Proposal for an environmental protection directive requested from the Commission.

In a recent service car check analysis, the German Environmental Aid has accused top politicians in Germany of predominantly driving climate-damaging service cars. The scrutiny looked at the emissions of the service cars used by all 16 minister presidents.

The analysis revealed that Markus Söder, CSU chairman and the Bavarian state government head, emerged as the biggest environmental offender among minister presidents. His service car, a BMW combustion engine, was found to be the most climate-damaging of the lot. The German Environmental Aid only analysed one of the two service cars used by Söder, however.

The State Chancellery of Bavaria has vehemently rejected the allegations made by the German Environmental Aid, deeming them as "unserious mood-making" to the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation (BR). The Chancellery criticised the analysis for not knowing exactly how much is actually driven with which car, and for only considering one of Söder's service cars.

Not only Söder, but also Federal Minister of Labour Barbara Baerbock (SPD) and others performed poorly in the service car check. Thomas Jung follows Söder in the ranking of minister presidents regarding the review of their service cars. Winfried Kretschmann, the Green Baden-Württemberg state government head, is the only one among the 16 minister presidents to receive a "green card" for his electric car with an emission of 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

The State Chancellery also criticises the analysis for naming the most climate-damaging car, arguing that it is justified to name the most climate-damaging car because of the role model function of politicians. They believe that the service cars of minister presidents have a role model function, and it is assumed that they are also on the road with the most climate-damaging cars.

Barbara Baerbock performed worst overall in the service car check, followed by Stefanie Hubig (SPD) and Dorothee Bär (CSU). The German Environmental Aid's summary was that "German top politicians still predominantly drive with climate-damaging service cars."

In a big service car check of the most famous politicians in Germany, the German Environmental Aid argues that when several service cars are given, the most powerful one is always listed. This is a concern as it reinforces the perception that politicians drive the most climate-damaging cars.

The service car check was conducted by the German Environmental Aid to raise awareness about the environmental impact of politicians' choices and to encourage them to make more sustainable decisions.