Above all, the Greens hope that the major climate protests shortly before the general election will give them a boost. Her candidate for Chancellor quickly dropped by the “Fridays for Future” demonstrators before her own final rally. But Annalena Baerbock also knows that for many who march for climate protection or are on hunger strike in Berlin, even the promises of the Greens do not go far enough. Because even in the green program, these are not provided with the absolute claim under which the climate protest and the left alliance grouping around it do not - because behind it there is often the desire for a different economic system that has little in common with the social market economy.

A federal government that attaches importance to maintaining German economic strength and thus high social standards will not be able to please the streets in terms of climate policy. Both an SPD-led traffic light alliance and a CDU-led Jamaica coalition have to be prepared for a riot. That should already accompany the negotiation of the coalition agreement.

The less the negotiators are impressed by it, the better. Because after the election there is no need for any new, bold promises of billions or bans. What is needed is a climate course that concentrates on three key points: on the market-based, technology-open effect of the CO2 price through the corresponding expansion of the EU certificate trade. Second, on the dragging of the big emitters China, USA, India, without which German efforts will fizzle out, since our CO2 share is only a few percent. And thirdly, the question of how social hardship can be offset by climate protection, which initially makes consumption, mobility and housing more expensive, without increasing social contributions and taxes.

The new government has to do away with the nonsense that there will be an election period before all is lost.

The climate conversion of an industrialized country is a marathon.

The goal can only be achieved if a good balance of interests ensures that acceptance does not dwindle as soon as efforts become noticeable.