The drastic transport measure proposed by the German Greens against the climate crisis

The green candidate for the German chancellery, Annalena baerbock, defended his proposal to abolish short air links, as proposed by France, while recalling that this must be accompanied by a solid rail network.

“The prospect should be that train travel is comfortable and cheap, as is the case in other European countries,” Baerbock said. The environmental leader gave the example of the French case, alluding to the bill promoted under French President Emmanuel Macron to remove internal airways when there is a rail alternative of less than 2 hours and 30 minutes.

For this to be possible, the German rail network needs to be strengthened, because, he added, “Unfortunately, we don’t have efficient and fast trains like the French do.”

Baerbock also spoke in favor of the reactivation of night trains, just as she plans to do in Austria.

The allusion to the French or Austrian plans, both under center-right governments, follows criticism in Germany raised by the conservative and liberal ranks by the statements made by Baerbock to the tabloid “Bild” in favor of the removal of the links short aerials.

Conservative bloc candidate and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Armin Laschet described the proposal as an example of “typical green populism” and argued that environmentalists must first “remove obstacles to routes high-speed trains ”.

From the opposition Liberal Party, the Greens have been criticized for trying to campaign with proposals such as increasing airfares, ignoring the fact that this will mean that traveling by plane will end up being only accessible. to the most privileged classes.

Baerbock rejected these interpretations, arguing that replacing the plane with the train is only possible with a reduction in rail fares and also recalled that if these plans are not realized, it makes no sense to set climate targets. .

“The current government has corrected its climate plans in exchange for more ambitious targets, but there is no point in considering reductions by 2030 if measures are not already implemented to achieve them”Baerbock said.

Merkel’s grand coalition last week approved a bill that provides for further emission reductions to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. The measure was promoted following a Constitutional Court ruling that has called on the executive to amend the current law until the end of 2022.

The new wording provides that Germany will reduce its emissions by 2030 by 65% ​​compared to 1990 and 88% by 2040, reaching climate neutrality by 2045.

Already the Climate Protection Law, as approved in 2019, bet on a cheaper train journey, with a reduction in the value-added tax on the ticket, as well as an increase in the costs of the train. air transport, without however specifying its implementation.

The fight for the climate is becoming a major issue ahead of the electoral campaign for the general elections of September 26. The Greens occupy the first position in the intention to vote, with 26%, one point above the conservatives of Laschet and ten more than the Social Democrats.

The speed with which the grand coalition, made up of conservatives and social democrats, articulated the reform of the climate law, at the request of the Constitutional Court, was interpreted as a desire to resolve an issue which was to become an issue. recurring theme of the campaign.

The Social Democratic candidate himself, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz spoke out a few days ago against low-cost flights and in favor of articulating appropriate measures so that travel by train is cheaper than by plane.

(with EP information)

KEEP READING: