Energy & climate
The statement in the quiz
Money raised through carbon pricing should be paid back directly to people in cash, as a climate dividend (Klimageld).
Background
Germany puts a carbon price on fuels for heating and transport, at about €55–65 per tonne in 2026. There is no climate dividend at present; in March 2026 the Bundestag voted down a motion to pay one.
Sources for the background: Bundestag: Vote on a climate dividend motion (20 March 2026)
ForLeaning forNeutral / mixedLeaning againstAgainstNot in manifesto
Would use carbon-price revenue first to cut electricity tax and grid fees (which it calls a Klimabonus), with no direct cash payments.
From the manifesto „Wir reduzieren mit den CO2-Einnahmen zuerst die Stromsteuer und Netzentgelte.“Source: CDU/CSU manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 24
Wants to scrap carbon pricing altogether, so it does not discuss any payout.
From the manifesto „Wir fordern eine ersatzlose Abschaffung der CO₂-Abgaben.“Source: AfD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 58
Wants measures such as a climate dividend once EU carbon pricing starts in 2027, so that nobody is overburdened.
From the manifesto „werden wir durch geeignete Maßnahmen auf europäischer und nationaler Ebene (zum Beispiel Klimageld) dafür Sorge tragen, dass niemand überfordert wird“Source: SPD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 34
Since the election: After the election, the SPD voted in the Bundestag in March 2026 against a motion from Die Linke to pay a climate dividend.
Wants most carbon-price revenue paid directly to people on low and middle incomes, as a climate dividend graded by income.
From the manifesto „Einen Großteil dieser Einnahmen werden wir als sozial gestaffeltes Klimageld an Menschen mit niedrigen und mittleren Einkommen auszahlen.“Source: Greens manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 40
Wants a climate dividend of €320 per person a year, paid out directly.
From the manifesto „ein soziales Klimageld von 320 Euro jährlich pro Person als Direktzahlung einführen“Source: Die Linke manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 7
Wants to abolish the carbon price.
From the manifesto „Den CO2-Preis, der alles teurer macht, ohne dass es für die meisten Menschen Alternativen gibt, wollen wir abschaffen.“Source: BSW manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 10
Wants emissions-trading revenue paid straight back to everyone as the same amount per person (a climate dividend).
From the manifesto „Wir Freie Demokraten wollen eine Klimadividende einführen, um Einnahmen aus dem Emissionshandel direkt und pauschal pro Kopf an die Bürgerinnen und Bürger zurückzuzahlen.“Source: FDP manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 40
Positions are coded on five steps: for, leaning for, neutral or mixed, leaning against, against. A party whose manifesto says nothing on the statement is marked “not in manifesto”, and the quiz leaves the statement out of that party’s score. The coding method and its checks are on the method page.
This is one of the statements in the German Party Spectrum Quiz. The whole quiz takes about five minutes and shows how your views split across the seven parties, plus your place on an economic and social map. No sign-up, and we never ask who you are.
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Manifesto coding and background checked: 27 September 2026 Update log