“It’s wonderful that you’re not honest now”

Berlin Two days before the federal election, “Fridays for the Future” takes to the streets again for a global climate strike. The goal of “uprooting the system” – already shows that this is not about an election proposal or a polite request to attend the next Global Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. One center of the protests was Berlin, where Greta Dunberg and Louisa Neuber spoke.

With a slight chill, Newbar comes to the RND capital office for a conversation – and finds clear words for what he missed in the federal election campaign.

Ms. Newpower, Does climate protection play a worthy role in the federal election campaign?

In this unrealistic election campaign, all parties are very successful in telling the fairy tale of the world in which you control everything. The world to be optimized. So keep it green or keep it more socially democratic, keep it a little more free or a little more friendly. But this is a fairy tale.

The truth is: the crisis is here. Talking about the crisis – if it happens – is bureaucracy by parties with combined forces. It is no longer about the big crisis, but about many small bureaucratic actions. The real crisis will not happen anymore. The world is boiling over and we are talking about what will happen to commuter payments in the German election campaign. People lose sight of the big picture.

The election campaign should be about different ideas, specific politics – what do you miss?

If the election campaign is about climate, it is about planes, meat and burners. These are interesting topics to discuss. But there is no point in isolating it, not embedding it in the question of how one can avoid the human catastrophe that calls into question all that threatens our society. Only then will discussions be rushed. Instead, we discuss how to recoup loads with higher CO2 prices. If you do not find the answers there, then suddenly the climate crisis is no longer so important.

Isn’t that an appropriate discussion? The fear of climate protection costs is real – it needs feedback. Of course, politicians need to talk about specific things in the election campaign, right?

One question: What do we need to change? Other: Who is to blame for this? The first discussion is important. You can lead for a second and look forward. But that does not work because the SPD and CDU do not acknowledge their shortcomings, but instead blame each other for the climate-political turmoil. Otherwise, they would not be able to sell reliably to anyone who now wants to implement some form of climate protection.

Eight years for SPD, 16 years for CDU. Emissions are increasing today more than in the last 30 years. Questions I would like to ask: How do climate-friendly policies work? What should we do? What are the goals we need to achieve? How do we get there? Instead of talking about the future, we talk about the past. SPD and CDU are trying to balance their balances.

This is not a frequently asked question in the election campaign: How do we prevent disasters? And this Despite the floods in West Germany, Despite wildfires in Siberia, Greece and elsewhere, despite record temperatures on the U.S. West Coast. Why is that?

Everyone talks about “moderate” activities. Olaf Scholes, Armin Laschet or Annalena Barbach – no one wants to expect anything from the community. That’s beautiful – and a big misunderstanding. If they are honest, they should say: If you change a little, a lot will change – and worse. That would be the message. Anyone who dares to say it is lying.

Are all the best candidates lying about climate policy?

Yes, of course on a larger scale, we don’t have to fool ourselves here. The fact that you are not honest now is awesome. There must be rejection because they have to take climate policy action – but now they get the votes first.

What will be better after the election? Whichever coalition rules, there will probably be a “Ministry of Climate Protection”. What policy does this ministry implement?

At best, we enjoy politics because we are not yet familiar with it. At best, we will experience what is not in this election campaign, which is what we as a society can be, where it can go, a vision and story that everyone can engage in. Under the best circumstances, we will experience politics that is ready to motivate the people, convince the majority, and promote good plans and ideas.

How possible is that?

Nothing helps. To compensate for 40 years of climate ignorance and 16 years of Merkel. The Paris Agreement was signed six years ago. Again: At best, we would all be surprised by a government that shows what political will is like in a climate crisis. We know that it is possible, and according to the survey, we also know that there is a cross-generational preference among people for climate protection.

In abstract terms, is this option to be sure, but in firm terms? The Registration numbers for cars Have risen again. Fear of failure dominates the election campaign, With some more aggression, More degrading with others.

While this is unfair to many, the current status quo is presented as worthy of protection. Why has local public transportation in rural areas grown so badly that people rely on driving? Why do we accept 20,000 heat deaths every summer? If those floods were the only flood for more than 180 people why were those areas compressed and the warning systems so badly developed? With a business-conventional policy, should we expect these drastic results often and badly?

You’ve put together 42 celebrities – from Iris Berben to Axel Brahl and Charlie Habner to Enisa Amani – calling for a vote. “The general election is historically significant. It’s the choice of the century,” you write. But you did not recommend a choice.

If you see that, write it down.

I ask them. I did not campaign for the party.

Neither do I.

But you are a member of the Green Party.

We strongly urge all people to vote in favor of children and youth who are not allowed to vote but who have to endure the climate crisis for a long time. For those who can vote according to the weather as much as possible, I recommend the study German Institute for Economic Research. It has checked every project for climate friendliness and shows how big the differences are between the parties.

But the thing is: no election plan fits the 1.5 degree target. But each party promotes climate protection and writes on their posters. If these parties are elected because of these promises, they have an obligation to fulfill them. Each party is responsible for it. The moment of truth after the election. We, the climate enthusiasts, will be more. I can promise it.