Government - Aiwanger questions climate target for Bavaria - CSU counters
Economic minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) has put the Bavarian climate goal in question, which aims for the state to be climate neutral by the year 2040 - and this has triggered prompt opposition from the CSU's large coalition partner.
"There are still 15 years left until 2040, that's sporty," said the Free Voter chief to the "Augsburger Allgemeine" (Tuesday). "But we shouldn't get too hung up on the goal if we see that we're losing competitiveness," he emphasized. "We need to prevent ourselves from being CO2-free but economically dead."
State chancellor Florian Herrmann (CSU) countered after a cabinet meeting, referring simply to the valid Bavarian Climate Protection Law. He emphasized: "We stand behind these climate goals." He added: "The last time I looked at article two of the Bavarian Climate Protection Law, it still said: Climate neutral by 2040, minus 65 percent by 2030." It was all underpinned by "a very, very large action program," Herrmann noted. "That means we're working on it."
Aiwanger defended his statement: He allowed himself to say such things himself, and he was not "silenced" in the cabinet meeting for it. "I believe that it's simply a matter of reason to say: Yes, we as Bavarians aim to give up fossil energy sources five to ten years earlier than other regions, that is, than Germany or the EU. But - and that's what I expressed - if we see that we won't make it before we put the economy at risk, then, in my political assessment, we should pull back a bit and shift the goals accordingly."
We're trying, but not at any cost, he said. That's better than telling the economy today that 2040 is "the concrete wall" - and if we don't make it there, then we'll have to idle the cars and shut off the oil heating.
Saskia Reinbeck, climate expert from Greenpeace Bavaria, sharply criticized Aiwanger: "Economic minister Hubert Aiwanger is putting the Bavarian climate goals in question when the mud from the disastrous floods in Bavaria has hardly dried up." This is short-sighted and irresponsible towards the citizens.
Green fraction leader Katharina Schulze commented on Aiwanger's statements: "What a joke for all regions in Bavaria that have just gone under in floodwaters." The climate crisis threatens "our prosperity, our possessions, our nature, our homeland." Climate protection costs money, but no climate protection costs even more, in the worst-case scenario, human lives. And Schulze emphasized: "With the transition to a climate-neutral economy, we secure our future and strengthen the economic position of Bavaria."
- Hubert Aiwanger, economic minister from the Free Voters party in Bavaria, has questioned the state's climate goal, which targets achieving climate neutrality by the year 2040.
- Aiwanger made his statements in an interview with the "Augsburger Allgemeine" newspaper, expressing concerns about the potential loss of competitiveness if the state focuses excessively on the climate goal.
- State Chancellor Florian Herrmann, from the CSU party, countered Aiwanger's comments, reiterating the validity of the Bavarian Climate Protection Law and its goal of climate neutrality by 2040, with a reduction of 65% by 2030.
- In Munich, political leader of the Free Voters, Florian Herrmann, stated that the climate goals are still unwavering, and the state is actively working on the implementation of a large-scale action program to achieve these targets.
- Katharina Schulze, leader of the Green fraction, criticized Aiwanger for his comments, stating they are shortsighted and irresponsible, particularly after the recent floods that affected many regions in Bavaria.
- Schulze emphasized the importance of climate protection for the future prosperity and economic position of Bavaria, asserting that the transition to a climate-neutral economy is essential for securing the state's future.
