RWE is planning to extract around 900 million tons of brown coal. According to the German Institute for Economic Research Berlin (DIW), this is around four times as much as would be permitted under the Paris climate agreement. Economics Minister Habeck has announced an earlier phase-out of coal but that it is necessary for the energy giant RWE to mine a further 290 million tons of brown coal until 2030, including the coal under Lützerath. Habeck even sells this scandal as a success, since an agreement was reached to accelerate the coal phase-out from 2038 to 2030. It is certainly a success for RWE, since they can still make a lot of money until then, but by no means for the planet and the residents of the village.

RWE’s coal operations produce 90 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, so the energy giant is still the no. 1 polluter in Europe. Nearly 80% of the electricity RWE generates is from non-renewable sources. RWE also plans to ramp up on its fossil gas business, despite the clear need to reduce reliance on gas.

RWE shows persistence in digging up and burning brown coal despite its green PR shift and investment in renewables. RWE’s website continues to promote brown coal as a „valuable raw material“ which „will remain vital in the future, too – as a partner in the energy transition“.

In order to comply with the 1.5 degree limit agreed in the Paris climate protection agreement, only a residual budget of approx. 70 million tons of brown coal may be mined in the Garzweiler opencast mine. Excavating the coal under Lützerath is accelerating the climate crisis, which is already claiming countless lives. Anyone who touches Lützerath is a climate criminal!

Netzdemo Portal will launch an online protest in support of the fight for Lützerath and #ZADRheinland against RWE Power AG on
November 18th, 2022
Join the online protest: http://odevenz.bravesites.com/