The forests of Bavaria – an important natural heritage, essential for combating climate change and preserving biodiversity. This is how Prime Minister Markus Söder describes the natural environment in his speech in Grub before he plants a tree with a group of children from a Poinger kindergarten. Söder makes it clear that protecting the forests means a lot to him and that Bavaria invests several million euros in research and preservation.
Whether it is justified in the context of climate protection to cover the long distance from Munich in a heavy company vehicle to plant a single tree is questionable. Of course, that was intended as a symbolic act. But Söder’s appearance was only symbolic.
According to the federal state index 2020/21, Bavaria is far behind in last place in a nationwide comparison when it comes to climate protection. A Greenpeace study from 2016 also places Bavaria at the bottom in almost all categories when it comes to the condition of the forests. One motive for putting as little forest as possible under protection could be to focus primarily on profit from the mining and use of the areas. Against this background, the impression of double standards arises: when Söder hits the hammer theatrically, briefly holds a watering can and promises children a future full of nature.
Söder’s politics in one appearance: gaining trust through apparent proximity, publicly representing values without ultimately enforcing them – as is almost always the case with climate change. As so often, Söder’s appearance resembles a one-man show. In his speech, he omits the fact that Bavaria, after years of leadership by him and his party, is at the bottom when it comes to climate protection. Planting a tree is just empty symbolism at that point, far from reality.
Lennart Kuhlbarsch is in eleventh grade at Grafing High School. The 17-year-old is doing an editorial internship at SZ Ebersberg.