Steffi Lemke, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, shows understanding for the approach of climate activists who regularly block the freeways in Berlin.
“It is absolutely legitimate to demonstrate for one’s concerns and to use forms of civil disobedience,” said the Green politician at a round of talks at the Europe 2022 conference of the Tagesspiegel, ZEIT, Handelsblatt and WirtschaftsWoche.
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In doing so, she referred to her own past and the peaceful revolution in the former GDR, but admitted that this was not entirely comparable. Lemke also made it clear that such protests “should not harm anyone and that civil disobedience should not affect anyone in a way that harm could occur.”
It is the task and obligation of politicians – both government and opposition – to prevent the radicalization of climate activists by complying with the commitment to climate goals made at the climate conference in Paris.
The statements of Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke can be seen here in the video (from 3:42:45 to minute 3:45:00):
Your statements caused a stir in the traffic light coalition. FDP Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann tweeted: “In German law, civil disobedience is neither a justification nor an excuse. Unannounced demos on motorways are and remain illegal. Protest is ok, but only within the framework of the law and the constitution.”
His party friend Konstantin Kuhle, deputy chairman of the FDP parliamentary group, was even clearer. He wrote on Twitter: “Members of the federal government must not call for crimes. Period.” Other FPD politicians also reacted with incomprehension to Lemke’s statements.
The climate protests in Berlin are now in their third week and during this time the Berlin city autobahn is the busiest autobahn in Germany become their focal point.
Between five and fifty people in high-visibility vests lay and sit on the freeway, mostly in front of traffic lights at exits. The traffic builds up quickly angry drivers sometimes became violent.
With a view to illegal actions, in which an ambulance got stuck in a traffic jam in Berlin, the initiative argued: “An emergency also justifies violations of the law. And we are in an emergency situation.” The blockades on the current “Save food – save lives” campaign would only end if the federal government passed a law against throwing away food.
Since the protests began on January 24, there have been 37 blockades in several cities, and according to the police, 29 actions have taken place in Berlin. According to the activists, the police have taken participants into custody 164 times since they were sitting cross-legged on motorway exits.
Federal Environment Minister Lemke wants to examine lawsuits against taxonomy
Lemke also explained during the round of talks that it was still possible for Germany to opt out of the lawsuits brought by Austria and Luxembourg against the EU taxonomy. “I am not yet familiar with the Austrian application. We will examine what aspects are presented there and how important they are. We will then discuss this within the federal government and find a position on it,” she said.
Regarding the taxonomy legal act presented a few days ago by the European Commission, in which nuclear power and natural gas are treated as climate-friendly transitional technologies, the Green politician says: “It would not have been necessary to issue a ‘Delegated Act’ for both energy sources. That’s already greenwashing, what happens when an attempt is made to stick a sustainability seal on it for the long-term.” That counteracts the taxonomy.