Germany submits 2045 fossil fuel phaseout roadmap to the United Nations

Presentation of the transition roadmap

Germany presented its official strategy to phase out coal, oil, and natural gas by 2045 to the United Nations during the General Assembly in New York. The 22-page document, known as the TAFF roadmap for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, fulfills commitments agreed at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai. The agreement reached at the Dubai summit mandated a gradual move away from fossil energy, though it left specific implementation timelines open. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider submitted the framework after the federal cabinet formally approved the text on Wednesday. Germany is the third country globally to lodge a dedicated fossil phaseout roadmap with the UN, following earlier submissions by France and the Netherlands.

Transitioning away from fossil fuels combines independence, affordability and climate protection. Our roadmap is intended to set an international example. I am sure that many other countries will follow.

Energy dependency and import costs

The phaseout plan arrives during elevated pressure on global energy supplies, with domestic fuel prices in Germany climbing to peak levels in recent weeks. Schneider cited ministry figures showing that fossil fuels accounted for 65% of German energy consumption in 2024. During that year, Germany imported 98% of its mineral oil and 95% of its natural gas, accumulating total import costs of €76 billion. Those expenditures rose substantially following disruptions linked to the Iran crisis and shipping risks around the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the UN session, Schneider stressed that consumer prices at petrol stations demonstrate the direct economic vulnerability caused by fossil dependency.

When the situation in the Strait of Hormuz determines whether people can still afford their daily commute to work, that is not a good state of affairs. We must overcome dependency on fossil fuels and we can overcome it.

Implementation targets and technological shifts

The roadmap outlines measures centered on expanding renewable power capacity and electrifying transport, heating, and industrial manufacturing. A spokesperson for the Federal Environment Ministry confirmed that the plan relies on established policy tools rather than novel regulatory mechanisms to achieve climate neutrality. Schneider maintained that the 2045 target remains feasible, pointing to market shifts such as 2025 sales figures where heat pumps outsold gas heating installations for the first time. The document notes that Germany will work toward full decarbonization of its power station fleet by 2045 while permitting fossil fuels as temporary bridge sources during the intermediate phase.

Environmental scrutiny and coalition debate

Environmental groups voiced reservations regarding the consistency of the federal government's policy execution. WWF representative Fentje Jacobsen welcomed the UN roadmap as a constructive step before upcoming international climate negotiations, but pointed to contradictions between the administration's global messaging and domestic decisions. Jacobsen pointed to proposals within the governing coalition to decelerate electric vehicle adoption, reduce heat pump momentum, lower carbon pricing rates, and prolong the use of natural gas. According to WWF, such domestic policy adjustments risk undermining long-term structural security in favor of short-term responses to energy price spikes. The roadmap follows consultations held in April 2026, when 57 nations convened to examine practical mechanisms for ending fossil fuel reliance.