Environment
Berlin referendum for more ambitious climate targets started
Election workers sit in front of a ballot box in a polling station in Berlin-Weissensee. In the referendum “Berlin 2030 climate neutral” citizens can decide whether Berlin will be climate neutral by 2030. photo
© Joerg Carstensen/dpa
Does Berlin have to do more to protect the climate? In a referendum, the citizens can now decide about it.
A referendum for more ambitious climate goals began in Berlin on Sunday morning. A “climate restart” alliance wants to ensure that Berlin commits itself to becoming climate neutral by 2030 and not by 2045 as previously planned. The country’s energy transition law is to be changed for this purpose. Around 2.4 million eligible voters can vote on it.
The polling stations are open until 6 p.m. Then it is counted. In order to adopt the stricter climate targets, a majority of voters must vote in favor, but at least 25 percent of those entitled to vote. Around 608,000 yes votes are therefore required.
Climate neutrality means that no greenhouse gases are emitted that exceed those that are absorbed by nature, for example. To achieve this, emissions that are harmful to the climate, for example from combustion cars, airplanes, heating systems, power plants or industrial companies, would have to be reduced by around 95 percent compared to 1990. Whether this can be achieved in Berlin by 2030 is controversial. Germany wants to become climate neutral by 2045, the EU by 2050.