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Green Climate Dreams – and Saxony-Anhalt’s Chemical Industry Is Dying Piece by PieceIn 2021, Cornelia Lüddemann prophesied doom unless there was a radical policy shift: binding climate targets, wind power everywhere, mandatory solar panels, electric-only mobility instead of technological openness. What does the situation look like today? Cornelia Lüddemann’s speech on September 16, 2021, in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament was marked by sharp criticism of the then coalition of CDU, SPD, and FDP. She accused it of neglecting climate protection, slowing the expansion of renewable energy, and thereby squandering the state’s future. Specifically, she called for a binding climate protection law, an earlier coal phase-out, two percent of state land for wind power, mandatory solar panels on every roof, clear prioritization of electric mobility instead of technological openness, an end to waste imports, protection against natural gypsum mining in FFH areas, a democracy promotion law including lowering the voting age, and more measures against right-wing ideology – all without financial caveats and with high urgency. Since 2021, the coalition has implemented green elements in several areas, albeit without the radicalism demanded by Lüddemann. No separate climate law was passed, but the Climate Action Plan was advanced with the goal of reducing emissions by 5.65 million tons of CO₂ equivalents by 2026. An adaptation strategy against extreme weather obliges municipalities to develop concepts against heat and heavy rainfall by 2031, supported by funding programs. The coal phase-out remains scheduled for 2038, supplemented by €5.26 billion in structural change assistance in the southern part of the state and “H2-ready” power plants in Schkopau. Renewable energy expanded: net wind power increased by 269.2 MW in 2025 (to nearly 5.8 GW), photovoltaics by almost 1,000 MW – a significant rise driven by approvals and repowering. By 2032, 2.2 percent of the state’s land area is reserved for wind power, and a participation law ensures municipalities share in revenues. Fiber-optic expansion is in full swing, with €252 million in funding aiming for 100 percent coverage by 2030. No new landfills are planned; instead, the focus is on circular economy, and democracy programs against extremism and for openness to the world have been continued. Today: Saxony-Anhalt Suffers from Persistent Economic Weakness and DeindustrializationDespite these measures, the situation in February 2026 presents a different picture: Saxony-Anhalt is suffering from ongoing economic weakness and deindustrialization. GDP shrank by 0.3 percent (price-adjusted) in the first half of 2025; the hoped-for upswing failed to materialize. Unemployment stands at 8.5 percent (January 2026), one of the highest rates nationwide. In industry, especially chemicals, the crisis is intensifying: sites such as Leuna and Schkopau are under massive threat. Dow is closing plants in Schkopau and Böhlen by 2027 (around 550 jobs affected), and Domo Chemicals filed for insolvency for subsidiaries in Leuna at the end of 2025 (585 employees; the state intervened to avert danger). High energy costs, weak demand, and capacity utilization below 75 percent are driving companies into bankruptcy – a domino effect threatens the Central German chemical triangle with tens of thousands of jobs. Nationwide, around 124,000 industrial jobs disappeared in 2025, and the trend continues.Electricity prices remain high and internationally uncompetitive despite the expansion of renewable energy (share of the national electricity mix nearly 59 percent in 2025). The climate targets – a reduction of 5.65 million tons by 2026, 65 percent nationwide by 2030 – are being partially achieved; emissions are declining moderately. But the price is high: the transformation is burdening industry without creating sufficient new jobs. High costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and global competition are encouraging relocation and insolvencies. Lüddemann’s demands for radical, binding implementation without reservations would likely have exacerbated these pressures. It becomes clear: politically driven expansion creates capacity but does not solve economic problems when energy prices and framework conditions are ruining industry. Saxony-Anhalt is losing its industrial base piece by piece – a warning that climate targets without balance can destroy an economy. Cornelia Lüddemann’s Speech in the Saxony-Anhalt State Parliament on 16 September 2021Thank you very much, Mr. President. – Ladies and gentlemen, members of parliament! Today we are debating a coalition agreement that has elevated ambiguity to the standard, a coalition agreement that lacks any recognizable plan or clear direction, let alone a major development perspective for this state. The three partners have evidently – in the end, it all had to move quickly – compiled a hodgepodge of measures and ideas. This is incomprehensible, especially in areas where this state had already progressed further. Let me give a concrete example: The participation of citizens in the profits from renewable energy installations is to be improved – that is what the coalition agreement states. But we were already further along. Then one could just as well write: We want people on site to benefit when a wind turbine is built in their community. Minister Claudia Dalbert had already presented a concrete