Coal exit in coalition agreement for the state of Berlin

The Energiewende and climate protection are “central projects” of the new government coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Left Party in the federal state of Berlin. The three parties confirm Berlin’s plan to become climate-neutral by 2050 and set an end date for coal: “Berlin will end lignite use in 2017 and hard coal use by 2030 at the latest,” says the agreement. The new government wants to establish a “Berlin Climate Fund” to finance climate protection measures in all sectors. The coalition plans to shift Berlin “step-by-step and as fast as possible” to a fully renewable energy supply. The transport transition will be supported through a general “redistribution of road traffic in favour of public transport, bicycles and pedestrians” and e-mobility projects. The agreement will now be discussed within the parties.

Find the full agreement in German here.

For background, read the CLEW article Migration trumps energy in regional votes despite anti-wind party and the CLEW factsheet Facts on German state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.