Extreme weather increases blackouts/ Berlin diesel bans likely- report

The ongoing conflict between anti-coal protesters and energy company RWE at the Hambach Forest is but one of several recent examples that illustrate the indecisiveness of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s fourth government coalition, Germany’s largest tabloid, the Bild Zeitung, writes. “We clear forests for lignite although the coal exit has already been decided on,” the conservative tabloid writes, adding that “it is incomprehensible for many people in Germany why an old forest has to die for an outdated technology.” The Bild Zeitung says that “lignite not only creates most of the harmful greenhouse gases, but also hefty profits, because the power plants are already written off.” In a hint at the government’s latest diesel deal, “which has not solved any of the diesel customers’ troubles,” the tabloid writes that “Denmark demonstrates that things can be done differently: by 2030, cars with combustion engines will no longer get a license,” adding that Belgium, France and Norway have decided on similar policies.

Read the article in German here.

For background, read today’s article German court stops clearing of Hambach Forest.

The protests against energy company RWE in that Hambach Forest are directed at a coal lobby that wants to show its power and create precedents, even though clearing the forest is now technically not necessary, Rainer Balcerowiak writes in an opinion piece in politics and culture magazine Cicero. “A comprehensive Energiewende [energy transition] without a doubt is necessary, primarily due to ecological and climate concerns,” Balcerowiak says, adding that this will require “determined state action and political courage.” However, he argues that some sacrifices have to be made for progress on the energy transition and that protests against new wind farms, solar parks or hydropower plants cannot be blocked by those advocating a “back to nature” approach.

Read the op-ed in German here.

For background, read today’s article German court stops clearing of Hambach Forest.

The government of Luxembourg has written a complaint letter to the European Commission, lamenting the plan of neighbour country Germany to implement hardware retrofits of diesel cars in only a few selected regions for a few car owners, website Spiegel Online reports. The German plan would “create chaos” in the EU and violate the principle of equal treatment of customers and citizens in Europe. “German companies have cheated on Dutch and Belgian customers just as much as they cheated on German customers,” Luxembourg’s infrastructure minister Francois Bausch said in the letter. The EU Commission had to ensure that carmakers not only retrofit selected vehicles to avoid driving bans in certain cities but rather “cover the entire EU” to ensure equal standards for car sellers and customers.

Read the article in German here.