German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has signed a controversial amendment to the country's climate protection law, despite weeks of hesitation and protests from environmental groups.

The new law eliminates sector-specific climate targets, allowing the government to balance emissions across different sectors.

This change particularly benefits the transportation sector, which has consistently failed to meet its climate goals.

Environmental organizations, including Deutsche Umwelthilfe, BUND, and Greenpeace, argue that the amendment weakens climate protection efforts and plan to file constitutional complaints.

They claim the law gives the government a 'free pass' to avoid implementing concrete climate protection measures during the current legislative period.