Lawsuit against the state government: Environmental activists are fighting planned gas bores in front of Borkum

Lawsuit against the state government: Environmental activists are fighting planned gas bores in front of Borkum

gas drilling in front of Borkum: Lawsuit against German Approval

The German Environmental Aid (DUH), together with the BUND Lower Saxony and the Citizens' Initiative Clean Air Ostfriesland, filed a lawsuit against the approval of a lake cable for the planned gas bores in front of Borkum. The aim of the lawsuit is to prevent the irretrievable destruction of protected reefs. The state government of Lower Saxony is asked to stop the controversial project to protect the climate, nature and the people in the region.

The criticism of the three organizations is primarily aimed at the immediate execution of the approval, which was enforced on massive pressure from the Dutch oil and gas group One-Dyas. They accuse the state government of providing profit interest on climate protection, ecosystems and the quality of life of the population. In view of the progressive climate crisis and the unnecessary dependency on fossil fuels, it is not up to date to start new gas bores in the North Sea.

The DUH calls on the state government to rethink its decision and prevent gas drilling from Borkum. According to Constantin Zerger, Head of Energy and Climate Protection of the DUH, the project was neither justified in terms of energy and ecologically. There is no need for additional natural gas to cover the energy supply. Instead, renewable energies such as the Riffgat wind farm should be used to clean the region with electricity.

The BUND Lower Saxony points out that the approval of the gas bores in contradiction to protect the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the climate goals of the state government. A lowering of the sea floor and the destruction of protected reefs are unacceptable. Dr. Tonja Mannstedt, the state manager of the BUND Niedersachsen, emphasizes that a compensation area lacks approval and One-Dyas can "buy" the protected biotope through compensation payments. This contradicts a rule of law.

The Citizens' Initiative Clean Air East Frisia criticizes that valuable stone reefs are destroyed by the holes and cable laying. Instead of continuing to rely on fossil gas drilling platforms, up to 120,000 households could be supplied with clean energy. The initiative is committed to protecting the Wadden Sea and the endangered species such as the pork whale and the cone seal.

The complaint of the DUH, supported by the BUND Lower Saxony and the Citizens' Initiative Clean Air East Frisia, aims to stop the gas drilling in front of Borkum and to ensure the protection of climate, nature and the people in the region.

Background: The oil and gas company One-Dyas plans gas bores in the North Sea. The approval of the holes on the German side has been pending. The DUH had already successfully contested Dutch approval in court. The decision of the state government of Lower Saxony is strongly criticized because it grants the interests of the one-dyas group before protecting the Wadden Sea and climate protection.

Berlin