Union and SPD amend heating law: fuels must be fully climate-neutral by 2045

Fuels for gas and oil heating systems must be climate-neutral from 2045. The controversial law will likely not be passed by the Bundestag until September.

Published: July 6, 2026 — 5:28 PM

Definitely more climate-friendly than a gas or oil heating system: the heat pump. Photo: Bernd Weißbrod/dpa

By Anja Krüger

The Union and SPD are revising the government draft for a new heating law on several points, but the amendment is unlikely to pass the Bundestag before the summer break.

Key Changes

The most important point: Fuels for heating systems must be completely climate-neutral from 2045. This is stipulated in an amendment motion submitted by the two parliamentary groups for the new law from the office of Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU). Under current legislation, Germany must achieve climate neutrality by 2045. The parliamentary groups are maintaining an unlimited operating permit for fossil gas and oil heating systems.

Background

With the new Building Modernization Act, the federal government aims to gut the heating law introduced by the traffic light coalition. Central to this is the plan to:

• Repeal the operating ban for fossil gas and oil heating systems by 2045
• Allow such systems to continue running indefinitely
• Require new fossil heating systems to operate with a certain proportion of biofuels
• Mandate a growing share of climate-neutral fuels for new fossil heating systems — at least 60 percent from 2040 onward

Criticism

Environmental associations, the democratic opposition, and parts of the SPD and Union have sharply criticized the draft, noting that it still permits 40 percent fossil fuel use. Critics question whether the regulation is constitutionally sound, as it contradicts the goal of climate neutrality by 2045. This view is supported by an expert opinion commissioned by the Christian Democratic association Klimaunion and the scientific service of the Bundestag.

Additional concerns include:

• Uncertainty about sufficient supply of climate-neutral fuels such as biomethane
• Competition with industry for scarce biofuels, raising fears of price spikes
• Warnings from consumer and tenant protection advocates about rising costs if landlords can install new fossil heating systems indefinitely

The Amendment

In response to criticism, Union and SPD MPs have introduced a joint amendment motion. It states that the federal government will submit a law by December 1 introducing a green gas/green heating quota. According to a new paragraph 42a:

"This law will oblige the suppliers of gas, oil, and liquid gas to completely switch the fuels placed on the market for the heat supply of buildings to climate-neutral fuels from the year 2045."

This is intended to ensure an appropriate contribution from the building sector to meeting climate goals. The requirements target fuel sellers rather than individual citizens, preserving the "freedom in the heating cellar" often invoked by the Union.

Opposition Response

Greens: The changes do not improve the law. They demand that a ban on fossil heating systems from 2045 be maintained. Green MP and energy expert Alaa Alhamwi stated: "Weeks of negotiations, nothing really improved." He noted that experts at the Bundestag hearing made clear the law is bad and highly problematic from a constitutional perspective.

Left Party: The coalition's agreement contains cosmetic adjustments without addressing the fundamental flaws of the law. Climate policy spokesperson Violetta Bock criticized the changes as insufficient.