CSU calls for more ambitious climate protection in the pandemic

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The CSU in the Bundestag calls in the beginning of the Bundestag election year to continue and even intensify climate protection efforts unabated in the corona crisis.

"The corona pandemic must not be used as an excuse to let up now in the climate protection measures," said state group leader Alexander Dobrindt on Thursday in Berlin at the closed meeting of the Bavarian Union MPs in the Bundestag.

The CSU is once again making a brand theme of the Greens its own, which it has identified as the main competitor of the Union.

“The question of climate change is one that arises parallel to the fight against the Covid pandemic.

And it is not becoming less of a task, because a pandemic is still there as a major task, but it must be solved in the here and now, ”said Dobrindt.

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According to the CSU politician, one even has to “tackle climate protection measures more strongly” than previously planned.

He spoke out in favor of raising the target for Germany from 55 percent CO2 reduction compared to 1990 to 60 percent.

However, from the CSU's point of view, the responsibility of the other European countries would then have to be demanded so that efforts there are also increased.

In December, the European Union raised its common climate target for 2030 from 40 to at least 55 percent reduction in CO2 compared to 1990.

Merkel and Dobrindt swear unity in the Union

The guest of the retreat was the Secretary General of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa Cantellano.

She appealed to the international community not to lose sight of the climate goals despite the corona crisis.

2021 will be a crucial year for climate protection, the states must continue their climate efforts, demanded Espinosa.

There were initially fears that the fight against climate change would take a back seat due to the pandemic.

That did not happen, said the UN climate chief.

Rather, the pandemic created an additional window of time and new opportunities to achieve the climate targets.

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Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Dobrindt also swore at the closed meeting that both Union parties would be united.

"This has become a living book over the years with different chapters," said Merkel.

"And the chapter that we have been creating for some time is a chapter of common ground, despite all the differences, including the attempt to mutual understanding why who acts how."

Both parties have also learned from past events, said Merkel with a view to the sometimes tense relationship between the CDU and CSU.

For them, the collaboration at the moment is "a very successful or result-producing collaboration in which we have achieved a lot".

Dobrindt welcomed the fact that the Chancellor allowed herself to be connected to the CSU MPs meeting in Berlin for a discussion.

"It is a sign of unity that we hereby give," he said.

"The unity of the CDU and CSU to cope with the challenges of the pandemic is imperative." The economic challenges after the pandemic and the challenges in Europe and the world "need a close alliance between the CDU and the CSU."