Will the ban on internal combustion engine accelerate climate change?

Hans-Werner Sinn (75), president emeritus of the German Ifo Institute for Economic Research, calls the current development in oil demand confirmation of his thesis that aggressive environmental policies are counterproductive. He sees this confirmed by the International Energy Agency's (IEA) forecast that global demand will grow by 2.2 million barrels (159 liters each) per day this year. A new record.

As early as 2008, the economist had spoken of the counterproductive effects of a more stringent environmental policy. Now he repeated his theses in an interview with the "Bild-Zeitung" and massively criticized the German government's energy policy. CO2 emissions from oil, coal and co. can only be reduced if "everyone or almost everyone joins in, because what we don't consume, others will," Sinn said. "If Germany stops buying oil, the world market price will fall and others will buy it." The past 40 years have clearly shown that, he said.

A ban on combustion engines is therefore pointless, he said: "It ruins our automotive industry, lowers our standard of living and subsidizes other countries, especially China. Where in recent years not only more and more coal is being burned, but also oil consumption is rising. Since there is too little green electricity and nuclear power plants are being shut down, "more electric cars mean lignite mining and more carbon in the air," "Manager Magazin" quotes from the interview. According to Sinn, the ban on internal combustion cars precisely does not lead to fewer carbon emissions because of the diversion of oil tankers to other countries. "Climate change is accelerating because of the combustion ban." (aum)