Climate activist Greta Thunberg slams Germany’s Greens over support of mining village demolition
- Leading Green politicians have defended the demolition of Lützerath, arguing that the coal is needed to maintain energy security in the current crisis
- The clearing and demolition work at Lützerath began on Wednesday. Around 470 activists have since been removed, of whom 320 left voluntarily
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg criticised Germany’s Greens on Saturday for supporting the demolition of the village of Lützerath for lignite mining, ahead of a rally that drew thousands of protesters, according to police estimates.
Making deals with fossil fuel corporations such as energy giant RWE – which has bought the site of Lützerath for mining – “show where their priorities are”, Thunberg said of the Greens, who form part of Germany’s coalition government, in an interview with dpa.
Leading Green politicians such as Economy Minister Robert Habeck have defended the demolition of Lützerath, arguing that the coal below is needed to maintain energy security in the current crisis.
“The coal that is in the ground here will not lower prices immediately. Anyone who thinks like that is simply out of touch with reality,” Thunberg said.
The Greens are also in power in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, where the village of Lützerath has become the latest flashpoint for activists opposed to the government’s continued use of coal.
Police said that several thousand participants were at Saturday’s rally in the neighbouring village of Keyenberg, despite the pouring rain. Both Keyenberg and Lützerath belong to the larger Rhineland town of Erkelenz.
The motto of the demonstration is “Prevent eviction! For climate justice”.
Activists from climate action groups including Fridays for Future, Extinction Rebellion and Last Generation travelled to the site from across the country.