Environmental NGOs should leave coal commission if government insists on postponement – commentary

Giving in to eastern German coal states by delaying a coal commission agreement would bury hopes of  a reasonable phase-out compromise, writes Bernhard Pötter in a commentary for the Tageszeitung (taz). “This is why environmental  NGOs, participating scientists, and all others who care about climate protection, should leave the commission in this case,” writes Pötter, adding they should fight for a coal exit on the streets and in the courts. “It’s about the message: First jobs, then growth, then nothing for a long time, and then perhaps a little bit of climate protection as a green trimming.” He goes on to argue that the mining states’ demands are exaggerated. “They want 60 billion euros as structural support, but have no idea what to do with the money.”

Read the commentary in German here.   

For background, read the articles German government plans to postpone deadline for coal commission and Commission watch – Managing Germany’s coal phase-out.