Germany Sees Carbon Trade Raising $37 Billion for Green Measures

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government plans to get almost two-thirds of the money it needs for climate programs from extending a cap-and-trade market to cover Germany’s transport and heating industries.

The federal treasury anticipates drawing in almost 33 billion euros ($37 billion) by 2023 through selling tradable allowances for carbon emissions, according to documents released last week in Berlin that detail legislation on the system. That’s enough to cover much of the 54 billion euros Germany earmarked for government programs to curb greenhouse gases.

The figures shed light on why ministers are pressing ahead with the carbon market even though ...