Why climate protection is being neglected in the financial crisis In the current financial crisis, climate protection is receiving less attention. The German government and the European Union had set ambitious goals: they wanted to drastically reduce the level of CO2 emissions by 2020. However, car-manufacturing states like Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia are now protesting these goals and calling for their revision, so that jobs are not lost. Environmental groups and the Social Democratic Environment Minister oppose them, saying that climate protection will CREATE jobs.