Anti-climate attacks heat up before critical German elections

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🗞️ Driving the news: As Germany prepares for elections on February 23, climate issues have been largely absent from political debates, despite 2024 being the hottest year on record
• The far-right AfD, second in the polls, denies human-caused climate change and advocates leaving the Paris Agreement
• Meanwhile, the conservative CDU’s Friedrich Merz, a leading chancellor candidate, has proposed delaying green policies and increasing gas power production

🔭 The context: Germany has been a leader in EU climate action, but its energy transition faces growing political opposition
• Economic concerns, migration, and security have dominated the election discourse, sidelining climate despite public support for stronger action
• The collapse of Germany’s ruling coalition in 2024 and rising energy costs have fueled debates over renewables and fossil fuels

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Germany’s stance on climate policies influences the EU’s Green Deal and global emissions targets
• A shift toward fossil fuel expansion could weaken Europe’s energy transition and delay emissions reductions
• Businesses and unions warn that failing to invest in renewables and clean industries could harm economic competitiveness and job security

⏭️ What's next: The new government will be legally required to implement a climate protection program within 12 months or face EU fines
• Climate activists, including Fridays for Future, are pushing for stricter emission cuts and a gas phase-out
• The election outcome will determine whether Germany remains a climate leader or pivots toward fossil fuels

💬 One quote: "The costs of doing nothing are disproportionately higher than the costs of acting." — Claudia Kemfert, German Institute for Economic Research

📈 One stat: €145 billion — estimated damage from extreme weather events in Germany (2000-2021), highlighting the rising cost of climate inaction

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