Germany’s Chancellor Scholz recently used the term “Zeitenwende,” which translates to “turning point” in history and a new era. The government is trying to convince citizens that energy independence is beneficial, despite the fact that it will raise costs. But Scholz’s argument is not a new one, as he has said before. The German government has a long tradition of going round in circles, and Scholz seems to be a good example of this.
Scholz defended Europeans from Russian sanctions because Europe relies on Russian oil and gas. He also defended Germany’s decision to suspend approval of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was scheduled to come online this year, in response to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. Last month, gasoline prices in Germany rose an unprecedented 18.3 percent – a large percentage of the monthly rise in inflation. The conflict in Ukraine was the main factor, but supply chain problems have been a contributing factor for months.
Several international economists, including Scholz, have said that energy independence means higher costs, as it has already risen dramatically in recent years. Scholz’s rhetoric reflects a shift in German foreign policy and has led to a sharp polarization among German citizens. While Germany is a long way from being completely independent of Russian oil and gas, it has long pursued energy independence. Currently, the country is replacing Russian fossil fuel imports with supplies from other countries, such as the UK.
However, this does not mean that Germany is not capable of producing energy independently. Its dependence on Russian gas has helped it maintain peace in Europe, and it has been an integral part of Germany’s integration into Europe. The German government has always been aware that its dependence on Russia means higher costs. Even if the country’s energy independence does not lead to complete independence, Germany’s economy will not suffer from the increased costs.
Despite the higher costs, environmental advocates have praised the government’s response to the crisis and the push for clean energy legislation. Public opinion surveys indicate that Scholz’s coalition is working as well as it could. However, it will take some time to replace gas. In the meantime, Scholz has urged investors to demand energy independence. The key to Germany’s energy independence is building a pipeline between Norway and Germany.
As the world transitions towards energy independence, it must find ways to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. In the short term, the government must find ways to reduce its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, and it must also readjust its long-planned energy transition. But what can the country do to minimize its dependency on Russian gas? It can develop renewable energy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
The German government will have to choose the best way to achieve energy independence. But this means that it will need to be economically feasible and sustainable. For Scholz to be able to make a decision, the opposition Christian Democrats must be on board. In order to gain their support, Friedrich Merz has promised to play a constructive role. He has also announced that he will only vote with the government when he gets exactly the right number of MPs from the center-right party.