Germany’s New Finance Chief Sets Aside $68 Billion for Climate

Germany’s new finance minister, Christian Lindner, is moving swiftly ahead with a supplementary budget which he said will help lift Europe’s biggest economy out of its pandemic-induced slump.

Lindner, who took office on Wednesday, said the updated 2021 budget plan will be on the new cabinet’s agenda on Monday. It channels 60 billion euros ($68 billion) earmarked in this year’s budget into an investment fund to help finance the administration’s climate goals in coming years.

“We’re still not able to operate as normal in terms of finance policy, and remain in an emergency situation due to the pandemic,” Lindner ...