A growing unease permeates Germany’s environmental policy, with the head of the Federal Environment Agency, Dirk Messner, warning that hard-won progress is now under serious threat. In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Messner characterized the current climate as one of “cold winds” sweeping through the sector, driven primarily by economic anxieties.
The prevailing sentiment, he argued, is that environmental and climate protection are perceived as unaffordable luxuries in the face of economic hardship. This perception is leading to a dangerous cycle of deferred action, lowered targets and extended deadlines – a strategy that Messner insists is not only detrimental to the environment but also ultimately counterproductive for the German economy.
The ongoing debate surrounding the planned ban on internal combustion engines serves as a stark illustration of this worrying trend. Messner pointedly criticized the reluctance to decisively embrace the future of electric mobility, describing it as a manifestation of a “mental blockage” tied to a fixation on the past. He questioned the rationale of clinging to outdated technologies when the trajectory of the automotive industry is clearly shifting.
Beyond the combustion engine debate, Messner expressed serious reservations about proposals to relax environmental and climate regulations in the name of streamlining bureaucratic processes. While acknowledging the need for a more efficient administrative system, he cautioned against the implicit assumption that environmental policy is inherently bureaucratic. The danger, he warned, lies in using bureaucratic efficiency as a justification for compromising environmental goals. Instead, he advocated for a “sensible reduction” of bureaucracy, leveraging tools like artificial intelligence and digital modernization to achieve greater effectiveness without sacrificing ambition.
The agency chief’s assessment represents a pointed critique of the government’s current approach, signaling a potential clash between economic pressures and Germany’s long-standing commitment to environmental leadership. The implications extend beyond Germany’s borders, highlighting the global challenges of balancing economic recovery with climate action.