From BZ/dpa
Berlin’s CDU head of state Kai Wegner has clearly spoken out against the goals of the referendum for climate neutrality by 2030.
“We have a responsibility for the future of this city, and of course it’s about climate protection,” said Wegner on Friday before the start of a new round of coalition negotiations between the CDU and SPD. “But we also have a responsibility for the affordability of this city, we have a responsibility for security of supply when it comes to energy,” said the CDU politician. “And I believe that the goals of the referendum go too far here. The goals cannot realistically be achieved by 2030.”
Climate neutrality should be achieved as soon as possible. “And here we, as a possible new state government, are also putting a very strong focus on it,” said Wegner. But that will not be possible by 2030. “Therefore a clear vote no to the climate referendum from me. Because that would cause a lot of problems for Berlin, especially when it comes to affordability.”
Berlin’s governing mayor and SPD state chairwoman Franziska Giffey shares this assessment: “We think it’s important that the topic is promoted, but it’s not possible for Berlin to be climate-neutral by 2030. And you have to explain that to people very clearly. Anything else is window dressing,” Giffey said.
The Berlin Senate had already positioned itself very clearly in May 2022: “For technical reasons, for reasons of feasibility, it is not justified to advocate such a goal for 2030, because it simply cannot be implemented – not even with any money in the world.”
Climate neutrality by 2030 is not realistic either in terms of the buildings or the traffic situation, said the SPD politician. Even with a view to the state’s own vehicle fleets, for example at the fire brigade, technical aid organization or rescue services, this is not possible. “They will not all be climate-neutral by 2030,” said the SPD politician.
“We want to stand for a policy that sets realistic goals and sets ambitious goals and is also willing to invest,” said Giffey. “But promising people now things that cannot be fulfilled is not okay in my view.”
The SPD co-chairman Raed Saleh pointed to the special fund for more climate protection of initially five billion euros, which the CDU and SPD agreed during the coalition negotiations: “My thesis is that other federal states will copy it. They will follow the Berlin model for more climate protection.” He is convinced that the model is already being discussed everywhere. “And that in the end all federal states will follow a similar path. Therefore, the path that Berlin has taken is also a major climate protection package for all of Germany.”
On Sunday, Berliners can vote in a referendum on whether climate protection should progress more quickly. So far, according to the Berlin Energy Transition Act, it is planned to reduce climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions by 70 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 and to become climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest. The initiators of the referendum call for a reduction of at least 70 percent by 2025 and at least 95 percent by 2030.