Minister Gabriel calls for "job alternatives, structural alternatives" before talks about coal-exit commission

Federal Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel is against establishing a commission to set a date on the phase-out of coal in Germany. Gabriel objected to the proposed commission as it would not address the situation of coal sector workers, saying it was necessary to present “job alternatives, structural alternatives to those who work in lignite, before starting to talk about reducing lignite.” The minister was speaking today at the Innovation Congress 2016 in Berlin, organised by mining, chemicals and energy industries trade union IG BCE. He said merely setting a date to give up coal “is exactly what we shouldn’t do, if we want to take along the citizens regarding the Energiewende”. The remarks reinforced Gabriel’s statements from June. In January, Gabriel had called for a round table on the future of coal.

For background, read the CLEW article Coal exit proposal reveals faultlines in energy debate.