German Green Party head slams 'hypocrisy' of coalition climate policy

"If the government of Europe's largest economy questions climate protection anew every week since taking office, it can hardly promote ambition to others," Banaszak told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group on Sunday.

Banaszak added that those who promote gas boilers, create a negative atmosphere against electric cars in their own country, and want to hold on to lignite blocks for almost another decade and a half can hardly negotiate with other nations over exiting fossil fuels with the necessary seriousness.

At the World Climate Conference in Brazil, delegates failed to develop a binding plan for moving away from oil, coal and gas. Representatives from the approximately 200 countries in Belém only agreed on a voluntary initiative to accelerate the climate protection efforts of the states.

The hosts were at least able to point out that there is to be a new fund for the protection of the rainforest.

Banaszak criticized that German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider was offering German money for the rainforest fund while at the same time the nation's agriculture minister, Alois Rainer, "celebrates himself for having significantly watered down and postponed the EU deforestation directive."

The leader of the Greens judged that "this shows the entire hypocrisy of the Merz government."