"After me the deluge, I have no children": Climate statement by millionaire outraged on ZDF

Millionaire Julien Backhaus caused a great deal of incomprehension among many in the ZDF talk. © Screenshot ZDF

What role do rich people play against the backdrop of the climate crisis? In this context, the statement of a millionaire caused a lot of anger in the ZDF talk.

Frankfurt – Climate change is a ubiquitous topic. After the "Friday's for Future" movement had repeatedly attracted attention in recent years, the "Last Generation" is now often causing a stir. Only recently, due to the protests of the climate stickers in Berlin, there were several police operations. The blocking of roads and highways of climate activists is controversially discussed.

The focus of the "last generations" is also on the rich. They are demanding more climate protection from the wealthy. In the "ZDF heute" talk, the two parties met. One statement in particular was met with great incomprehension by the Twitter community.

In conversation with "Last Generation": Millionaire makes rigorous climate statement

"Are the rich killing the climate?" was the main theme of the ZDF program. A guest on TV on the side of the "Last Generation" was activist Theo Schnarr, who had previously spoken to IPPEN. MEDIA.

As a millionaire, entrepreneur and publisher, Julien Backhaus answered questions. In conversation, the two discussed climate protection and the role of the wealthy, bringing different arguments.

CO2 emissions per person and distribution worldwide

As Federal Environment Agency expert Dr. Michael Bilharz said in a podcast in 2019, per capita CO2 emissions in Germany are around 11.6 tonnes. Data from the Climate Inequality Report showed that the richest ten percent of the world's population accounted for 48 percent of global emissions. Some of this can be traced back, for example, to flights with private jets or luxury goods in general. The fact that wealthy people live umpteen times as harmful to the climate as ordinary citizens was also the conclusion of a "taz" data analysis.

"After me, the deluge. I don't have any children": Entrepreneur horrified on ZDF with climate statement

"In the end, this crisis hits us as a whole - and then we have to find a solution for society as a whole," is one of Schnarr's appeals. Shortly before, Backhaus had said with a view to other millionaires who would invest in climate protection: "Yes, it's good that they do it because they understand something about it and are interested in it. I don't."

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A short time later, the millionaire answered a question from the audience – apparently expressing his indifference to the issue of climate protection. "Mr. Backhaus, where and how do you fulfill your responsibility for future generations and our environment?" was the question. The reaction followed succinctly with the words: "After me, the deluge. I don't have any children."

"Disgusting character": Twitter users outraged by millionaire's climate statement

On the social platform Twitter, this statement caused a great deal of incomprehension. "I'm just speechless and shocked right now. And he says it so naturally," one user wrote. Other comments included "How you can discredit yourself in eight words", "At least he doesn't hide his disgusting 'character'" or "What an ass**".

Another user at least credited him with his honesty: "But at least he's more honest than other rich people who wouldn't admit that in order to maintain their social status." Another user alluded to freedom of expression. As a society, you have to endure such attitudes. "But as a society, we don't have to stand by, we can regulate behavior through taxes and prohibitions," he continued.

ZDF Talk: Millionaire encounters incomprehension with climate statement - expert classifies

"The rich will not be able to solve the climate problem on their own," said climate expert Dr. Felix Creutzig after the discussion on ZDF. "Climate policy must also be impartial - that is, treat everyone equally. This is the only way to ensure social confidence in climate policy. It is true, of course, that the rich have more financial opportunities to invest in climate protection. So here, of course, the rich also have more responsibility in their actions," he said.

Meanwhile, experts classified the facts of the latest climate report as "alarming". Temperatures in Europe are rising twice as fast as in the rest of the world. (mbr)