Berlin House of Representatives decides: One million trees by 2040!

Berlin House of Representatives decides: One million trees by 2040!

Today, November 3, 2025, the Berlin House of Representatives made far-reaching decisions on the subject of urban greenery in a special session. Around 30,000 Berliners are campaigning for a tree law that would require the planting of hundreds of thousands of trees. The decision comes after an intensive citizens' initiative called “BaumEntscheid”, which got a referendum rolling. Both the CDU and the SPD originally refused to support the law due to the potential costs, but they eventually came around and supported the plan. Tagesschau reports that the initiative is now prepared for a lawsuit if the MPs do not accept the draft.

One focus of the law is the goal of planting a total of over one million new street trees by 2040. This means doubling the current number of trees in the capital. The estimated cost of this ambitious project is around 3.2 billion euros. The CDU and SPD, which had originally refrained from drafting their own laws in order to avoid a possible referendum, now see the possibility of keeping the issue of climate policy out of the 2026 election campaign by passing the law. n-tv

Impact and criticism

But not everyone is enthusiastic about the plan. Critics, including the Berlin Hospital Association and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK), are raising concerns about funding and the already strained infrastructure. The AfD in particular abstained from the vote and highlighted the ambiguities in financing. According to AfD parliamentary group leader Kristin Brinker, clear answers about the sources of financing for this ambitious project are urgently needed.

However, the citizens' initiative “BaumEntscheid” sees the decision as a big step towards an overall greener Berlin and calls for the law to be implemented quickly. Jan Dyer, a member of the initiative, emphasizes the positive participation of citizens in the decision-making process. In total, more than 200 volunteers helped draft the bill. Environmental activist Heinrich Strößenreuther emphasizes the importance of the law for citizen participation and climate protection.

Concrete plans

The first tree plantings are scheduled to begin in two years - the focus is on young plants. However, critics warn that it will take about a decade for the new trees to have noticeable cooling effects. Governing Mayor Kai Wegner from the CDU described the new law as a significant investment in the city's green capital, while SPD parliamentary group leader Raed Saleh praised Berlin as the first big step towards greener politics.

However, the much-discussed question of financing remains open. The possibility of using funds from the federal government's special funds creates both hope and controversy among those involved. The prospect that the House of Representatives will accept a bill from the city society almost unchanged also marks a historic moment in Berlin's political landscape that should not be underestimated.