germany
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Flooding crisis in southern Germany prompts chancellor’s visit
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, alongside Bavaria's State Premier and the Interior Minister, visited flood-ravaged Reichertshofen, pledging swift government support amid severe destruction.
In short:
- Heavy rainfall caused the Paar River to overflow, flooding Reichertshofen and forcing over 3,000 evacuations.
- Emergency workers, supported by 20,000 volunteers, are engaged in extensive rescue and cleanup operations.
- Local business owners and residents stress the need for immediate and effective government assistance.
Key quote:
"This is the fourth time this year that I have gone to a specific area of operation. We will do everything we can...to ensure that help can be provided quickly."
— Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany.
Why this matters:
Flooding in Germany has become increasingly frequent and severe, disrupting lives and highlighting the urgent need for robust climate action and disaster preparedness measures. The affected communities face immediate challenges, including displacement, property damage, and economic hardship.
Related EHN coverage:
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Credit: Patrick Rosenkranz/Unsplash
Far-right groups in Germany target climate policies
Amid concerns over the cost of climate initiatives, far-right political elements in Germany, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), have intensified their attacks on green policies, attributing societal discontent to the economic implications of these environmental measures.
In short:
- In Görlitz and other regions, the AfD and movements like Free Saxony rally against green policies, associating them with overregulation and loss of personal freedoms.
- Despite the growth of far-right sentiments, studies reveal that there is no widespread backlash against climate measures, but rather a deep political polarization.
- Researchers note that opposition to environmental policies in Germany is more about political ideology than economic impact, with AfD supporters particularly disinterested in proactive climate action.
Key quote:
"Our main takeaway is that there’s no widespread green backlash."
— Markus Kollberg, political scientist at Humboldt University Berlin
Why this matters:
The AfD’s rhetoric often frames ambitious environmental targets, such as those set by the European Union, as overreaches into national governance. This could potentially sway public opinion against necessary measures to combat climate change, thereby undermining progress on environmental goals that are crucial to global efforts to limit temperature rises as stipulated in the Paris Agreement.
Meanwhile in the U.S.: EHN’s Peter Dykstra argued last year that the Supreme Court has taken a brazen anti-regulatory turn. It’s our planet and health that will suffer.
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Germany's solar panel makers face tough competition and policy challenges
In a rapidly evolving energy sector, Germany's solar panel manufacturers are navigating a competitive landscape shaped by low-priced Chinese imports and stringent U.S. trade policies, even as the demand for renewable energy sources surges.
In short:
- Germany, once a pioneer in solar energy production, now struggles against China's dominating low-cost production and U.S. protectionist measures.
- German manufacturers advocate for government incentives to sustain the industry, emphasizing the environmental and reliability benefits of local production.
- Europe's heavy reliance on imported solar panels has intensified debates about trade protectionism and the future of domestic manufacturing in the renewable energy sector.
Key quote:
“While other countries such as the United States and China are strongly promoting the establishment and scaling up of solar gigafactories, the German government has yet to take concrete action.”
— The German Solar Association
Why this matters:
On one hand, the availability of inexpensive Chinese solar panels has been a boon for the solar installation sector, contributing to a surge in solar energy adoption by making it more financially accessible to a broader population. However, this pricing disparity has put pressure on American and European manufacturers, who argue that they are at an unfair disadvantage due to China's state-backed subsidies and lower labor costs.
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Photo by Mike Marrah on Unsplash
Germany’s emissions hit 70-year low as it reduces reliance on coal
A study by the thinktank Agora Energiewende found that Germany emitted 673m tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023, 73m tonnes fewer than in 2022.
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Photo by Chris Ensminger on Unsplash
Farmers protest against a German government plan to cut tax breaks for diesel
German farmers are gathering in Berlin to protest against planned cuts to tax breaks for diesel used in agriculture, part of a deal reached by the government to plug a hole in the country’s budget.
Photo by hoch3media on Unsplash
The trials of Robert Habeck: Is the world’s most powerful green politician doomed to fail?
Podcast: A year ago, Germany’s vice-chancellor was one of the country’s best-liked public figures. Then came the tabloid-driven backlash. Now he has to win the argument all over again.
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How the far right weaponized heat pumps
When they write the book on the downfall of liberal democracy, will it begin with the heat pumps?
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