Saturday, August 7th, 2021
Attack on Union and SPD
Baerbock criticizes “climate hare-footedness”
According to the Greens leader Baerbock, the climate policy of the CDU and SPD, which is ambitious in their eyes, is a threat to the German economy. The Chancellor candidate of the Greens reacts to the criticism of her competitors Laschet and Scholz – and concretises her plans for the expansion of green electricity.
Greens leader Annalena Baerbock has rejected the criticism of her two chancellor competitors on the climate protection program of the Greens. Union candidate Armin Laschet and SPD candidate Olaf Scholz “must understand that the Paris climate agreement is not a voluntary declaration of intent, but an international treaty that also binds a German federal government,” Baerbock told the editorial network Germany (RND). Germany must act accordingly. “Rejecting proposals without making any ourselves doesn’t get us anywhere,” she added.
She accused the grand coalition of “climate hare-footedness”. This also endangers Germany’s economic performance. “Anyone who is only against it is not only endangering the achievement of the climate targets, but also Germany as an industrial location,” said Baerbock to Laschet and Scholz. “It is absolutely clear that we need more speed when it comes to climate protection.”
“A solar system on every new roof”
The new federal government must make climate protection the benchmark for action in all areas, the Green candidate affirmed the idea of her party. The climate protection ministry aimed at by the Greens must be the “engine of change”. The economy has long been ready with climate-neutral processes and technologies and expects a political framework for this in order to have planning and investment security.
Baerbock specified her party’s plans for the expansion of green electricity. In the first phase of a new government, the course would have to be set for the massive expansion of renewable energies. “For this, a solar system has to be installed on every new roof”. In addition, two percent of the land area would have to be released for wind power. “This is not only climate-friendly, but German industry will need huge amounts of renewable electricity for the markets of the future,” said Baerbock.
Baerbock and her co-party leader Robert Habeck had presented an “immediate climate protection program” on Tuesday near Berlin, which, among other things, provides for a strong expansion of wind and solar energy. The Greens want to raise the CO2 price. The coal phase-out is to be brought forward to 2030 – so far this has been planned for 2038 at the latest. In addition, the Greens are advocating a new climate protection ministry with a right of veto. Laschet and Scholz had refused. Both pointed out that climate protection must be a top priority in the Chancellery.
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