Friday September 24th 2021
Carla Reemtsma in the “early start”
“Scholz wouldn’t be a climate chancellor”
Fridays for Future spokeswoman Carla Reemtsma is disappointed with the federal election campaign. “As much as we hope we will not get a 1.5-degree-compliant climate government.” For the first time since March, there is a climate strike today.
Two days before the federal election, a spokeswoman for the Fridays for Future movement, Carla Reemtsma, criticized the SPD candidate for Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who was the leader in polls. “With what Olaf Scholz has done in recent years, he is definitely not a climate chancellor,” said Reemtsma in the “early start” at ntv.
With its election manifesto, the SPD is clearly falling behind its self-imposed goal of complying with the Paris climate agreement. Scholz is also sticking to the coal phase-out in 2038. “It should be brought forward to 2030 at the latest,” said the climate activist. She did not want to see the fact that the Greens have fallen significantly in the polls as a sign that climate policy has become less important for the citizens.
Reemtsma not only criticized the SPD, but was disappointed overall with the election campaign. All parties posted climate protection posters and expressed their commitment to the goal of the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. “At the same time, we are seeing lies from the entire democratic party landscape, because no party has a sufficient program to comply with the 1.5 degree limit.” That shows how urgent and justified the protest is. “If we do not drastically reduce emissions in the next four years, it will be virtually impossible to make a fair contribution to compliance with the 1.5 degree limit in Germany.”
Today, Friday, there is a global climate strike by Fridays for Future for the first time since March. In Germany alone, demonstrations are to take place at 470 locations. Reemtsma was also pessimistic about possible coalitions after the election. “As much as we hope we will not get a 1.5-degree-compliant climate government.”
The students accept absence days
Reemtsma also commented on the criticism of the German Teachers’ Association. Its president Heinz-Peter Meidinger had said that he refused to abolish compulsory schooling in favor of political actions. Fridays for Future doesn’t even demand that, countered Reemtsma. The climate strike is “a bit of civil disobedience”. “This border crossing is important and necessary, also legitimate, in view of the historical failure in the area of climate protection.” Schoolchildren see their future so threatened that they would, for example, accept unexcused days off.
Reemtsma defended the hunger strike by climate activists in Berlin. Everyone can decide for themselves what a legitimate means of protest is, she said. “First of all, I find it shocking that, in view of the political failure that we are experiencing in the area of the climate crisis, young people feel they have to resort to this method.” There could be no question of blackmailing the three candidates for chancellor, as they were not threatened by the activists’ actions.
The climate movement is committed to the same goals, said Reemtsma. However, Fridays for Future is not calling for people to go on hunger strike. A camp has been set up in Berlin’s government district for more than three weeks. The participants demand a conversation with the Chancellor candidates Olaf Scholz, Armin Laschet and Annalena Baerbock. Six out of seven activists have now dropped out of the hunger strike, the remaining activist and a new participant are threatening to stop drinking from Saturday.