IMPULS Sonja Thielges A New Climate: Germany’s policy options in times of Trump 2.0 Energy security, climate protection and industrial competitiveness At a glance Germany has maintained its ambitious climate goals un­der the current government, even if climate policy has come under attack from the standpoint of industrial competitiveness. For many years, Germany had close cli­mate and energy policy ties with the United States of America. Under the second Trump administration, cli­mate cooperation has, however, mostly stopped. The Trump administration’s energy dominance strategy fo­cuses on fossil fuel production and exports. Climate poli­cy and cooperation are not regarded as being in the na­tional interest. This paper argues, however, that Germany has a strong political and economic interest in interna­tional climate cooperation. The paper frames the grow­ing transatlantic divide in the context of the debate over “electrostates vs. petrostates”. It discusses foreign policy interests of electrostates and develops ideas on how to reduce dependence on the U.S. and diversify partnerships to promote a global climate transformation. 1. Introduction: Germany’s climate, energy and industrial policy and the role of the transatlantic partnership Germany has pursued an ambitious climate policy for over two decades. Starting with the first Renewable Energy Sources Act(EEG) in 2000, the country pursued what is now referred to as the Energiewende(energy transition). The goal has been to phase out both nuclear power and coal in the country’s electricity mix and to transition away from fossil fuels in overall energy supply. The country’s last nuclear plant was shut down in 2023. Germany has, howev ­er, been less successful with regard to coal. While more and more EU countries are ceasing coal production, Germany continues to supply half of the remaining amount(Statis­tisches Bundesamt 2026a). Another issue that has come A New Climate: Germany’s policy options in times of Trump 2.0 1