A prominent figure within the German Green Party is advocating for a reassessment of the party’s climate policy approach. Ralf Fücks, a long-standing member and former chair of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, argues that shifting societal concerns necessitate a recalibration of priorities.
Speaking to “Focus” magazine, Fücks highlighted growing anxieties surrounding economic decline, uncontrolled migration and geopolitical conflict, asserting these issues are increasingly dominating public focus. He emphasized that the current economic climate is substantially different from the conditions that prevailed several years ago when climate policy enjoyed greater public support. “The cost question plays a much larger role now. If that isn’t realized, ecological policy will run into the wall” he stated.
Fücks, who recently founded the think tank Zentrum Liberale Moderne, contends that the Green Party needs to adopt a more pragmatic and honest approach to climate communication, acknowledging the costs and potential conflicts inherent in climate action. He stressed the need for a realistic assessment, avoiding resignation or fatalism.
The call for a policy shift comes amidst a period of electoral setbacks for the Greens. The party’s share of the second vote in the most recent federal election dropped to 11.6%, representing a decline from the previous election. Key figures within the party, including Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock, have subsequently stepped back from frontline political roles. Fücks notes a lack of a compelling narrative of progress within the party, suggesting a need to reconcile pragmatic political considerations with the drive for positive change.