The ruling conservative and social democrat parties in Germany have reached an agreement to abolish a contentious energy efficiency law initially established by former Environment Minister Robert Habeck. This law, supported by the Greens from Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, was set to come into force in 2024 and mandated that each new heating system must operate with at least 65% renewable energy sources. The proposal had faced significant backlash from the public, who found its ambitious environmental targets overly bureaucratic, costly, and its implementation process too complex and fast-paced.

Conservative parliamentary faction leader Jens Spahn announced that all types of heating systems will now be permissible, a shift in policy that reflects a broader pushback against what many Germans viewed as impractical regulations. Together with his social democrat counterpart Matthias Miersch, Spahn stated that the bill would be ready by early April, with the intention of passing the new law before July 1. This change signals a significant departure from previous government energy policies aimed at promoting green technologies in the heating sector.

As a result, the upcoming legislation is expected to allow for a wider variety of heating solutions, indicating a return to personal choice for consumers in the heating market. This policy shift raises questions about Germany's commitment to its environmental goals and may have implications for its overall climate strategy going forward, particularly in light of the global emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy practices.