Greta Thunberg to join coal mine protests in Germany
Climate activist Greta Thunberg is expected to attend a protest against the opening of a coal mine in Luetzerath, Germany today.
The project is controversial in Germany due to the country’s target to phase out coal for electricity generation by 2030. Proponents of the project, which includes German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck from the Green Party, argue it’s a necessary compromise to bring forward Germany’s coal phase-out from 2038 to 2030. Meanwhile opponents argue that the project is unnecessary and will harm Germany’s ability to adhere to its Paris Climate Accord commitments aimed at keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, Germany’s phase-out of Russian natural gas imports also plays a major role in the country restarting several coal-fired energy plants.
Protesters are unlikely to succeed in halting the coal mine project due to police action to remove protesters from the site. As a result, Habeck’s energy policy strategy of “non-simultaneousness” between short-term energy security measures and a long-term transition to renewable energy is likely to be continued. The policy’s success will be determined in the medium- to long-term by the country’s ability to increase its renewable energy capacity and ability to continue without Russian imports.
