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Left by environmentalists: Manuela Schwesig (SPD)
Photo: Jens Büttner / dpa
The establishment of a climate protection foundation for the further construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline threatens to become an environmental fiasco for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD).
Numerous environmental associations have already refused Schwesig any cooperation with the "MV Climate and Environmental Protection" foundation.
Now, according to SPIEGEL information, the chairman of the "Council for Environment and Sustainability", Theresia Crone, is stepping down with immediate effect.
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"I cannot support or legitimize a climate protection foundation that is supposed to create climate-damaging infrastructure in any way," said Crone in response to a request from SPIEGEL.
She is stepping back in order to maintain her "attitude, integrity and credibility".
Crone is an activist of the Fridays for Future movement in Schwerin and one of the leading climate activists in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Schwesig initiated the founding of the council in 2019 after a conversation with Fridays for Future representatives.
The committee should give young people a voice in climate and environmental policy in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Last week, Schwesig had posted an old photo of the founding meeting on Twitter and wrote that it was important to her to "be in contact with climate activists and to involve them".
But apparently the rift over the Nord Stream 2 Foundation is too big.
Even a conversation between Schwesig and Crone on Sunday could no longer prevent the resignation.
The state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania decided to set up the Climate Protection Foundation at the beginning of the year.
In addition to nature conservation, the foundation's purpose is to set up a commercial enterprise with the aim of completing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
The idea is to use the foundation structure to circumvent the sanctions threatened by the USA.
The state wants to provide the foundation with 200,000 euros.
According to Schwesig, Nord Stream 2, which is wholly owned by the Russian gas company Gazprom, has pledged grants of initially 20 million euros.
Due to this dual role, the major environmental associations Bund, Nabu and WWF as well as the Michael Succow Foundation had already declined any participation in the foundation last week.
Actually, environmental associations should occupy two seats on the board of trustees of the Climate Protection Foundation.
In addition to Schwesig, State Environment Minister Till Backhaus, Energy Minister Christian Ebene and ex-Prime Minister and Foundation Board member Erwin Sellering (all SPD) as well as several state secretaries came to a crisis discussion with the associations last Wednesday.
But despite the crowd of prominent participants, the environmental representatives were not prepared to work together even after a two-hour video conference.
Schwesig's state government points out that the pipeline is necessary to transport enough natural gas to Germany and Europe.
This is needed as a "bridging technology" for the energy transition.
The climate protectors, on the other hand, are of the opinion that the previous transport capacities for natural gas are sufficient and that the pipeline will only delay the rapid switch to renewable energies.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is to lead from Russia through the Baltic Sea directly to Germany.
It is about 94 percent complete.
The US is against the construction and is threatening companies involved with sanctions.
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