German Chancellor rules out autobahn speed limit to mitigate crises

BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has ruled out the introduction of a speed limit on the country's motorways to tackle the energy and climate crises - a controversial topic in the country housing Europe's largest car industry.

"This government has not agreed on that and that is why it is not coming," Scholz said on public broadcaster ARD on Sunday, in a question-and-answer session with members of the public.

The Social Democrat heads up a government coalition with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats.

Asked about things Scholz would personally do to support the fight against climate change, the chancellor said: "That's a question that always makes me a little uncomfortable."

Although he had deliberately chosen an electricity supplier that provided him with CO2-neutral electricity, his carbon footprint as a leader required to travel the world was "terrible," Scholz said.

"And I don't think I should beat about the bush and pretend that I am really someone who is very exemplary when it comes to CO2 emissions," he said.

Germany is famous for its speed-limit-free autobahns.

Experts say that a speed limit of 130kph would significantly reduce the country's carbon emissions as well as vastly reducing reliance on Russian energy imports.