Günther criticizes dismantling of environmental standards in Saxony

Greens politician Wolfram Günther has accused the Saxon government of considerable failings in nature conservation. It is dismantling environmental standards, weakening participation and attacking central nature conservation structures, he said during a debate in the state parliament in Dresden.

Standards are being destroyed, participation is being curtailed

"Nature is being destroyed, standards are being dismantled, participation is being curtailed - and the costs are being imposed on citizens or postponed to the future. This is not an isolated case, but a political pattern," explained the former environment minister.

Healthy living conditions are the prerequisite for a good life and a strong economy, according to Günther. "Saxony needs strong nature, strong participation and a clear strategy for resilient agriculture and secure supplies."

Every day, Saxony loses an average of three hectares of nature

"But we are experiencing the opposite. Every day, areas don't just disappear - they are built on, cut up and sealed." That's three hectares per day in Saxony. Soils are losing their fertility, water bodies are being polluted and species are disappearing. This causes billions in damage.

"This is not an abstract environmental issue, this is tangible economic policy," emphasized Günther. However, the government is dismantling instruments that could be used to solve the problems. "Money for nature conservation is being cut, participation is being restricted, environmental assessments are being weakened and the right to sue is coming under pressure."

Günther: Reducing participation creates more conflicts

"Reducing participation creates more conflicts, more lawsuits and ultimately longer procedures," argued Günter. The view that environmental associations are blocking is wrong. Their lawsuits account for less than 0.1 percent of all proceedings.