LeipzigIn a joint Stellungnahme Civil society and environmental organizations are calling for a change of course in dealing with the long-term costs of lignite mining in eastern Germany. In light of the upcoming state elections in Saxony and Brandenburg, they are demanding a transparent and ecologically sustainable precautionary policy that ensures the mining companies LEAG and MIBRAG fulfill their financial responsibilities.
"We must not allow costs to be socialized and profits to be privatized."
says Sina Reisch from Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie.
"In June, the coal company LEAG announced a restructuring plan that will isolate its lignite division. This move fuels concerns about a planned insolvency of the lignite division as a 'bad bank' and the shifting of long-term costs onto public coffers."
Lasse Thiele adds Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie.
Transparency regarding follow-up costs and precautionary agreements
"We demand transparent and insolvency-proof security deposits, adherence to the polluter pays principle, and holding the companies LEAG and MIBRAG accountable."
explains Prof. Dr. Dr. Felix Ekardt, Chairman of BUND Saxony
"The secrecy surrounding the follow-up costs of lignite mine remediation must end. The convoluted corporate structures of LEAG owner and financial oligarch Daniel Kretinsky give rise to fears that the multi-billion-euro remediation of the lignite open-cast mines will ultimately be left to the taxpayers to foot the bill."
warns Greenpeace energy expert Karsten Smid.
"This is about more than nature and environmental protection. When our shared habitat is destroyed for the capitalist interests of individuals, it's a question of social justice. Money shouldn't protect corporations from their responsibility."
says Maria Michaelys, board member of BUNDjugend.
Water protection as a central concern
"In our coal mining regions, water scarcity is already the biggest problem. Further flooding of open-cast mines must be urgently reviewed by policymakers. The risks of such projects can no longer be postponed to the future."
says Jens Hausner, a resident living near the open-cast mine, of “Pödelwitz has a future” and “All villages remain”.
Government under criticism
"The current state government under Dietmar Woidke is vehemently shifting responsibility for the coal phase-out to the federal level and standing idly by as LEAG prepares to evade the costs associated with the post-mining process. The governing parties must now take responsibility for greater transparency regarding costs and for the socio-ecological transformation in Brandenburg."
says Lena Eyerich from the Brandenburg Youth Forum for Sustainability.
Signed by:
• Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie
• Greenpeace Germany
• Greenpeace local groups Leipzig-Halle, Chemnitz, Cottbus & Upper Lusatia
• BUNDjugend
• BUNDjugend Brandenburg
• BUND Saxony
• BUND Brandenburg
• Green League
• All villages remain
• Pödelwitz has a future
• Citizens' initiative "Future instead of brown coal Lützen"
• Communia
• Youth Forum for Sustainability Brandenburg
• Nature Friends Youth Brandenburg
• Nature Friends Brandenburg
Note from July 29, 2024: BUND Brandenburg subsequently signed the statement.