Anti-coal protest symbol Hambach Forest

The Hambach mine, the largest lignite mine in Germany, has been the subject of decades of protests. Since 2012, protesters have occupied parts of the Hambacher Forst, a 1,200 hectar-wide forest that has largely fallen victim to the expanding lignite mine. Parallel to the occupation, sit-ins and protest rallies, environmental organisations have also taken the issue to the courts. In October 2018, the High Administrative Court in Münster ordered a provisional stop of the clearing of the forest.

• Further reading: CLEW factsheets on Germany’s three lignite mining regions and on Germany’s coal exit commission.
• CLEW research tour: Germany’s historic coal year 2018
• Date of publication: June 2018