Cologne: Climate protection demonstration calls for a stop to new gas drilling!

Cologne: Climate protection demonstration calls for a stop to new gas drilling!

Members of the climate protection movements Fridays for Future and Students for Future held a lively demonstration in Cologne city center today. With around 150 participants on Rudolfplatz, they demanded a rethink from the federal government, which recently decided to rely more on fossil gas and drill for gas off Borkum. This move is directly linked to the increasing threat of extreme weather events, often cited as a result of burning fossil fuels. The increase in heat waves and other extreme weather conditions is also discussed in the DWD report on extreme weather events.

The protest was supported not only by the two main movements, but also by groups such as “Grannies4Future” and “Health4Future”. The demonstrators criticized the course of the government coalition made up of the Union and the SPD and called for an immediate stop to new gas drilling as well as increased heat protection measures for particularly vulnerable groups such as the old, sick or homeless people. The responsibility to position themselves clearly before the local elections in September now also lies with the Cologne parties.

A heated summer and an urgent appeal

The choice fell on July 12th, the hottest day of the year, when it became particularly clear how much the heat affects people's living environment. The decision made by the cabinet in Berlin on July 2nd allows new gas drilling in the North Sea and is causing great concern among climate activists. Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) has recently questioned the existing climate targets and the energy transition, which is further fueling the discontent of the demonstrators.

The active participation in the demonstration took place under a special framework: At the same time, at the invitation of the city of Cologne, a multi-day climate protection festival took place, which has offered numerous events around the topic of “climate-friendly future” since July 7th. This festival ends on July 13th and is intended to raise awareness of the climate crisis and encourage discussion. The demonstrators also demanded that the city of Cologne implement heat protection plans and advance projects to unseal and green public areas.

Climate change and its effects

The connections between fossil fuels and extreme weather have become increasingly clear in recent years. The DWD reports that the increase in heat waves in Germany is progressing more rapidly. The scientific studies show that the likelihood of further temperature records is increasing and extreme weather events are increasingly occurring in new areas. This not only concerns climate change, but also the need to rethink our response to it and increase climate protection efforts.Further information can be found here.