In the run-up to the first coalition committee meeting on Wednesday, climate activist Luisa Neubauer has strongly warned the Union and SPD against “budget tricks” in the fight against climate change.
Neubauer, a co-founder of Fridays for Future, told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that if the coalition leaders undermine the commitment to invest an additional 100 billion euros in climate protection three weeks after the start, “there will be little credibility left.” The increase in funds for the climate transformation fund was a condition for the formation of the government and therefore, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil should not now use the regular budget to divert funds to the climate fund.
The warning comes in response to a request from the Ministry of Finance, led by Klingbeil, to other ministries to search for ways to shift funds from the budget to the climate fund. Klingbeil had previously denied allegations by the Greens that the special fund was being used to plug budget holes.
At the coalition meeting on Wednesday, where the budget is at the center, Klingbeil must clear up the remaining doubts, Neubauer demanded. “The coalition committee will be a real ‘How-dare-you-moment'” she said. “The climate crisis is no puppet show. The government would convey the impression that it is haggling over the budget and moving money around, if it starts with budget tricks in the fight against global warming.”
Neubauer said she senses a great willingness in many conversations to accept and support the new government, “no matter what happened and I count myself in.” However, she added, “But the signals for climate protection are worse than we could have imagined.” “Germany will not secure a stable economy, a stable infrastructure and a closed society in the long run if we do not do everything we can to counter the catastrophes.