The International Motor Show (IAA) begins in Munich on Tuesday. Environmental organizations have announced protests, some with civil disobedience. But there are still legal disputes in addition to the protests.
On the occasion of this year’s International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich, an alliance of environmental organizations called for protests for the mobility transition. “Fewer cars and better mobility – less traffic and more climate protection: these are the central demands,” the alliance “Get off” declared on Monday. The organizers want to bring “thousands of participants” onto the streets next Saturday, but there are still legal uncertainties about the route of the demonstration.
This year the IAA places a special focus on the transformation of the mobility industry towards climate neutrality. “We want to be on our way – on a way to make cars safer and more efficient,” said the President of the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Hildegard Müller, on Monday. “Above all, it is important that we move towards a new climate neutrality”.
Legal disputes over bicycle rides
The action alliance “Get off”, in which a number of environmental organizations such as BUND and Greenpeace as well as transport associations such as the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) participate, criticized the IAA’s new concept as a “green deception”. No car manufacturer could “credibly present itself as responsible and at the same time sell millions more combustion engines for many years to come,” said Greenpeace traffic expert Marion Tiemann. “No car manufacturer with a claim to the future can avoid a quick exit from combustion engines”.
In addition to the demonstration, a bicycle rally is also planned, during which participants from the Munich area want to cycle to the final rally at Theresienwiese in the city center. However, there are legal disputes about the exact route: sections of the motorway were not approved by the authorities, the action alliance lodged a complaint with the Bavarian Administrative Court. According to Andreas Schön from ADFC Munich, a registrant of the Radsternfahrt, a decision can be expected in the coming days.
“Stand in the way of the destructive car system”
The “Sand in the Gears” alliance also announced “mass actions of civil disobedience” on Monday. The plan is to block the IAA. “At the IAA, the dirty car companies want to sell us a green lie with ostentatious e-cars,” said a spokeswoman for the alliance. “At the weekend we stand in the way of the destructive system of the car and fight for a radical change in traffic”.
The two environmental protection organizations Greenpeace and Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), both co-initiators of the demonstration of the “get out” alliance, also announced last Friday that they would take legal action against the car manufacturers VW, Mercedes and BMW as well as the oil and gas company Wintershall Dea. These corporations – on behalf of many – would have to “significantly” accelerate their climate-friendly restructuring, demanded the organizations and invoked the climate share of the Federal Constitutional Court.
VDA President Müller criticized the lawsuits on Monday and instead called for a political debate. “I think that if you want other political goals, then this debate does not belong in the courtrooms, but in parliaments,” said Müller. With a view to the demonstrations, she urged participants to distance themselves from violent criminals.
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