Özdemir's green election campaign: climate protection or existential fear in BW?

Özdemir's green election campaign: climate protection or existential fear in BW?

The election campaign in Baden-Württemberg is gathering pace and Cem Özdemir, the Green candidate for the state elections on March 8th, is in the spotlight. The poster campaign recently presented by the Jung von Matt agency features two clear climate motifs: “Save the economy and the climate” and “For the climate out of pure reason”. These statements are intended to show that the Greens are dealing with the pressing challenges of the present. But the mood is tense because climate policy is not perceived as a strong election campaign issue, as taz.de reports.

Amid existential fears and stagnating climate commitment, Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann is regularly perceived as a pragmatic politician. After 15 years in office, the government's environmental record is rather mediocre. A look at the figures shows that the share of renewable energies in EnBW's electricity mix has increased from 41% to almost 55%, but many electric cars are missing on the roads, despite the high density of charging stations. When it comes to climate protection, Baden-Württemberg is at best placed in the solid midfield of the regional states.

Criticism of climate protection

The Climate Expert Council has already criticized the green-black state government because it jeopardizes the goal of climate neutrality by 2040. CO2 emissions have recently increased slightly, particularly in the transport sector, under the leadership of Winfried Hermann. A local transport tax that municipalities can levy has not yet had the desired effect. Özdemir shows understanding for these challenges, but rejects a truck toll on country roads in order to remain grüne-bw.de.

In the meantime, political competition has changed the focus. The CDU has switched to fossil fuels and is no longer demanding sector targets for climate protection. The FDP, on the other hand, ridicules the “end of combustion engines” and does not shy away from discussing the use of nuclear power. This means that the Greens, including Özdemir, pale in comparison to the competition in the election campaign.

Cem Özdemir's path to election

Cem Özdemir was elected candidate for prime minister at the state election meeting in May with 97 percent. The Bad Urach native not only worked politically in Stuttgart, Brussels and Berlin, but was also committed to nature conservation and preserved the Ermstalbahn. These roots shape his values ​​and view of life. As the first member of parliament with Turkish roots in the Bundestag and former federal chairman of the Greens, he brings a wealth of experience with him, including from his time in the European Parliament.

The overall concept for achieving the climate goals is strengthened by the climate policy framework. On February 1, 2023, the state parliament passed the Climate Protection and Climate Change Adaptation Act, which underlines the need for measures to adapt to the consequences of climate change. Within this framework, concrete savings targets are set for the various sectors, which means that the green agenda takes concrete shape. The state government intends to regularly review whether climate protection goals have been achieved and to decide on additional measures if these are not met.

With a motivated state list of 70 candidates from all over Baden-Württemberg, Cem Özdemir aims to meet the challenges with foresight and pragmatism. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to do this against the competition in the election campaign.