proposal more than a year ago, called the “outer-area levy.” (Approval) But perhaps this vagueness even makes sense from the perspective of those involved. Because everything, truly everything, is subject to a funding reservation; nothing is so important that it absolutely must be done. That was different in the Kenya coalition, in which we GREENS participated. At that time, the core projects we truly wanted to implement together were placed outside the fiscal constraint. I consider the current approach dangerous. The shadow minister-president sits in the finance ministry and opaquely blocks the flow of funds. (Interjection: The shadow minister-president?) Given the experiences of the last legislative period, it is clear that any attempt to make Saxony-Anhalt more ecological, more social, and fairer will face strong resistance. This clearly shows what happens when CDU and SPD hold responsibility for too long. At best, there is an administration of the status quo – stagnation. No new beginning, no vision for the future, no shaping of the future. That is not only regrettable but, in these times, almost dangerous. (Applause) Because we are on the verge of reaching the point where we can no longer manage humanity’s greatest task, namely the climate crisis. This is a task that must be addressed now, (Interjection) not in the future, but right now. Anyone watching the news can feel the impact. Even here locally, things are happening that shortly before their occurrence we would not have thought possible. Until the disaster in the Ahr Valley, almost everyone in this country would have denied that such terrible flood scenes could even occur in Germany. (Interjection: They’ve always happened!) Extreme rainfall events have been caused by man-made climate change. (Interjections: Never! – Nonsense! – They’ve always happened!) Here in Saxony-Anhalt, despite welcome rainfall this summer, deep groundwater reservoirs are not replenished, extreme weather events are increasing, and non-native species are spreading. (Unrest) We must – or rather, we would have to – spend millions combating the oak processionary moth. CDU, SPD, and FDP are ignoring this task. (Approval) To combat the climate crisis, we need concrete measures enshrined in a legally binding climate protection law. Only if we act now will we be able to shape the future at all. When I read this agreement, it becomes very clear to me – with all due respect – why we GREENS had only one and a half exploratory talks and were then no longer invited. It is quite clear: binding climate protection is not desired by the CDU. The word climate may appear 84 times in this agreement, (Interjection: Well then, what’s the problem?) that may be, but there is nothing concrete in this agreement that would truly address the climate crisis. (Applause) That is bitter; because soon there will be no more opportunities left to squander. When people in 2030 realize that it is far too hot, far too dry, (Laughter – Interjection: We didn’t have that this year!) that storms and torrential rains are raging, then today’s omissions cannot simply be made up for later. What is gone is gone, (Laughter – Interjection: Some things do come back!) and with it the opportunities for the future. The generation governing today – that is, you, Mr. Minister-President Haseloff, and your ministers – should bear responsibility for this central task. You have responsibility toward the younger generation and all generations to come. Instead, the next five years of this legislative period will be wasted years with regard to achieving the Paris 1.5-degree pathway – and that in light of a generation that, in recent years due to COVID-19, has endured, achieved, and sacrificed so much compared to older generations, and is now receiving nothing in return. That is simply bitter. The black-and-yellow coalition’s response to the climate crisis is to hold a climate congress. But that is something the state and its taxpayers truly do not need. In other words, you want to talk, but not act. Ladies and gentlemen! We do not have a knowledge problem here; we have debated this countless times in this chamber. Countless scientists have written it into every conceivable record. We have a massive implementation problem. And we already laid good groundwork in the last legislative period. The Green Minister for the Environment and Energy, Claudia Dalbert, launched the Climate and Energy Concept in the last legislative term. It does not need to be discussed – it needs to be implemented. (Applause) It would be right to bring forward the coal phase-out; every year counts. But this government even reserves the right to postpone the coal phase-out further if it considers it too costly. It would be right to massively expand public transport and create a genuine alternative to the car. It would be right to designate 2 percent of the state’s land area for renewable energy – in this case wind power – in the State Development Act. (Approval) A solar installation belongs on every roof, starting with new buildings and renovations. That would be the right course. In other areas as well, one searches in vain for a spirit of departure and clarity. Green economy and ecological transformation toward a climate-neutral economy are not spelled out. There is a lack of a clear commitment to fiber-optic expansion. Natural gypsum extraction is to be advanced at the expense of FFH areas. Instead of clearly helping our – I hope one does not have to say still – strong