Germany news: 2030 climate goals in danger, experts warn
What you need to know
- Chancellor Merz is to host the newly elected Bulgarian prime minister for talks
- Germany is likely to miss its 2030 climate goals, an independent panel says
- The government is planning to invest billions in a program aiming to better protect the population in the case of war or other catastrophes
- An animal rights group has called for stricter rules after a tiger escaped from a private facility near Leipzig, badly injuring a man
This is a roundup of the top stories from and about Germany on Monday, May 18, 2026:
Combat-ready, promotion-frozen: German troops face career halt amid military expansion
Shristi Mangal Pal in BerlinGermany is pausing promotions for thousands of senior non-commissioned officers. The move comes just as Berlin pushes to rapidly expand and modernize the Bundeswehr amid growing security fears in Europe.
From July 1, promotions for senior NCOs — including army and air force sergeants and their naval equivalents — will be suspended while the military develops a new advancement system due by early 2027.
The move follows court rulings dating back to 2004, which found that promotions based purely on length of service were unlawful. According to the German Defense Ministry, performance evaluations must play a greater role.
Until now, some soldiers could expect a promotion after roughly 16 years in service.
Germany’s highest-ranking military officer, Inspector General Carsten Breuer, acknowledged the frustration in a video message: "This isn’t good, and I don’t like it either." But he argued that the overhaul was necessary to ensure soldiers could still reach their career goals in the future. "We need them to be combat-ready," he added.
The decision comes at an awkward moment for the government. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to build "the strongest conventional army in Europe," with Germany aiming to increase active-duty troop numbers from 185,000 to 260,000 as NATO members face mounting pressure to take greater responsibility for Europe’s defense.
Inside the ranks, however, the decision is already fueling anger. Soldier representatives have warned the promotion freeze could become a “complete disaster” for morale and trust among long-serving personnel.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DumRSkip next section CDU premier chosen to head coalition in Rhineland-Palatinate state05/18/2026May 18, 2026CDU premier chosen to head coalition in Rhineland-Palatinate state
Gordon Schnieder, the leader of the Christian Democrat (CDU) regional party in Rhineland-Palatinate, was elected as premier of the western state on Monday.
His election marks the CDU's return to government in the state after 35 years of Social Democrat (SPD) rule.
Schnieder, 50, who hails from the rural Eifel region, received 63 votes from 105 votes cast in the state parliament, with 38 voting against him, two abstentions and two invalid ballots.
He will now head a CDU/SPD coalition, mirroring the one at federal level led by his party colleague Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The CDU won a March 22 election in the state with 31% of the vote, with the SPD coming second on 25.9%.
Schnieder's brother, Patrick Schnieder, another CDU member, is currently Germany's transport minister.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DuhnSkip next section READ: Meet the Bundesliga newcomers from a tiny town05/18/2026May 18, 2026READ: Meet the Bundesliga newcomers from a tiny town
A team from a town of just 7,000 inhabitants has made history by sealing promotion to become the 59th club to play in the Bundesliga.
Read all about how Elversberg made history by reaching the Bundesliga
Merz condemns Iran's attacks on UAE
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Germany "sharply" condemns the recent Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
"We sharply condemn the renewed Iranian airstrikes against the United Arab Emirates and other partners," he wrote on X.
"Attacks on nuclear facilities are a threat to the security of people in the entire region," he added, referring to Sunday's drone strike that hit a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, causing a fire.
Merz also called on Iran to enter into serious negotiations with the US, to stop threatening its neighbors and to completely open the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has carried out numerous strikes on regional neighbors since the US and Israel began an offensive against the Islamic republic on February 28, and has virtually closed the strait, a key oil transport route.
A ceasefire agreed in early April and since extended is appearing increasingly tenuous as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict falter.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DuULSkip next section WATCH: Fuel security for Berlin's airport in question after Russia halts oil transit05/18/2026May 18, 2026WATCH: Fuel security for Berlin's airport in question after Russia halts oil transit
The PCK Refinery in Schwedt, which is a key energy hub for eastern Germany and parts of Poland, is facing new problems with its oil supply after Russia halted the transit of Kazakh crude through the Druzhba pipeline in early May.
The cut in oil supply affects many sectors, including the aviation branch.
