A palpable sense of concern is pervading Germany’s environmental policy landscape, with the president of the Federal Environment Agency, Dirk Messner, warning of a potential reversal of years of progress. In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Messner characterized the current climate as one of “cold winds” blowing through environmental and climate policies, largely driven by economic pressures.
The prevailing sentiment, Messner argues, is that the precarious economic situation renders comprehensive environmental and climate protection an unaffordable luxury. This has fostered a tendency towards postponing action, lowering targets and extending deadlines – a strategy he deems not only ecologically damaging but also ultimately counterproductive for the German economy.
The contentious debate surrounding the phasing out of internal combustion engines serves as a stark symbol of this backward trajectory. Messner criticized the reluctance to decisively embrace a future dominated by electric mobility, describing the clinging to a “technology of the past” as an indication of a “mental blockade” preventing Germany from fully embracing progressive solutions. He suggested a fixation on past practices is hindering innovation and long-term strategic thinking.
Beyond the combustion engine debate, Messner also voiced criticism regarding proposals to weaken environmental and climate regulations in the name of accelerating bureaucratic processes. While acknowledging the need for a more efficient and streamlined bureaucracy, he cautioned against the dangerous premise that environmental and climate policy is inherently “bureaucratic”. He warned that artificially reducing environmental targets to expedite approvals represents a detrimental compromise and advocated for a “sensible reduction of bureaucracy” that leverages technology like artificial intelligence and digital modernization, rather than sacrificing environmental ambition. The core challenge, Messner implied, lies in achieving efficiency without compromising fundamental environmental objectives.
