Angela Merkel coalition seals $60 bn deal to fight climate change

Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition agreed on a landmark package totaling about $60 billion to get Germany’s climate policies back on track, easing mounting pressure at home and giving her something to showcase at a UN conference next week.

After more than 16 hours of overnight negotiations that began Thursday evening in Berlin, Merkel’s Christian Democratic-led bloc and the Social Democrats agreed to put a price on carbon dioxide emissions for the transport and heating sectors and promote a shift to electric vehicles.

Merkel said Germany has learned from its struggles to lower emissions in recent years and will continue to evaluate the programme to ensure the country meets its targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. "We’ve created numerous incentives, so that people can behave in a more environmentally responsible way," said Merkel. "We believe we can reach these targets." Germany’s leaders were under pressure to seal a deal, with the country falling far short of its climate goals.