DW has this video exploring the issues surrounding the refinery and its options for opening up new supplies.
Russia reduces jet fuel flow to Berlin airport
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5Du7ASkip next section Germany likely to miss 2030 climate goals, says independent panel05/18/2026May 18, 2026Germany likely to miss 2030 climate goals, says independent panel
An independent climate advisory body has contradicted findings by the government's main climate authority showing Germany largely on track to meet its 2030 climate goals, saying the country will likely emit more CO2 than previously thought.
The Council of Experts on Climate Change believes Germany could overshoot its CO2 emissions projections by up to 100 million metric tons (110 US tons).
That compares with the government's Environment Agency's prediction of a possible overshoot of just 4.5 million tons.
Germany has set itself the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% from 1990 levels by 2030 and to be climate neutral by 2045.
So far, the reduction is about 48%.
In March, the government put forward an €8 billion ($9.3 billion) plan to fund a range of climate measures, including expanding wind power and boosting sales of electric vehicles.
But the council's chair, Barbara Schlomann, said it believed "the program's actual reduction effect is likely to be significantly lower than assumed by the German government."
The Council of Experts on Climate Change is an independent scientific advisory panel established in September 2020 to monitor German climate policy.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Du0oSkip next section Rights groups call for stricter rules following tiger's escape in Germany 05/18/2026May 18, 2026Rights groups call for stricter rules following tiger's escape in Germany
Animal rights group PETA has called for rules on keeping dangerous wild animals to be tightened after a tiger escaped from a private facility near the eastern German city of Leipzig, seriously injuring a 73-year-old man.
The federal government must finally act," Peter Höfgen, PETA's specialist adviser on wild animals, told the dpa news agency.
He told the agency the incident showed that keeping dangerous wild animals in private ownership or mobile operations was not safe enough.
Höfgen pointed out that private ownership of tigers and lions remained legal in several German states.
He also said that PETA had repeatedly warned authorities about deficiencies at the facility from which the tiger made its escape.
The animal, which belonged to a well-known circus performer, was shot dead by police shortly after it broke out from its enclosure.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DtiZSkip next section Merz to host talks with Bulgaria's Radev05/18/2026May 18, 2026Merz to host talks with Bulgaria's Radev
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is to receive the new Bulgarian prime minister, Rumen Radev, in Berlin on Monday afternoon.
Radev will be welcomed with military honors at the chancellery before the two leaders hold talks on issues including bilateral relations and European and international security policy.
A joint press conference is planned for 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT).
Radev, a former Bulgarian president, won an absolute majority of 44.7% in April parliamentary elections in his country and was inaugurated as prime minister last week.
His victory came on the back of pledges to fight corruption.
Radev is, however, also known for his euroskeptic and pro-Russian stance.
Dobrindt announces planned expansion of civil defense
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said the government plans to invest billions of euros in a program that aims to bolster Germany's capacity to protect its citizens in the case of conflict or catastrophe.
"We are strengthening population protection and civil defense," Dobrindt told the mass-circulation Bild newspaper in comments published on Monday.
The Bavarian conservative politician also said Germany was shoring up its response capabilities in the face of hybrid threats and increasing support for volunteer emergency workers.
He said there would be tighter integration of military and civilian defense structures to enhance security and resilience.
The newspaper reported that the planned program would be worth €10 billion ($11.6 billion), citing a Cabinet draft.
The funds would be used for additional equipment, buildings, personnel and technology, including for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW).
https://p.dw.com/p/5DtaUSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/18/2026May 18, 2026Welcome to our coverage
Timothy Jones | Rob Turner editorThe DW newsroom in Bonn says a warm guten Tag to all users of Germany's international broadcaster!
You join us as the German chancellor is set to hold talks with newly-elected Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
The meeting might well hold some diplomatic challenges for the German leader, as Radev is known for his euroskeptic, pro-Russian stance, one very much opposed to that advocated by Germany.
A tiger that escaped from a private facility near Leipzig, badly injuring a handler in the process, made for sensational headlines on Sunday.
But the incident has led a prominent animal rights group to call on the government to tighten rules on holding such wild animals, which it says are much too lax in Germany.
You can find out more about these and other stories in our blog. Happy reading!
https://p.dw.com/p/5DtVjShow more posts
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