“Climate sin?” Habeck poses a sensitive nuclear power question on ZDF - and then sends greetings to Kleber

Created: 12/31/2021, 06:20 AM

From: Anna-Katharina Ahnefeld

“Climate sin?” Habeck includes the nuclear phase-out in “heute journal” - and then sends greetings to Kleber © screenshot ZDF-Mediathek

Robert Habeck commented on the nuclear phase-out, Nord Stream 2 and Ukraine in the ZDF “heute journal”.

And addressed warm words to Claus Kleber.

Berlin - Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) expects that Germany will not achieve the goals of the Climate Protection Act for the time being. "We will probably still miss our targets for 2022, even in 2023 it will be hard enough," Habeck said in a recent

interview. “We're starting with a drastic deficit.” On the same day, December 29th, he also took a position on the ZDF “heute journal”. He defended the nuclear phase-out and announced an energy partnership with Ukraine. And found warm words for the outgoing news presenter Claus Kleber.

His remarks to the

made headlines.

In an interview with “heute journal”, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection provided further information.

The fact that the Federal Republic of Germany will not achieve its climate targets in the next two years is due to the fact that too little renewable energies have been expanded.

Moderator Claus Kleber puts his finger directly into the wound: "Was the exit (editor's note: from atomic energy) a climate sin?" the maintenance of nuclear power plants is very, very expensive. ”The climate targets can also be achieved with the nuclear phase-out.

ZDF- “heute journal”: “Climate sin?” Habeck includes the nuclear phase-out - and then sends greetings to Kleber

It is clear, however, that Germany has to get out of coal quickly. "We need a very rapid and massive expansion of renewable energies," emphasized Habeck. "Gas-fired power plants are required for the gaps that will arise time and again," added the Federal Minister of Economics. These should be converted to hydrogen as quickly as possible. "If we can do it well, in 15 years, in 13 years, we'll be so far advanced that we would have made it." Meanwhile, he made it clear: "Nuclear power instead of coal is also not the right answer. The correct answer is to expand the use of renewables and then quickly turn gas into hydrogen power plants. "

With a view to the controversial Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 2, Habeck defended the decision of the federal government to consider the approval of the controversial Baltic Sea gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 from a purely legal point of view and not to interfere. However, depending on developments in the Ukraine conflict, he did not rule out a stop. "We are a rule of law and permits are granted according to the law," he said. “Politics have to concentrate on the political field, and that has to be analyzed in terms of foreign policy and geopolitics. In other words, with a view to the situation in eastern Ukraine and the deployment of the Russian army there, a political decision will have to be made as to which sanctions may be issued if another hot conflict occurs there. "

Habeck sends farewell words to Claus Kleber: Farewell to ZDF- "heute journal"

With the construction of the gas pipeline, Ukraine, as a gas transit country, threatens to slip out of the focus of the West, according to Habeck.

The aim is to counteract this by supporting Ukraine in developing into a producer of renewable energies.

His ministry is providing 150 million euros for this.

He himself wants to travel to Ukraine to drive this forward - as soon as the corona situation allows.

At the end of the conversation, Habeck said goodbye to Claus Kleber with warm farewell words.

“Thank you for 19 years of sharp questions.

I think you made Germany a little wiser.

Thank you very much, Mr. Kleber.

On this Thursday, December 30th, after almost 3,000 broadcasts, Kleber will host “heute journal” for the last time.