In their coalition agreement, the CDU and SPD in Berlin have agreed on a program worth billions for climate protection. "We want to achieve the agreed goals faster," said CDU state chairman Kai Wegner when presenting the contract. "It also has something to do with the quality of life in our city."

The expenses for this are investments in the future. "You don't get that for free," said Wegner, who wants to become the new governing mayor in the planned black-red coalition.

The coalition agreement provides for the creation of a special fund for "Climate Protection, Resilience and Transformation" with an initial volume of five billion euros. The new coalition is ready to spend up to five billion euros more if necessary at the end of 2024. "The CDU and SPD see overcoming the climate crisis as one of the most pressing issues of our time," the text of the contract says.

It is necessary to overcome dependence on fossil fuels as quickly as possible and to accelerate the transition to CO2-neutral energy sources. Berlin has the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2045. A referendum that called for this by 2030 failed at the end of March.