Germany launches new carbon-cutting effort

Germany is turning its focus on energy efficiency in a new effort to show it is serious about cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

A new plan German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Wednesday would have Germany cut its carbon pollution by 62 million to 78 million tons, tripling current carbon reduction efforts, The New York Times reported.

{mosads}The cuts would come from a wide variety of sectors, including autos and agriculture.

The program would focus on $3.7 billion of energy efficiency tax credits, which the parliament would have to pass, the Times said.

About a third of the cuts are expected to come from the power generation sector, a heavy lift for a country that got 45 percent of its electricity from coal last year. Coal use has increased in recent years as Germany has accelerated retirement of nuclear plants.

Barbara Hendricks, Germany’s environment minister, will explain the plan next week to a United Nations conference in Lima, Peru, at which world leaders are working toward a deal to fight climate change worldwide.

Unions involved in Germany’s coal sector quickly lodged their opposition to the program, gathering signatures to demand that Merkel protect cheap power and good jobs, the Times reported.