Democracy in climate protection: Together against the crisis!

Democracy in climate protection: Together against the crisis!

On March 17, 2025, a panel discussion entitled “Democracy and climate protection – (how) can this work?” took place in the St. Georg parish center in Unterbiberg. instead of. The Climate Neutral 2035 initiative organized the event to express the urgency of the climate crisis and the role of democracy in this context. Among the participants were Professor Hedwig Richter from the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich, journalist Bernd Ulrich, the CSU state parliament member Kerstin Schreyer and Dr. Andreas Kießling from Bayernwerk.

The discussion revolved around the compatibility of climate protection measures with democratic processes. Both Prof. Richter and Bernd Ulrich emphasized the urgency of action in the climate crisis and highlighted the often existing conflict between acting in a democracy and the necessary quick decisions.

Role of citizens and technical challenges

In his contribution, Dr. Kießling highlights the need to address technical challenges at different levels. He referred to the important topics surrounding plants, networks and storage, which are essential for successful climate protection. Kerstin Schreyer emphasized the role of citizens in the political process and called for greater involvement of the population in decisions affecting climate protection.

A consensus among the discussion participants formulated the view that change is only possible together at the political, economic and social levels. Prof. Richter and Bernd Ulrich warned of the negative consequences of delays in climate protection, which could further exacerbate the already threatening situation.

Political landscape and climate change

A look at the political framework shows that the topics of climate policy and sustainability received little attention until a few years ago, especially among populist and right-wing extremist parties. These groups often deny man-made climate change and use people's insecurity to their advantage. The debates about climate and sustainability are often misused for propaganda purposes.

Populist narratives blame an allegedly corrupt left-green elite that ignores national interests. Such movements criticize international organizations and try to claim sustainability for themselves. While some right-wing extremist organizations see environmental protection as part of their ethnic ideology, this “ecology from the right” does not have the popular support needed to have a significant impact. Nevertheless, the topic remains anchored in elements of right-wing extremist ideologies.

The international framework of climate protection

The international context of climate protection is characterized by important agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, and the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015. The latter aims to keep global warming well below 2°C and make efforts towards 1.5°C. National contributions to reducing emissions are crucial here.

The Paris Agreement also calls for financing targets to help countries transition to a climate-neutral future. In Europe, European emissions trading regulates about 45% of the EU's total emissions, while the Green Deal aims for climate neutrality by 2050. Germany has passed a climate protection law that aims for greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050 and a reduction of 65% by 2030.

The complexity of the challenges in the area of ​​climate policy is exacerbated by the lack of implementation and compliance with these goals. As the discussion in Unterbiberg showed, the dialogue between science, politics and society remains crucial for future progress in the fight against climate change. The Climate Neutral 2035 initiative is already planning further events to promote this dialogue.