Brown coal divides Social Democrats and Left Party

Brown coal is causing a rift between the Social Democrat and Left Party coalition in the state of Brandenburg, Germany’s second biggest lignite mining region, according to a dpa report carried by Die Welt. Thomas Domres, head of the Left Party’s parliamentary group for energy and environmental policy in Brandenburg, contradicted comments made by Economy Minister Albrecht Gerber (SPD) that the state would reduce its 2030 climate protection targets. The idea was simply being considered, Domres said, adding that it remained to be seen whether the coalition government would endorse the plan. Gerber had told Der Spiegel that the state planned to lower its 2030 goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 72 percent compared to 1990 levels to between 55 and 62 percent. Gerber attributed the decision to the cancellation of a planned new lignite-fired power plant, and the continued operation of an older, existing plant.

Read the article in English here.