Brandenburg's Economics Minister: Opportunities despite the crisis in Lusatia!

Brandenburg's Economics Minister: Opportunities despite the crisis in Lusatia!

In Brandenburg, an area of ​​tension is emerging between economic recovery and the challenges of climate protection. Economics Minister Daniel Keller (SPD) sees promising prospects for the regional economy despite the current crisis. “Lausitz can serve as a model region here,” he explains, while at the same time calling for falling electricity prices and fewer bureaucratic hurdles for companies in order to ensure their competitiveness. Many companies, like the Riva steelworks in Hennigsdorf, are under pressure and are struggling with short-time work and the specter of insolvency, like the Brandenburg glass factory in Tschernitz. n-tv reported.

In this context, AfD parliamentary group leader Hans-Christoph Berndt comments, criticizing the SPD/BSW state government for its focus on climate protection and calling for a return to nuclear power. A heated debate raises the question: Where should nuclear waste be stored and disposed of? The SPD economic politician Marcel Penquitt remains skeptical in this regard. CDU parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann, on the other hand, is demanding quick approvals for companies in order to accelerate the “Tesla turbo”. At the same time, BSW MP Stefan Roth warns of the economic consequences of the sanctions against Russia and the cessation of purchases of Russian oil.

Political coalition negotiations and climate protection

The coalition negotiations between the SPD and BSW highlight possible regressions in climate protection. Brandenburg has long been considered a pioneer in the energy transition, but now environmental organizations are worried that important aspects of climate protection are being neglected in the negotiations. A coal phase-out before 2038 is rejected by the SPD and BSW, and the Brandenburg Climate Alliance expresses concerns about the lack of consideration of climate protection experts in the negotiations. Lobbyists from the agricultural and mining sectors are increasingly present in thematic working groups, which increases fears of a regression in climate protection. Environment Minister Axel Vogel emphasizes that the coal phase-out depends on the federal government and the market anyway , says rbb24.

The challenges should not be underestimated. Brandenburg produces the most renewable energy per capita in Germany, but also has to contend with high climate-damaging emissions from agriculture and lignite-fired power generation. The Environment Minister warns that negative consequences of a step backwards in climate protection could particularly affect the region - at a time when Brandenburg is also affected by extreme drought and increased forest fires.

Goals and perspectives of energy policy

According to the Federal Climate Protection Act, Germany must achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045 at the latest. The Federal Environment Agency is investigating what an energy system based entirely on renewable energies could look like. However, this goal could be jeopardized by technical measures and policy instruments being developed to provide energy. The Federal Environment Agency provides information here about the further aspects of energy policy and the need to include technical sinks in the weatherability of climate goals.

It remains to be seen how the political negotiations will develop and whether the balance between economic development and climate protection can be maintained. Brandenburg is at a crossroads, and the coming decisions will be crucial for the region.