In Germany, Record Heat Meets Climate Action Fatigue

Record heat and its devastating consequences are gripping Germany, yet the federal government remains notably silent, failing to convene a dedicated "heat summit." Lars Werner of the "Last Generation" climate activist group, who previously engaged in direct action, notes the predictability of the current crisis. He highlights that even four years ago, the potential for the Rhine River to dry up during hot summers and its economic repercussions were evident. This summer, villages face evacuation due to wildfires, farmers anticipate massive crop losses, and vulnerable populations in buildings lacking air conditioning are at acute risk.

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Of course, I could say 'I told you so,' because it was foreseeable and comes as no surprise whatsoever.

Werner criticizes the government's approach, deeming it "utterly irrational" to focus on minor regulatory adjustments, like lifting Sunday truck traffic bans, instead of implementing comprehensive climate protection policies. The "Last Generation" has since halted its protests, citing public hostility, fines, and prison sentences. The mantle of fiercely criticizing political inaction on climate policy has largely fallen to the Fridays for Future Germany (FFF) movement.

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The fact is, even back then, I was constantly explaining in my presentations that the Rhine would eventually run dry during hot summers and that this would have an incredible impact on the economy.

Linda Kastrup, an FFF spokesperson, echoes the sentiment of governmental inadequacy, stating the federal government is doing "virtually nothing" effective for climate policy. She points to "pseudo-solutions" like dredging the Rhine or lifting truck bans as short-term fixes for symptoms rather than sustainable actions. This perceived lack of progress has led to a significant drop in public participation. A recent demonstration outside the chancellery drew only a few hundred protesters, a stark contrast to the hundreds of thousands who marched prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite studies showing high levels of public worry about climate change and a desire for increased government spending, translating this concern into street action has become a challenge.

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It is utterly irrational for the federal government to resort to tinkering with regulations, such as lifting the Sunday ban on truck traffic, in the hope of somehow scraping by without implementing a comprehensive climate protection policy for the long or even short term.