German parliament passes watered-down heating law

Germany's lower house of parliament on Friday passed a bill on phasing out oil and gas heating systems after months of wrangling, but the watered-down bill means the sector's 2030 climate goal cannot be reached, the economy ministry said. Under the bill, part of Germany's drive to become climate neutral by 2045, heating systems installed in new developments and in old buildings located in areas with a municipal heating plan will have to run on 65% renewable energy. The government will subsidise the switch with money from its Climate And Transformation Fund, with the goal of cutting emissions in Germany's building sector by 2030.