referendum
Wegner and Giffey: Climate neutrality by 2030 not possible
Kai Wegner (CDU), Berlin CDU state leader, and Franziska Giffey (SPD), Governing Mayor of Berlin, comment on the referendum for climate neutrality by 2030. Photo
© Carsten Koall/dpa
The desired coalition partners in Berlin, CDU state leader Kai Wegner and SPD state leader Franziska Giffey, agree: Both declare that the capital cannot become climate-neutral by 2030.
Berlin’s CDU state leader Kai Wegner has clearly spoken out against the goals of a referendum planned for Sunday 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.”
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 the people in no uncertain terms. Everything other is window dressing,” Giffey said.
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 won’t all be climate-neutral by 2030.”
Desired coalition partners rely on “special funds”
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: other federal states will copy that. They will follow the Berlin model for more follow climate protection.” He is convinced that the model is already being discussed everywhere. “And that in the end all federal states are taking a similar path. That’s why the path that Berlin has taken is also a big 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.