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“Especially in this process, which we witnessed live with media tools, calls for peace, democracy and reconciliation are just a wish. Because the steps taken indicate that the course of the war will not be shaped according to these wishes.” writes Elif Sonzamancı for Yeni Ozgur Politika.
War and climate policies of countries…
Especially in western countries, the effects of the Ukraine-Russia war were felt most in these two areas.
As war policies become a goal, executive actors undergo a noticeable shift in security policies. The conditions of these policies, which have been implemented to date, were accelerated with the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia war.
Tensions continue to escalate as countries devote their resources to the defence industry.
Especially in this process, which we witnessed live with media tools that calls for peace, democracy and reconciliation are just a wish because the steps taken indicate that the course of the war will not be shaped according to these wishes.
Germany has been involved in wars for years by selling weapons to crisis zones. However, it changed its strategy by becoming a country that sells arms in the Ukraine-Russia war. On this basis, the decisions taken by the government in recent times are quite remarkable.
Germany, one of the most influential members of the EU, quickly set aside its climate policies during this period. Now it is buying more arms, returning to fossil fuels, prioritising security policies.
Calling for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine and the cessation of hostilities, the government of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz decided to buy F-35 fighter jets to replace worn-out Tornado aircraft as part of the modernisation of the air force. As a matter of fact, let’s not forget the decision to increase defence spending and raise 100 billion euros in additional funds.
While the world, especially EU countries, is busy with the war agenda, the fight for climate is left aside.
Fridays for Future, one of the major climate movements, took action around the world and asked countries to take concrete steps about the topic. Tens of thousands of people in Germany have also raised their voices in the face of the growing effects of the climate crisis.
On the one hand, concerns about the climate crisis are expressed, while on the other hand, steps taken for the climate crisis are being slowed down by the conditions of war.
For instance, Germany no longer cares about its climate policies because it is dependent on Russia for energy. At this stage, the purchase of natural gas and oil from Russia will continue as new ways of purchasing also continues. Looking for ways to deal with the energy crisis, Germany plans to speed up the construction of two liquefied natural gas terminals by reaching an agreement with Qatar.
In addition, a return to coal is planned to reduce natural gas consumption. In a country where authorities stated, “The fossil fuel age is now over,” plans such as closing coal plants by 2030 have been shelved to solve the current crisis.
The Greens, who were in opposition at the time, criticised the government, asking ‘why the plants did not close sooner’. Greens were criticising the government for being too slow on climate policies. The Greens, now a government partner, have affirmed this quick-solution plan.
Instead of solution-oriented steps on the war agenda, steps are being taken that further increase the current tensions. More weapons are being bought, more people are dying, more people are forced to emigrate, and the environment is being destroyed more.
