The major nature association also believes that The Greens’ input in the governments of various federal states and city administrations is neither effective nor recognizable. “The ecological track record is definitely significantly weaker than what we hoped for and expected under green government participation.”
The NABU chief described the assumption that all environmental organizations were “super close to The Greens” as incorrect. “We environmental organizations have not felt this over the past years, because The Greens, under government responsibility, have also made many decisions at the state level that make us shake our heads,” Krüger stated.
This criticism from the German environmental and nature organizations of the BMEL minister from Bündnis 90/Die Grünen is remarkable because Özdemir is generally regarded in German politics and public opinion so far as an advocate for environmentally friendly agriculture. According to many German agricultural organizations, he is even considered 'too green.'
This move by NABU comes as a surprise given the historical association of The Greens with German nature and environmental protection organizations. NABU’s disappointment is mainly directed at the concessions made regarding environmental regulations in agriculture.
Specifically, NABU chairman Krüger criticized the fact that Özdemir did not reject the European Commission’s proposal to definitively abolish “mandatory set-aside land.” A farmer receiving agricultural subsidies must in fact leave four percent of their arable land to nature. Only existing ‘landscape elements’ such as hedges would be allowed to remain.
Minister Özdemir has voiced objections to this both in German politics and in Brussels. He believes that Europe, in view of the climate crisis, should not lower environmental ambitions, not even in agriculture. He repeatedly emphasizes the complexity of the agricultural sector and the necessity to both support agricultural production and protect the environment.
The federal Agriculture Minister has repeatedly tried to achieve good solutions at the European level, as acknowledged by NABU. ‘But often only one or two other European countries support him. That is why we want Chancellor Olaf Scholz to take the reins now,’ the German conservationists stated.