(de-news.net) – Concerns have been voiced by the German Federal Government in its newly ratified Poverty and Wealth Report regarding the unintended social repercussions of climate policy, especially for households with limited financial resources. Endorsed by the cabinet today, the document points out that the continuous rise in CO₂ prices has driven up the costs of basic necessities such as heating and transportation. For poorer households, these expenditures consume a far greater share of their budgets than they do for wealthier groups, thereby intensifying the strain on those already living with restricted means.

The report further emphasizes that people with modest incomes often lack the financial capacity to invest in environmentally friendly alternatives. Renovating buildings for energy efficiency, purchasing electric vehicles, or adopting other sustainable technologies remain out of reach for many. Consequently, the government insists that climate protection measures must be designed with social balance in mind so as not to deepen existing inequalities.

Attention is also drawn to the uneven distribution of responsibility for harmful emissions. Statistics reveal that the richest ten percent of households generate more than double the emissions produced by the poorest ten percent, highlighting the disproportionate ecological footprint of affluent lifestyles. This observation strengthens the argument that climate policy must pursue ecological goals while simultaneously addressing distributive justice. In accordance with legal obligations, the Poverty and Wealth Report is issued once per legislative term and serves as a central instrument for tracking Germany’s social and economic disparities.