The volume of subsidies therefore remains high –  and there is no sign of a systematic reduction. Environmentally harmful subsidies not only thwart environmental protection, they are also a burden on public funds. A reduction would create the financial means for the state to shape a sustainable policy, for example for the benefit of climate protection or to modernize transport infrastructure. In its updated edition of the "Environmentally Harmful Subsidies in Germany" report the German Environment Agency recommends that these subsidies be systematically reduced without delay.