Lusatian quality of life high, coal phase-out controversial – survey shows!

Lusatian quality of life high, coal phase-out controversial – survey shows!

The mood in Lusatia will remain more than mixed in 2025. This is shown by the current Lausitz Monitor, which was carried out in spring 2023 and is based on the results of a survey of around 1,000 residents from the Saxon and Brandenburg districts as well as Cottbus. According to the results published by the Sächsischen.de were published, the majority of those surveyed reject the goals of the coal phase-out. At the same time, however, there is a remarkable level of satisfaction with regard to the personal quality of life in the region.

What is the population in Lusatia doing? Many people are satisfied with their personal situation, which means they are optimistic about the future. To be more precise, the proportion of satisfied people is an impressive three quarters. Although this corresponds to the previous year, it can be seen that optimism has fallen significantly, particularly in the 40 to 60 age group. According to communication psychologist Jörg Heidig, a co-author of the study, this development is considered worrying because this age group is considered to be a high achiever.

But where does the pessimism come from? A look at the causes shows that price increases and inflation in particular have a major influence: 84 percent of those surveyed find these stressful. The war in Ukraine and the discussion about the energy transition also contribute to skepticism. Approval of the energy transition has fallen by eight percent. According to MDR, these contradictions between emotional ties to traditional forms of energy and rational progress in the discussion about renewable energies are a central issue.

The structural change in Lusatia

The paradoxical situation in Lusatia should also be understood in the context of structural change. The topic of phasing out coal has been a hotly debated topic since 2020. Since the Coal Phase-out and Structural Strengthening Act came into force, the importance of lignite for the regional economy has continuously declined. In 2020, almost 20,000 people were still employed in lignite, a decline of around 8.5 percent over the last two decades.

The public perception of the coal phase-out is influenced by emotions. This is often characterized by the interpretation of the post-reunification transformation as a collapse, which in turn influences the current structural change debate. Historically, Lusatia has been closely linked to lignite mining, which makes the discussion about the necessary transformation difficult. Nevertheless, the political elite in the new federal states have clear goals in hand to find creative solutions to these challenges.

It is important to mention that the current structural change differs significantly from the transformation in the 1990s. There is no fear of mass unemployment, and the affected regions are actively supported through targeted structural aid. By 2030, a large proportion of lignite workers will have retired, which makes the need for a clear perspective for future development all the more urgent. [BBSR].

In summary, the Lausitz Monitor shows that despite the challenges and concerns, a certain level of optimism and satisfaction is anchored in the population. The balancing act between awareness of tradition and the needs of the future remains a demanding but also necessary task. It remains to be hoped that the solutions that are found meet both the needs of people and the requirements of sustainable development.