Environmental group BUND criticizes easing of Sunday truck ban amid low river levels

Germany's Federal Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) has sharply criticized a proposal to relax Sunday driving bans for trucks. The suggestion, put forth by Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger, aims to temporarily increase road transport of essential goods amid critically low river levels that are hampering inland shipping.

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Replacing ship transport with hundreds or thousands of truck journeys is not a solution for low water levels in rivers.

BUND chairman Olaf Bandt stated that replacing ship transport with "hundreds or thousands of truck journeys" is not a solution to the low water problem. He argued that low river levels are a symptom of the climate crisis and that exacerbating the issue with more trucks on highways will further burden people and the climate. Bandt emphasized that river landscapes need to be maintained for water retention to mitigate low water levels, asserting that inland navigation must adapt to rivers, not the other way around.

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The government has not understood that low river levels are a symptom of the climate crisis.

The proposal has garnered support from the German Industry Association (BDI). BDI Vice-President Holger Lösch praised the government's "ability to act" in the extreme situation, suggesting that shifting goods to rail and road could alleviate the impacts of low water. However, he also stressed the importance of modernizing infrastructure.

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Inland navigation must adapt to the rivers – not the other way around.

Low water levels in German rivers are posing significant logistical challenges, reducing the cargo capacity of ships and increasing transport costs, particularly for industries reliant on bulk goods. Economists warn that this situation could negatively impact Germany's economic growth for the year.

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The Federal government demonstrates the ability to act in the current extreme situation.