Conservatives and SPD defend postponing 骋别谤尘补苍测鈥檚 2020 climate goal
骋别谤尘补苍测鈥檚 negotiating coalition parties, Chancellor Angela Merkel鈥檚 conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the Social Democrats (SPD), have defended their decision to postpone the country鈥檚 2020 goal of reducing emissions by 40 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels, saying the move demonstrated honesty rather than inaction on climate protection. 鈥淭he 2020 goal was not difficult to abandon as we knew it wouldn't be possible to cut 90 million tonnes鈥 of greenhouse gases within the next three years, CDU energy spokesperson Thomas Barei脽 said during a debate at an energy industry conference by business daily Handelsblatt. 鈥淲e were simply being honest,鈥 Barei脽 said, adding that the goal would still have been missed if the conservatives had suceeded in forming a coalition with the pro-business FDP and Greens. Barei脽鈥檚 SPD counterpart Bernd Westphal said, 鈥渃redibility is an important part of politics 鈥 and we are not able to meet this goal.鈥 The Green Party鈥檚 Oliver Krischer said 鈥渂eing honest鈥 was difficult to accept as an explanation for the decision as Chancellor Merkel promised the 2020 goal would be met only days before last September鈥檚 election.