In a significant shift in the party’s climate policy, the Green party’s leadership is abandoning its restraint in the wake of debates surrounding the heating law. The party’s co-leader, Felix Banaszak, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that those profiting from the destruction of the climate and previously contributing little to the costs must now be held accountable. This could involve oil and gas conglomerates with fossil business models and enormous profits, such as a climate adaptation fund into which these companies could contribute or a climate tax for individuals with extremely high incomes or wealth.
Banaszak emphasized the need for a fairer distribution of the costs of climate change, stating that the burden should not fall on those who are already struggling to make ends meet. “They can’t be expected to know how they’ll make it through the month, let alone the year” he said.
In a clear departure from the approach of the Green’s federal election candidate, Robert Habeck, who only addressed the topic of climate protection in a defensive manner during the campaign and avoided discussing burdens, Banaszak is now calling for the party to become more defined and sharper in its environmental and climate policy.
The party leader believes that the Greens should not be afraid to “honestly name the ecological reality, even if it means alienating some people.” Instead, the party should prioritize in-depth clarity and empathy to win back majorities.
Furthermore, Banaszak criticizes the party for having previously presented climate issues in a too technical manner, failing to resonate with the public. “We haven’t reached the hearts of the people, but we have reached the heating cellar” he said, referring to his co-leader, Franziska Brantner and the party’s leadership.