Amendment to the Basic Law on Climate Protection Impacts

Two bills from the AfD parliamentary group to eliminate the consequences of climate protection and restore the energy infrastructure in Germany were rejected in a roll-call vote in the Bundestag. In a corresponding recommendation for a resolution by the Committee for Economic Affairs and Energy, the rejection of both drafts was also recommended. Among other things, the AfD has presented a bill to amend the Basic Law. Article 143h, which has only been in force for a few months, is to be replaced. According to the draft, the goal of climate neutrality by 2045 is to be deleted and the special funds intended for this purpose (up to 500 billion euros for infrastructure and climate neutrality and 100 billion euros for the climate and transformation fund) are to be abolished. At the same time, climate protection measures such as CO₂ pricing and the promotion and approval of wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal energy and hydropower are expressly not intended to be in the public interest. Instead, the AfD wants to prioritize infrastructure, security of supply and adaptation-oriented environmental policy, including weather-independent energy sources such as nuclear energy and coal. Sufficient funds are available in the core budget for targeted infrastructure spending. According to the group, the climate protection measures are not justified and represent an inadmissible restriction of fundamental rights. The bill to amend the Basic Law was rejected with 432 votes against, 128 votes in favor, and no abstentions. The second draft law on “eliminating the consequences of climate protection and restoring the energy infrastructure” was also rejected in a roll-call vote.