Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Berliners vote down tighter climate goals

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Mar 2023 21:15
3 Min Read

Berlin climate proposal fails to get enough supporting votes.

  • x
  • A poster with a huge
    A poster with a huge "Yes", advertising a climate referendum stands out along a street in Berlin, Friday, March 24, 2023 (AP)

A Sunday referendum in Berlin that would have forced the city to strive to be climate neutral by 2030 failed as votes supporting the proposal was not enough, the German news agency dpa reported.

The measure would have bound the new government to invest heavily in renewable energy, building efficiency, and public transport. Also, had the referendum been passed, the city would have had less than eight years to stop contributing further to global warming.

Existing law sets the deadline for implementing the measure in 2045, which is also Germany’s national target.

After having counted about 98% of the votes, those in favor of the proposal were just ahead of the opponents, the city-state’s election administration announced. However, that result met one requirement for a successful proposal. As for the second requirement, which is a quorum of at least 25% of all eligible voters, it was not met, the dpa reported.

Read: EU, Germany strike deal on fossil fuel car phaseout plan after dispute

Shortly before the count ended, around 423,000 were supporting the referendum and around 405,000 votes were against it. For a successful referendum, the quorum needed at least 608,000 votes supporting the proposal.

Related News

EU needs to recycle more: Report

The result "shows that the majority of Berliners also see that the demands of the referendum could not have been implemented - not even if they were cast into law," the city's mayor, Franziska Giffey, said.

A grassroots group that had initiated the proposal argued that Berlin’s present target is not in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement, which goal is to pursue efforts "to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels."

The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is likely to lead Berlin's new government, had opposed the earlier target.

Read: Germany may fund nuclear power for everyone but itself: Reports

Berlin, a city of four million people with few renewable energy sources nearby or geothermal heating, does not have what is needed to make that goal more achievable, Bernd Hirschl from Berlin's Institute for Ecological Economy Research said.

Still, the referendum helped rekindle the debate over climate policy and the changes that must be accepted to achieve climate neutrality regardless of the deadlines, Hirschl told Reuters.

"Because it's not about 2030. It's about the question of whether we want to send a signal to politicians or not," he added.

  • carbon neutral
  • Referendum
  • Germany
  • Berlin
  • Climate crisis
  • Climate change
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS