It’s a small abandoned village that seems to have little meaning. The German town of Lützerath in North Rhine-Westphalia, about thirty kilometers across the border near Roermond, is a symbol of the German discussion between economy and climate.

For some time now, the energy company RWE has wanted to mine lignite under Lützerath. The gigantic excavators have already approached the village to a few hundred meters. To the anger and resistance of climate activists occupying the village. The natives have long since left.

Demolished for charcoal

But the activists are in danger of losing their years-long struggle. Economics Minister Habeck (Greens) decided together with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and RWE that Lützerath may be demolished for the construction of a lignite opencast mine.

“A necessary decision,” said Minister of State Neubaur. In her opinion, coal is needed to secure Germany’s energy supply in the current energy crisis.

But the German Institute for Economic Research DIW considers the opening of new lignite mines to be unnecessary. Your research shows that new mines for energy supply do not bring any added value. Because German law stipulates that coal must be phased out by 2038, new mines will not be profitable. In addition, the DIW also considers it irresponsible for the climate.

Neubaur rejects the criticism and points out that lignite can definitely be of importance in the energy crisis. She also emphasizes that this decision is part of a compromise between the government and RWE.

The energy giant receives approval to mine lignite in Lützerath and in return will stop mining and using hard coal as early as 2030. So eight years earlier than planned coal phase-out.

The resistance continues

Activist Collective Lutzerath lives has been fighting for the preservation of the village for years. With a continuous presence of around 100 people, the activists occupy the village and organize protest actions. The collective does not find the decision by Neubaur, RWE and Minister Habeck transparent and criticizes what has been promised coal phase-out.

“It only exists on paper. Reality is hidden,” said the spokesman for the organization. The collective is also critical of the Greens, the political party of Ministers Habeck and Neubaur that emerged from the climate movement. “The Greens have abandoned their core activities. They have abandoned the 1.5 degree warming limit.”

The activists don’t let that go. On the day that RWE starts clearing the village, the activists will try to block it with as many people as possible, they announce. “More than 10,000 people have already announced that they are coming through a petition. We’re calling it ‘X’ Day.” The exact date for the demolition is not yet known.

split in the Greens

Not only activist organizations are critical of the Greens. The Lützerath question also splits within the party itself. Habeck and Neubaur are particularly critical of the youth department.

This weekend, the members of the Greens are gathering for a party conference in Bonn. The deputy youth chairman Timon Dzienus wants the party to vote for Lützerath to remain.

That will probably not change anything about the decision. But the divisions among the Greens show how Lützerath symbolizes a struggle; between economic interests and the climate.