The Premier of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, is calling for a fundamental reassessment of climate policy amidst growing concerns about industrial viability and recent announcements of corporate withdrawals from the region. Specifically, he argues for exemptions to stringent climate regulations for strategically important sectors like the chemical and steel industries.
In an interview, Haseloff proposed augmenting climate targets with a focus on “resilience” questioning the logic of relying on foreign production for essential materials. He posed the question of whether sourcing steel from Russia or chemicals from China – despite their own environmental records – is a sustainable alternative to maintaining domestic production capacity.
Haseloff also urged the European Commission to reconsider the planned phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, citing potential economic repercussions. He expressed concern that a continuation of current policies could lead to deindustrialization, potentially fueling support for populist parties. The Premier warned of a reversal of economic progress in key industrial regions like the chemical triangle and automotive supply chain, suggesting a loss of prosperity within a generation.
The recent decision by Dow Chemical to close sites in Germany, according to Haseloff, is a direct consequence of a misdirected European climate policy, which he believes is effectively eliminating certain types of domestic production. He emphasized that pursuing sustainability should not come at the expense of economic viability, stating bluntly that there should be no obligation to engage in “economic suicide”.