Hambach Forest and diesel deal an example of Merkel government’s indecisiveness

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tabloid writes, adding that “it is incomprehensible for many people in Germany why an old forest has to die for an outdated technology.”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.