Government Ministers' Meeting Room - Kretschmer and Woidke express dissatisfaction with discussions about phasing out coal.
The leaders of Saxony and Brandenburg, Michael Kretschmer and Dietmar Woidke, have expressed their disapproval of the discussions surrounding the coal phase-out. They had previously collaborated on the agreement to cease using lignite by 2038, with Kretschmer asserting, "The interests of our regions mattered to us." On Tuesday, after a gathering with state officials at the Boxberg power station, Kretschmer expressed his dismay at the recurrent mention of dates that aren't backed by legislation.
"We're not just surprised, but upset by the reckless citation of dates that have no legal basis," said Kretschmer. "Germany adheres to its constitution, and there's a law in place for the coal phase-out in 2038. If we want to change this, we need to involve the people in the affected regions, as well as their political leaders. Creating a new consensus is essential," he continued.
The G7 decision, agreed upon in Italy, calls for the end of coal by 2035, which Kretschmer views as mistrustful. "The year 2035 is being bandied about with no legal framework supporting it," he stated. "This doesn't align with current German law or the economic feasibility of coal phase-out."
Kretschmer also pointed to a recent report from the German Energy Industry Association detailing 1.2 trillion euros as the cost of the energy transition, a sum he believes is financially, technically, and possibly socially unfeasible. As a result, he reiterated his offer to rework the energy transition, prioritizing both climate protection and the cost and effect of electricity. "We need more professionalism and prudence here."
Woidke, Brandenburg's top politician, echoed Kretschmer's concerns about the unfounded dates. "I'm tired of the figures," he said, referring to the G7's decision in 2022 to end coal usage in 2035. "I'm not shocked by it, but also by the G7's call to completely phase out fossil fuels." In relation to this, Woidke believes that gas-fired power plants should be shut down by 2035. "People need to know what will happen to their prospects and jobs in the region," Woidke added, emphasizing the impact of these decisions.
Saxony's Energy and Climate Minister Wolfram Günther offered a contrasting perspective. "2038 was never a promise to keep coal use alive," explained the Green politician. "In Germany, the coal phase-out is already market-driven. To claim otherwise is economically senseless." Günther goes on to state that coal companies themselves are expanding their use of renewable energy. "The sooner we stop using climate-damaging coal, the more progress we'll make in environmental protection."
Günther deemed the acceleration of renewable energy expansion as essential to both economic correctness and climate policy. "We must shift away from coal as swiftly as possible," he concluded. He welcomed the G7's commitment to a binding date for the coal phase-out.
Online stream of the ministerial presser: [Link]
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Source: www.stern.de
