A lot of work, a lot of enemy: Robert Habeck (Greens) is beginning to feel that his new super ministry offers large areas for attack.

In view of the abundance of tasks, the opposition accused him of inaction in important areas on Thursday.

There was even an appeal from within our own ranks not to neglect economic policy in addition to climate protection.

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

  • Follow I follow

Julia Löhr

Business correspondent in Berlin.

  • Follow I follow

In fact, in his first speech in the Bundestag in the new office, the Green politician focused primarily on the fight against global warming.

Although he began with the bridging aid IV for corona-damaged companies.

But most of his remarks took up his justification for prioritizing the energy transition.

The average approval time for a wind turbine is still up to eight years.

It takes 40 years to electrify a rail line and ten years to build a cycle path.

"That can't work."

Electricity and gas prices are rising

Habeck, whose title is Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, does not see the two fields as opposites, but as interrelated, mutually supportive tasks. The expansion of renewable energies not only reduces CO2 emissions, but also increases independence from imports, creates new jobs and an overall economic upswing: "I see the opportunity for the German economy, for growth and climate protection". This could "complement each other wonderfully". Regarding the sharply rising prices for electricity or gas, Habeck said the reason was the worldwide “hunger for fossil fuels”.

He does not see the renewable energy sources propagated by him as part of the problem, but rather the solution. But Habeck also knows that the public and companies could blame politicians for the rising prices of the energy transition, which could result in less acceptance for the energy transition. In the short term, the traffic light coalition wants to cushion the burden of the abolition of the EEG surcharge and heating subsidies for the needy. In the long term, locally generated green electricity and hydrogen should ensure price stability with simultaneous security of supply and the greatest possible dependency on imports.

The industry is basically signaling openness to the Minister's plans.

"We are very much in agreement with Mr. Habeck on the description of the problem," said Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).

“The hand of industry is outstretched.” At the same time, he warned not to lose sight of reality with all ambitious goals.

A large part is imported

"Germany imports 70 to 75 percent of its energy needs," said Russwurm. Although this share may drop to 60 percent, most of the energy will still come from imports in the future. The BDI sees the task of economic and foreign policy as ensuring that these imports come from as many different sources as possible. “If our heat pump needs electricity on a cold January evening, it won't ask whether it's red nuclear power from France or green power from Scandinavia. We have to create security of supply. ”Regarding the gas-fired power plants required in view of the nuclear and coal phase-out, Russwurm called for the relevant approval procedures to be shortened from years to months. "Each of these power plants is an insurance against the sun not shining,the wind doesn't blow. "

Russwurm recalled that Olaf Scholz (SPD) had promised an industrial electricity price of 4 cents per kilowatt hour during the election campaign.

According to the energy association BDEW, the price including all taxes and electricity tax was last at 21 cents.

Investments in climate-friendly technologies should also pay off for companies.

"We warn against slipping into an energetic state economy."

The concerns in the economy are also great because there is still no sign of recovery from the corona pandemic.

The association estimates that 2022 could be “another stop-and-go year”.

"The upswing is not gaining momentum," stated Russwurm.

BDI believes that 3.5 percent growth is possible this year.

But that is not enough.

Julia Klöckner, vice-chairman of the Union parliamentary group, replied to Habeck's speech in the Bundestag that it was not enough to just turn on the "turbo" for climate protection.

“If it says economics minister on it, then economics minister has to be inside too,” she demanded.

In some cases, the self-employed dissolved their retirement reserves in order to keep their businesses running in the current crisis.

It was not politicians who drove the transformation, but companies.

"Green planned economy will not work," said Klöckner.

And Reinhard Houben, economic policy spokesman for the ruling party FDP, said that decarbonization is very important, but not the only area of ​​work for the minister.

He must also take care of the craft, the service economy and industry.