The fight against climate change will probably cost a lot of money, according to various announcements in the past few months. After the climate change fight was presented a long time ago as a worthwhile investment program from which industry would earn, at least Robert Habeck would now like to take on debt for it. This is what he said Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
Do not save too rigidly
He wanted both Germany and the EU to take out more loans to fund the fight against climate change in the end. The “possibilities of the Basic Law should be used”. The public purse should be able to borrow, so that they can help companies to finance climate investments.
The head of the Greens emphasized that with an excessively rigid austerity policy, the EU would be able to help ensure that “liberal, democratic Europe continues to go down the drain”. This statement is surprising insofar as the EU itself usually spends very little money, but rather the individual states. What is meant is the strategy of the EU to limit the new borrowing of the member states to 3% of GDP. These provisions would lead to severe cuts in “some countries”. This could lead to political radicalization. The objection, however, is not new – it has actually only been gaining weight since many countries have started to take on or want to take on significantly higher debts. Habeck rather called for the policy of a “Swabian housewife” who would rather take out a loan to enable the daughters to train to become doctors or journalists.
Habeck confirmed that the Basic Law would allow 0.35% new debt in Germany (because of the debt brake) in relation to GDP (gross domestic product). This currently corresponds to a possible loan of 11 to 12 billion euros. The traffic light discussions would allow this leeway to be used. This is consensus among the parties.
In addition, companies should receive “help for the additional costs” for corresponding investments. “This is done through loans that the public sector would take out,” said Habeck.
In essence, the message is: We have to get into debt. Habeck did not mention who pays in the end.
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