Caritas President Eva Welskop-Deffa criticizes parties in the Bundestag election campaign for pitting climate protection and economic policy against each other.
“It’s the central promise of almost all parties in the election campaign: ‘New prosperity for Germany'” Welskop-Deffa said to the Funke Media Group’s weekend editions. “Again and again, the thesis is presented that climate protection is responsible for the stalling of the prosperity engine.”
However, it seems to be forgotten that a sustainable climate policy is necessary for long-term prosperity. “Unbridled climate change will destroy the foundations of our prosperity – nationally and internationally, in the medium and long term” said the head of the Catholic welfare organization.
Welskop-Deffa advocates for a climate social policy that specifically supports those people who are particularly affected by the consequences of climate change. She looks at mobility, for example: “Fair and reasonable is climate policy with a public transportation system that creates a reliable connection between home and work” she explained. Investments in train stations, a high-performance rail network, and good bus connections in rural areas are essential for commuters and students alike. “The Germany ticket must be further developed into a family ticket, and electric mobility must be affordable for all citizens.”
People with low incomes must experience themselves as winners of environmental policy, said the Caritas President, who is a CDU member herself. “This can be achieved, for example, by providing practical tips and tricks for energy savings through the Caritas energy-saving club, which can be calculated in euros and cents in the wallet.” Building renovation remains important for the climate – “but the costs of this should not be loaded solely on low-income tenants.”
Welskop-Deffa added: “Unbridled climate change destroys prosperity.” The current images of burning houses around Los Angeles are a reminder that we must make the switch to a climate-friendly growth path here and now. “Adenauer and Erhardt’s promise of prosperity for all is only redeemable if we do not mess up the CO2 generation project.