Over 50,000 protest in Germany against gas infrastructure expansion

More than 50,000 people across 80 German cities took part in demonstrations against the federal government’s plans to expand gas infrastructure, DPA reported.

Environmental activists demanded an immediate halt to all new gas projects in Germany, such as the development of deposits near the island of Borkum in the North Sea, located within the Wadden Sea National Park. Protesters called on authorities to take stronger action to protect the climate. “While the climate crisis is destroying livelihoods around the world, the German government is fueling it even further,” organisers said.

The demonstrations were organised by the climate movement Fridays For Future. According to its data, 4,300 people took to the streets in Berlin and 5,000 in Hamburg. Police, however, reported 3,000 demonstrators in Berlin, 2,500 in Hamburg, and about 1,500 in Munich.

Germany’s ruling coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD plans to build gas-fired power plants with a total capacity of up to 20 gigawatts by 2030. These facilities are intended to serve as a backup during the country’s coal phase-out, covering electricity demand when renewable sources such as solar and wind cannot meet needs.

The protests, part of a global wave spanning 100 countries according to Fridays For Future, were timed to coincide with the upcoming UN General Assembly and the German government’s shift in energy policy.

By Khagan Isayev