Germany Environment Minister Says Refugee Crisis Strains Ability to Cut Emissions

摘要

Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said Germany's decision to admit more than 1.1 million refugees within the last year is likely to strain the government's target to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The minister in Chancellor Angela MerkeFs Cabinet who also oversees housing asked for 3.9 billion euros ($4.4 billion) in additional spending though 2020 to build homes for asylum seekers. Her ministry is studying the impact of rising energy demand from an increased population on Germany's pledges to cut fossil fuel emissions. "Rising numbers of refugees means pressure on housing, means rising demand for energy, means pressure on CO_2 targets," Franzjosef Schafhausen, director-general for climate policy in Hendricks's ministry, said in an interview in Berlin. "Nobody knows for sure what the final tally of refugees will be."