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Fracking: The energy issue splitting the German government

Deutsche Welle · last updated

Fracking has become the latest issue to stress-test Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, after Finance Minister Christian Lindner raised the prospect of lifting Germany’s partial ban last week.

Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: fossil fuels

State of Play

Fossil fuels — coal, oil and natural gas, primarily — remain the dominant energy sources for much of the world, with their accompanying infrastructure of mines, drilling and production wells, pipelines and various forms of transportation. But they have become more problematic as governments struggle to address climate change and pivot to energy sources that do not result in carbon dioxide emissions.

More informationabout ENERGY BASICS: fossil fuels