German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has no positive words for the demonstrators in the village of Lützerath, which is being demolished for a lignite mine, and certainly not for the violence they have used. He does offer them an alternative. “Perhaps the protest should focus on the fact that it takes six years to get a wind turbine approved,” he told Tageszeitung newspaper.
Speed is the key to changing the way energy is generated, said the social democratic head of government. “The goal should be to install three to four large wind turbines in Germany every day.”
Following his green economy and climate minister Robert Habeck, Scholz rejects allegations that Germany’s climate goals are jeopardized by the development of a lignite mine under Lützerath. “It’s the exact opposite: we act to achieve our climate goals.” According to the government, additional extraction is now necessary to accelerate all coal mining in 2030 with the aim of being climate neutral by 2045.
During the evacuation of the village in western Germany, there have been regular clashes in recent days between activists and the massive police presence. Scholz says he has demonstrated a lot in the past. “But for me, a line has been crossed where protests become violent.”
LOOK. A large demonstration will follow on Saturday from a neighboring village, Greta Thunberg will also be visiting
The last buildings were knocked to the ground on Friday evening, but there would still be some people in tunnels. A large demonstration will follow from a neighboring village on Saturday.
LOOK. ‘Pinky’ and ‘Brain’ hide in tunnels under lignite village
IN PICTURE. Evacuation of German ‘brown coal village’ almost finished, last activists are hiding in tunnels
Two activists entrench themselves in a tunnel under a German “lignite village”, Greta Thunberg also visits
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