit coal despite high usage in Germany

By Evren Aydemir

BERLIN (AA) - Abandoning coal usage will make a major contribution to the protection of the climate, according to Chancellor Angela Merkel late on Wednesday.

Speaking at the UN World Climate Change Conference in Bonn (COP23), Merkel said Germany supports the Paris Climate Treaty in its aim to curtail the rise of global warming.

Germany will fulfill its responsibilities on climate protection by pledging to limit the use of coal in the country, Merkel said while urging other EU member countries to undertake serious efforts to do likewise.

"I want to be clear here, it is not so easy in Germany," she said, as the country is still largely dependent on this fossil fuel.

Merkel said Germany aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels, a target that needs much work, and which she admitted is difficult.

"A decrease in coal, especially lignite, must contribute a significant part to achieving this goal," she said.

Intensive talks with the coalition in Germany are ongoing on this issue. She added that private companies should also be included in the protection of the climate.

The country aims for a 40 percent reduction in emissions, and is on its way to achieving this goal as in 2016 Germany's annual emissions were 28 percent lower than in 1990.

French President Emmanuel Macron, also speaking at the conference, said rich countries were twice as responsible for the protection of the climate, given that these countries are the cause of the increase in emissions worldwide.

"Poor countries especially are affected negatively from this situation," he said.

Macron noted that by 2020 France wants to phase out coal and aims to build new thermal power plants.