With the dispatch of the first main points to other ministries and states, the German Federal Environment Ministry gave the start signal for the development of the "Climate Protection Action Program 2020 " on Tuesday.

The action program should identify measures for all sectors to ensure the achievement of the German climate protection targets for 2020.

Until then, the greenhouse gas emissions in Germany will be reduced by 40 percent compared to 1990.

"Without additional measures, we manage 33 percent greenhouse gas reduction, but we have restated the 40 percent target by 2020 in the coalition agreement," said German Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks.

The German Federal Environment Ministry said, the first main points describe the initial situation and the resulting action, outline the reduction potentials of each sector and the next steps for the formulation of the program of measures.

As a result, they basically include technical and economic potential for additional reductions in all sectors.

"There are many areas where we can do more for climate protection. A key issue is the rapid repair of the European emissions trading scheme, for which we work together with Brussels. But we also want to look for efficient solutions to bolster climate protection in all other relevant sectors, "said Hendricks.

According to the German Federal Environment Ministry, the substantive focuses of the action program will be discussed in early May in a first departmental meeting.

By the autumn, a concrete program of measures will be developed, which provides the necessary contributions to close the gap to the 2020 target.

In addition to intensive departmental conversations, various dialogue events are planned in the coming months.

"The implementation will be an effort for all of us. That's why I also want to win the states, municipalities and social groups to the cooperation," said Hendricks.