The environmental network GRÜNE LIGA is today publishing a background paper on the planned “Net Zero Valley Lusatia”, which summarizes the main points of criticism of the proposed designation of the whole of Lausitz region in Germany as a so-called “acceleration valley”.

„In the name of climate protection, trees and participation rights are to be cut down, in some cases for fossil fuel projects. This is not what the EU wants to promote with the Net Zero Industry Act,” says René Schuster from the Cottbus environmental group.

Planned Mining Violates the Constitutional Climate Protection Law

Bautzen/Rohne, December 2, 2024. Today, a lawsuit was filed with the Higher Administrative Court of Bautzen against the expropriation of a privately-owned forest for the Nochten lignite mine. In the coming months, the court will have to decide whether the forest area may be destroyed as planned by the coal company LEAG on January 1, 2026.

“Expropriation is only permissible for fully lawful projects. The court will need to determine whether the numerous damages caused by the Nochten mine are genuinely necessary for the public good. There are significant doubts about this on several legal grounds. For instance, burning the planned coal amount is incompatible with the constitutional mandate for climate protection,” said attorney Dr. Philipp Schulte, who represents the landowners in court.

Environmental Group will remain there with several events

In March 2024, the GRÜNE LIGA submitted a position paper to the European Commission as part of the Commission’s public consultation on the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC). The GRÜNE LIGA strongly advocates for the European Commission to uphold the Nitrates Directive. This crucial piece of legislation is needed to protect European citizens, farmers, and economies from the harmful effects of nitrate pollution.

The intensification of agriculture, driven by unsustainable use of fertilisers, has led to widespread nutrient pollution, affecting over 30% of surface waters, 14% of groundwater, and 80% of marine waters in the EU. Livestock production contributes to more than 80% of nitrogen emissions in groundwater, in particular through the excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilisers for feed.

The Nitrates Directive aims to protect water quality across the EU by reducing water pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources and promoting the use of good agricultural practices.

The importance of water for our life on Earth is undisputed. It nourishes us, cools us, rejuvenates us. In Berlin, the water supply system is currently in crisis. To draw attention to the urgent problems and to emphasize the need for binding solutions, our Water Policy Office, GRÜNE LIGA Berlin and the initiative "WasserZeichenBerlin" calls for a demonstration on the occasion of World Water Day on 22. March 2024.

Our demands:

1. consistent water retention and effective protection of our water bodies;

2. improved protection and enhancement of natural habitats in and around water bodies

3. binding measures against the drying out of small bodies of water and the lowering of the groundwater level;

4. community-oriented revitalization of urban water bodies and shoreline areas;

5. promotion of environmental education programs and campains;

6. introduction of innovative recycling methods for sustainable water use.

The route starts from the main train station along the banks of the River Spree to Lustgarten on Museum Island. The march will be accompanied by two boats. A mid-rally is planned at Friedrich-Ebert-Platz, very close to the memorial site "Weiße Kreuze."

Further information in German language about WasserZeichenBerlin 2024: https://www.allesimfluss.berlin/wasserzeichenberlin

We call for the following key points of the Nature Restoration Law to be secured:

• Agree quantifiable, time-bound and binding targets for all marine and terrestrial habitats within and outside the Natura2000 setting,
• to secure a prohibition of degradation for these ecosystems,
• provide for the restoration of farmed habitats, including the rewetting of peatlands,
• establish valid indicators for forests,
• agree workable targets for the marine environment so that the EU Common Fisheries Policy no longer blocks the recovery of marine habitats,
• ensure public participation and access to justice; and
• provide for the immediate entry into force of the EU regulation.

The joint statement can be found at:
https://www.restorenature.eu/en/our-work-past-actions/trilogue-joint-restorenature-statement