Kiel, Germany – Climate researcher Mojib Latif of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel has criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (both CDU) for what he considers misplaced political priorities in the face of the current heatwave. Speaking to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” Latif stated that the extreme weather events are directly linked to climate change.
“We are experiencing new records” Latif said. “End of June was the hottest it has ever been. The extremes are increasing. Yet, year after year, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen new highs in emissions. French President Emmanuel Macron has recently questioned European climate goals and climate protection is no longer a top priority in Germany.
Latif further commented on the current focus of the government. “Chancellor Merz and the Economics Minister are saying that the economy must take the lead. I don’t see a positive development in that regard at the moment”. He expressed astonishment at the situation, particularly when considering the extreme temperatures seen in Southern Europe, exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Latif challenged the narrative that climate protection hinders economic growth. “The economy suffers from climate protection – that’s the current argument. In reality, it is the other way around: the economy benefits from climate protection”. He also highlighted the challenges of international cooperation. “International cooperation is currently not the pinnacle of world politics. Instead, states are fighting each other, sometimes in the most literal sense. This is the worst possible prerequisite for climate protection”.
