At the meeting of EU heads of governments under German presidency in early March, EU member states agreed on a 20-percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. Already in 2000, Germany agreed to phase out nuclear power by 2021, but due to the new EU targets and negative climate reports, conservative politics have suggested prolonging the life spans of existing nuclear power plants in Germany.

According to the study «Climate Protection: Plan B» presented by Greenpeace Germany last week, Germany does not need nuclear power to cut Greenhouse gas emissions. Target of the study was to show a way, how Germany can reach a nuclear power phase out by 2015 and at the same time achieve a cut in carbon dioxide emissions of up to 40 percent by 2020. According to the study Germany has enough resources to reach both goals. An early phase out would even foster renewable energy development and would therefore even help to cut carbon dioxide emissions.