New transport minister’s maiden speech a “bitter disappointment” – VCD

Germany’s new transport minister, who did not mention climate protection and the transition to a sustainable transport system in his maiden speech to parliament, has not understood the signs of the times, according to sustainable transport association VCD. “A continuation of the previous government’s policies would be a heavy blow to climate protection in transportation,” said VCD head Wasilis von Rauch. “We need a U-turn, instead of preserving the status quo.” He added that it was cynical to promise “clean air as an export hit,” while cosying up to the car industry and omitting to say who should pay for the necessary hardware retrofits of diesel cars. On social media, Scheuer was instantly criticised by other environmentalists as “minister for hot air.”

Find the VCD statement in German here.

Find background on Andreas Scheuer and the tasks ahead for him in the article Germany’s car-loving transport minister faces clean mobility challenge and the factsheet Diesel driving bans in Germany – The Q&A.