RWE Plans Final Clearance of Hambach Forest in October, Sparking Protests and Potential Coal Commission Resignations
RWE plans to clear the remaining Hambach Forest in October 2018, sparking protests and potential resignations from the Coal Commission. Environmental activists, under the banner #hambibleibt, are fighting to preserve the forest, which has become a symbol of the anti-coal movement in Germany.
The Hambach Forest, once sprawling over 5,500 hectares, is now reduced to a mere 200 hectares due to lignite mining by RWE AG since 1978. Activists, organized through groups like the 'Werkstatt für Aktionen und Alternativen', have occupied parts of the forest for six years to halt its destruction.
The mine supplies five power plants, generating around 15% of North Rhine-Westphalia's electricity. However, environmentalists and some politicians demand a moratorium on further lignite expansion, including a halt to logging in the Hambach Forest. The Coal Commission, tasked with creating a 'coal exit' plan, is divided over RWE's plans. Some members may resign in protest. The Commission is set to visit the forest in late September, provided it remains standing.
The Hambach Forest's fate hangs in the balance as RWE plans to mine through the remaining area. Activists and politicians are pushing back, demanding a halt to logging and a moratorium on further lignite expansion. The forest's preservation could mark a turning point in Germany's fight against coal, responsible for around ten percent of the country's CO2 emissions.
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