The Greens in the Bundestag insist on more rapid progress in natural climate protection in Germany – i.e. in storing CO2 in soil and plants. “More, forests and bodies of water must be healthy and clean so that they bind CO2 and at the same time promote biodiversity,” said parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann of the German Press Agency.
The Green MPs had decided on a paper on the subject on Tuesday during their exam in Weimar, Thuringia. It also harbors other sources of conflict, especially in dealing with the coalition partner FDP.
“Conservation must be a priority”
“The next few years will decide whether we will preserve our natural foundations of life,” the decision says. The prosperity and quality of life of future generations also depend on this. Among other things, the action program for natural climate protection by Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) must now be decisively implemented and given priority by the authorities. “Conservation must be given priority,” demanded Hasselmann. “This requires more staff and better framework conditions for the local approval authorities.”
The issue of motorway construction, which is highly controversial within the traffic light coalition, is also discussed in the decision. Debates about this are “counterproductive,” said Hasselmann. According to the paper, the Federal Transport Routes Plan alone contributes to the sealing of around three hectares of land, among other things for the construction of new motorways.
The goal of the federal government to limit land consumption to 30 hectares per day cannot be achieved. As a result, more and more ecosystems, including particularly valuable moorland, were literally being crushed. “We urgently need these areas for nature and climate protection,” said Hasselmann.
“We are committed to a nutritional revolution”
The Greens in the Bundestag are also pushing for progress on rewetting moors. More than 92 percent of the former moor areas in this country are drained. Seven percent of German greenhouse gas emissions could be avoided with healthy moors. In addition, around 65 billion euros per year in environmentally harmful subsidies could be reduced.
The parliamentary group also sees a need for action in agriculture: “We are focusing on a change in diet with increased demand for plant-based foods and on more sustainable and environmentally friendly organic farming.”
