Abstract
The article analyses the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and the climate protection agreements, focusing on three aspects: Firstly, very high costs of CO2 avoidance that have to be paid over decades and limit the room for manoeuvre of future parliaments. Secondly, the promotion of technical progress in climate protection – possibly beyond the effect of permanently rising CO2 prices. Thirdly, lower CO2 emissions in Germany, which do not lead to lower global emissions through the EU-ETS. Overall, it is highly questionable whether Germany can play a leading international role in climate protection through the EEG and climate protection agreements.