“We have to make progress in the area of climate protection,” said Wegner. The expenses are investments in the future. The special fund has a volume that does not exist in any other federal state in this function and amount, Giffey added. The funds are to be used in three areas – in building renovation, in the area of mobility and transport and in energy production. The measures are to be evaluated at the end of 2024 and the budget then increased if necessary.
Berlin should become climate-neutral “as soon as possible” through the special fund, said the Secretary General of the Berlin CDU, Stefan Evers. However, the representatives of the two parties did not want to give an exact year on Wednesday. The special fund is also not an answer to the referendum “Berlin 2030 climate-neutral” that took place on March 26th. “We don’t let anyone put us under pressure,” said Wegner.
The initiative behind the referendum wants the capital to be climate-neutral by 2030. The soon-to-be-resigned red-green-red Berlin Senate has already criticized the demand as unrealistic and recommended voting no.
The CDU and SPD began negotiations to form a new Berlin state government last week. These should be completed by April 1st. The SPD members can then vote on the coalition agreement. The result should be available on April 23rd.
The Christian Democrats won the February 12 election by a wide margin. The Social Democrats ended up in second place – only 53 votes ahead of the Greens. The CDU then also explored with the Greens, but opted for coalition negotiations with the SPD.
If the two parties agree, the previous Governing Mayor Giffey would have to give up her office to Wegner. So far, a coalition of SPD, Greens and Left Party has ruled in the capital.