automotive supplier industry in the transformation toward electric mobility, we find the commitment to technological openness publicly proclaimed once again by you, Mr. Minister-President. That is wrong. It stands for inaction and clinging to outdated business models. As a result, our medium-sized industry in this sector will soon no longer be competitive. Instead of continuing the previous course, which would have ended Saxony-Anhalt’s role as a waste-import state, even more and larger landfills are now to be realized. I will not even dwell on the shooting of wolves contrary to EU law. The tokenistic section on democracy promotion seems completely out of touch with the times. There will be no democracy promotion law, no lowering of the voting age, far too little in the fight against right-wing ideology and right-wing violence, nothing concrete in the fight against hate crime – and this in the state of the Halle attack. That leaves me speechless. (Applause) And, dear colleague Pähle, the wording may be beautiful in many places in the coalition agreement, but there is nothing concrete to be found. And with regard to children and young people, who will inherit the consequences of this coalition agreement, I say: This state government is gambling away their future at every level. (Interjection: That’s nonsense!) Apart from failing to protect the climate, the voting age is not lowered, participation rights are not expanded, and a child basic income is not being pursued. But above all: What financial legacy are we leaving them? This part of the coalition agreement reveals what is fatal when one cannot agree on a clear course with firm priorities. Everything substantive is formulated as openly as possible. As mentioned, a funding reservation hovers over everything. But how will €1.5 billion in structural deficit and €1.5 billion in special COVID funds affect future room for maneuver? Ladies and gentlemen! I am deeply convinced that this state needs a clear prioritization toward the future. Since this cannot be expected from the current state government, I promise that my parliamentary group will engage in constructive opposition work. We will not oppose for opposition’s sake. We will identify deficits and, as the saying goes, put our finger in the wound. But we will also always and everywhere make concrete proposals on how to improve things for a sustainable future for the people of Saxony-Anhalt. – Thank you very much. (Approval) Vice-President Wulf Gallert: There is an interjection. Colleague Mr. Räuscher has already indicated this by standing at the microphone. Mr. Räuscher, you have two minutes. And please make sure the microphone is switched on. Alexander Räuscher (CDU): I will manage that, Vice-President Wulf Gallert: Then you have the floor. – Please. Alexander Räuscher (CDU): in two minutes. Colleague Lüddemann, you speak of sustainability and of what you have achieved. (Unrest – Interjection: Microphone!) – The light is on. Maybe it needs to be turned up louder. Cornelia Lüddemann (GREENS): Or a bit closer. Alexander Räuscher (CDU): Then I can bite into it. Cornelia Lüddemann (GREENS): Now it’s better. Alexander Räuscher (CDU): Is it better now? – Yes. Once again: Colleague Lüddemann, you spoke about sustainability and what you have achieved and advocate for. And you spoke about your fear of the climate crisis. As someone from the Harz region, let me inform you that during former Minister Dalbert’s term in office, the national park completely died off. And for your information: (Laughter) 2.5 million tons of CO2 are currently being released by the trees there. It will take about 200 years before that is reabsorbed. According to the Federal Environment Minister, Germany missed its climate target last year by 2 million tons of CO2. Your policies alone ensured that we could not meet it. Perhaps you are not yet aware of this. That is why I am happy to say it here. Per ton of tree, 500 kg of CO2 are bound. And by the way, the National Park Act also states that large-scale forest dieback should have been prevented. You never understood that and simply failed to implement what is written in the National Park Act. If you want to look it up: it is in Section 11, sentence 2 – just for your information. Cornelia Lüddemann (GREENS): Thank you. Alexander Räuscher (CDU): So please take that into account in the future when you claim you want to save the climate. Vice-President Wulf Gallert: You may respond. Cornelia Lüddemann (GREENS): I do not want to respond, but I would like to make my own interjection at this point. Colleague Räuscher, we met here for the first time today. It is unfortunate that I must say that, because of your intervention, we will probably not become friends in this legislative period. (Laughter and interjections) Because honestly: I was in the Harz this summer as often as in previous years. That the national park – and colleagues from the Harz may confirm this – has completely died off is, first of all, completely false. (Interjection: You did a wonderful job!) And secondly. (Interjection: Just go there!) What you are lamenting is exactly what drives me – namely that in some areas it truly is dramatic. But that is precisely why it drives me to address the causes, (Approval) to combat the causes that lead to exactly these conditions. (Approval) If you deny that, then we will not find common ground here. (Interjections: Oh!) Author: AI-Translation - АИИ | |
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