Focus on climate crisis
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Reporting on climate change is one of the major journalistic challenges of our time. The climate crisis is also one of the most important issues of humanity for SPIEGEL. For this reason, we support an international initiative that seeks to take a look this week: "Covering Climate Now" has been initiated by the Columbia Journalism Review and the Canadian newspaper "The Nation", with more than 200 media companies worldwide including the Guardian, El País, La Repubblica, The Times of India, Bloomberg or Vanity Fair. SPIEGEL is dedicating the cover story of the current issue to the climate crisis this week and every day pays special attention to mirror.de
One ton of CO2 for the equivalent of three to four beers: According to Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD), this is a symbolism that "does not fit". Weil basically defended the federal government's climate package as a big step, but called the low carbon price a "horse's foot".
The grand coalition wants the polluting rights that companies have to prove for the sale of fossil fuels to cost only ten euros per tonne to start in 2021. The Greens, for example, demand a starting price for the emission of CO2, which should be around 40 euros per tonne.
Environmental organizations, the Greens and the Left are accusing the federal government of failing in climate policy. The reason for this is that the planned climate protection law of Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) should now be weakened. It is currently being worked out on 180 to 200 pages and will be decided on Wednesday by the Cabinet.
At a panel discussion titled "Sport Meets Politics" Weil also warned against too radical steps on climate protection on Monday evening: "When I say that there will be no combustion engines in ten years' time, then I will drive the most important industry of this country with my eyes open Then I would not be surprised if at some point in Germany there would be a yellow-vein movement as in France, "said the Lower Saxony. Because sits in the VW Supervisory Board.
Schulze had already presented the first draft (PDF) of its Climate Protection Act at the end of February. This version was, as SPIEGEL reported on Sunday evening, in some respects much stricter than the present draft bill (PDF).
Reading tip: The most important questions and answers about the climate protection package can be found here.
