Habeck on protests: "Lützerath simply the wrong symbol"

Created: 01/13/2023 07:57

Robert Habeck gives a press conference.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has little understanding for the massive protests against the demolition of Lützerath for lignite mining.

“There are many good reasons to demonstrate for more climate protection, including against the Greens.

But Lützerath is simply the wrong symbol," Habeck told the "Spiegel".

Berlin/Erkelenz - The village is not the symbol for a continuation of the Garzweiler opencast lignite mine in the Rhineland, but "it is the final line," said Habeck.

The coal phase-out in the local coal mining area is preferred by eight years to 2030, which was always the goal of the climate movement.

“The agreement gives us planning security.

Because of you, investments are now being made in a climate-neutral energy supply, in hydrogen power plants.”

Habeck defended a corresponding contract between the federal government, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the energy company RWE.

That means: “We save five villages and farms with around 450 residents.

The Hambach Forest has been secured.

The agreement has halved the permitted amount of open pit coal.”

Activists protested in front of the RWE headquarters in Essen on Friday morning.

According to them, several of them chained themselves to the entrance gate.

Habeck also expressed his concern about a growing fear of the future among young people.

"I'm concerned that part of the young generation is in danger of losing hope," he told the magazine.

"Today, 20-year-olds are considering whether they want to have children at all." He knew this debate from his youth, it had disappeared for 30 years.

"Now she's back.

Understandable, the climate crisis is a reality”.

dpa