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By 2020, climate change mitigation efforts will have created around half a million new jobs in Germany. This could bring the number of unemployed down to below the three million mark. These figures come from a study commissioned by the Federal Environment Ministry.

The study on how the German government’s energy and climate change package will affect economic growth and employment predicts that the number of new jobs could rise to as many as 800,000 by 2030.
 
At a recent conference held in Berlin on investment for growth, jobs and climate change mitigation, Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel stressed that "climate change mitigation is a growth promotion programme. If we are to foster growth and employment, we must focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency". The conference covered a number of different issues and was attended by representatives from German business, banks and climate research institutes.
 
Greater savings possible
 
By 2020, the government’s climate change package will help cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent compared with 1990.
 
And with additional measures towards greater energy efficiency, savings could increase to as much as 40 percent. This is why the German governments aims to promote better home insulation and the use of renewable energy.
 
Second economic miracle
 
Experts say the climate change programme will generate additional investment in the region of €30 billion a year. The biggest beneficiaries are said to be the trades and crafts, insulation materials, engineering and solar energy sectors.
 
With energy costs expected to be cut by around €20 billion a year, a further economic upswing and higher levels of employment are forecast – an effect Environment Minister Gabriel described as a "second economic miracle".