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Flood talk at Illner: Why the climate discussion seems completely aloof here

Debates about climate policy are necessary. They were neglected, especially in times of Corona. And yet: The fact that Maybrit Illner wanted to talk about the climate crisis just after the flood of rain was not a good timing.

Maybrit Illner originally had the topic of foreign policy on Thursday evening’s agenda, with a view to the future: How is it going’s on after the Merkel era? But then after the continuous rain came the flood in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. Without further ado, the talk was re-titled “Flood of rain and heat records – defenseless in the climate crisis?”.

At first you probably think: Yes, what else should she have talked about, it couldn’t be more up-to-date. But as soon as the program was running, it was clearly noticeable: a talk with people who are freshly haired in the dry and then debate about climate policy and goals is completely out of place at this point and looks downright aloof.

The catastrophe is too fresh for that, the pictures are still too fresh: Whole cities are under water, some are completely isolated, whole areas are flooded, houses have collapsed, others are threatened with collapse, thousands of people had to leave their homes, there are umpteen missing and injured people more than 80 dead.

In view of the existential need, the grief and the acute fear in which numerous citizens of the country are currently living, the question is allowed: Couldn’t it have been better to use the talk to let helpers and those affected have their say via a switch? Or local politicians who provide insight into the local situation and what is needed where? Perhaps also psychologists who explain the emotional situation of those in need? That may not correspond to the concept of the politically oriented Illner Talks in every detail, but that would have been due piety.

Laschet: We have to get out of coal faster

The spontaneous reporter was CDU chancellor candidate Armin Laschet, who was connected for a few minutes from the Stolberg crisis area and told of people who have lost all their belongings – a helping fireman even his life. But Illner quickly made him responsible to take a position on the fact that as Federal Chancellor he had to save the climate.

Laschet pointed out that coal would be phased out sooner than was provided for in the coal commission’s plans. But it is essential to “keep the social question in mind”. In addition, railway lines would have to be planned and built much faster. In general, “more speed” is needed when it comes to climate protection measures.

Armin Laschet in der Zuschalte bei Illner, er steht im Regenmantel vor einer verregneten Straße

Karl Lauterbach becomes a climate expert at Illner

And then suddenly there is Karl Lauterbach again. At first you think: Wait a minute, did he get lost in the show, today it’s not about Corona at all? But hardly one has guessed, the SPD politician presents himself as an expert on climate change. According to his own statement, he has been dealing with it for many years and is currently writing a book about it. One wonders what’s next, maybe a gender expert, but it is probably much more important that Lauterbach appears in his now familiar role: as a great warning.

Lauterbach lapses into his typical style. One must, he predicts, reckon with significantly more floods and floods, that will continue for the next 80 years and the situation will deteriorate considerably over the decades. With a view to the USA, he said: “If we don’t manage to turn things around, parts of California will no longer be habitable.” He was surprised that anyone still wanted to live and invest there.

Unusually personal, the moment when Lauterbach mentioned his 87-year-old mother, who lived “between two brooks” in a current crisis area, that she was safe. “There is nothing worse than being haunted at night,” he continued, looking at those affected. And got emotional: “I feel bitter about these people.”

Von Hirschhausen is “on the sack” of economic prioritization

Then Eckhart von Hirschhausen. Even if the doctor and comedian, it was felt, very committed to the climate – he is a supporter of the “Scientists for Future” – he brought with sentences like “Nobody can buy their own outside temperature” and “The situation is extreme threatening “no new knowledge gain.

A spontaneous “Ui” escaped Illner when he puttered: “The prioritization of the economy is so annoying to me.”

Illner lacks classification, instead there is alarmism

It would have been better to have a guest who clarifies the basic terms that are so naturally used in the climate debate. Those who find this unnecessary should bear in mind that other debates are also used to slouch with terms. Despite one and a half years with Corona, for example, not everyone still knows that “infected” and “sick” are not to be equated. In the climate debate there is also an inadmissible equation that can be observed time and again, even among politicians. Therefore: not all climates are the same.

In addition, the question must be asked – and Illner did this – to what extent a single weather event, how current the flood catastrophe, is the consequence of climate change. An overview of the precipitation in Germany over the past few decades would also have been interesting. So: classification instead of alarmism. Especially in the current situation.

Otherwise, the stale feeling remains that one wants to instrumentalize what is for many a very personal catastrophe for climate policy goals. Unfortunately, the whole show had this “sound”. Illner also spoke openly about the role the flood tragedy would play in the election campaign.

"maybrit illner": Von Hirschhausen dismantles climate policy - but the timing for the debate is unfortunate

Despite the Illner election campaign: Climate change is real

This is not a contradiction in terms of the fact that climate change is happening and that it leads and will lead to major climate extremes. The fact that there will be more and more floods in addition to hot spells can be explained as follows: the warmer it gets, the more moisture the air absorbs and discharges in heavy rain. We have known about these developments for over forty years, said Claudia Kemfert, head of the “Energy, Transport and Environment” department at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW). But: “Nobody wanted to hear us.” Little had happened under the Chancellor in recent years. Now you have to turn on the turbo and push ahead with the expansion of renewable energies quickly. “We can be optimistic because we can lift an incredible amount when we are no longer on the brakes,” said Kemfert.

The other question is whether the citizens will participate in the unleashing. Does a majority bear the additional costs? Kemfert is certain: “Society is ready.” Andreas Jung, climate expert for the Union parliamentary group, was also confident: “Germany will be climate-neutral by 2045, including industry.”

Back to the present. With good news from Katja Horneffer from the ZDF weather department: It had “rained down” over the crisis areas. The result is a “meteorological relaxation.”

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