DAccording to the will of the federal government, the prices at the gas station should actually fall. The traffic light alliance has introduced a special discount for this, but it doesn’t really take off. In the meantime, the debate is raging as to who is to blame. Economics Minister Robert Habeck now wants to sharpen antitrust law again in order to push through lower prices at the pump more quickly, and there is even talk of the possible break-up of mineral oil companies.
In fact, there are very different approaches to dealing with the high energy prices. One of them is not so much aimed at the providers and their pricing policy, but at people simply consuming less, i.e. saving energy – this is where acute emergency policy meets the longer-term climate and environmental protection goals that the Germans are pursuing: Who a route not putting it back in the car, not packing the groceries in a plastic bag, not turning on the hot water for once, helps the environment a little bit. What does not occur cannot cause any damage. The principle of thrift sounds simple, but at the same time has its limits because it can hardly be applied to everything.
The desire for renunciation is now becoming a more public issue again – due to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, which has pushed other tasks such as climate change into the background for the time being. In order for Germany to become independent of Russia and its energy supplies, which directly or indirectly finance the warmonger, doing without those same energy sources helps: This is intended to reduce the import of Russian oil, coal and above all natural gas, with which every second apartment in this country is heated.
The desire for lower energy consumption also brings the debate about Russian energy back together with climate protection. This leads to the question of how Putin’s imports or greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced: Should the individual lead the way, do without and adapt – or does the state and its guidelines need more of it?
Habeck: close the curtains
Initially, the striving for independence from Russian energy was about persuading other countries to use alternative supplies. This has been partially successful, but so far it is not enough. The call to save energy comes from many quarters and also from the Green Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, who many see as acting more as economics minister than as climate protection minister. “Ten percent savings are always possible,” he says.
One of his pieces of advice: close the curtains when heating. Or also: regularly defrost the freezer compartment, change the shower head, switch the lighting in offices to LED. “If a lot of people do it, it really adds up overall,” says Habeck. The motto of his campaign: “80 million together for energy change”.
