Guy from Germany here: No, we didn't change our mind on combustion engines. They are getting less popular every month, and even the German car companies have roadmaps that phase out the combustion engine well before 2035.
Here is my take on the situation: The problem is that the current government consists of three very different parties (which was the only viable option for forming a government without the conservative climate disaster that is the CDU/CSU). One of these three parties, the FDP, is currently losing popularity because they essentially promised that fancy technology will solve all our problems (take note HN!), but that bluff got called now that they are part of the government. The FDP is quickly losing voter support, and entered panic mode. Unfortunately, the only voter base they can quickly tap into are petrolheads and people that don't like when things get "verboten". The FDP runs the ministry of transport, and used that influence to stall legislation for the entire EU. The other parties cannot really object, or our government would fall apart.
I can only personally apologize to all other EU nations. A party with about 5% popularity is holding our government hostage.
The only positive thing is that these people cannot really decide about the law in 2035, only about the law today. I hope the climate movement will grow stronger, and those people and their policies will be history much sooner.
Here is my take on the situation: The problem is that the current government consists of three very different parties (which was the only viable option for forming a government without the conservative climate disaster that is the CDU/CSU). One of these three parties, the FDP, is currently losing popularity because they essentially promised that fancy technology will solve all our problems (take note HN!), but that bluff got called now that they are part of the government. The FDP is quickly losing voter support, and entered panic mode. Unfortunately, the only voter base they can quickly tap into are petrolheads and people that don't like when things get "verboten". The FDP runs the ministry of transport, and used that influence to stall legislation for the entire EU. The other parties cannot really object, or our government would fall apart.
I can only personally apologize to all other EU nations. A party with about 5% popularity is holding our government hostage.
The only positive thing is that these people cannot really decide about the law in 2035, only about the law today. I hope the climate movement will grow stronger, and those people and their policies will be history much sooner.