Frankfurt am Main – On the occasion of today’s extraordinary meeting of EU energy ministers, IG Metall is calling on policymakers to take countermeasures against rapidly rising energy prices while simultaneously advancing the energy transition swiftly and decisively. “In light of the cost explosion in the energy sector, the new federal government must make a clear statement regarding future energy needs. We need certainty and reliability for citizens when it comes to calculating electricity prices,” said Wolfgang Lemb, the responsible executive board member of IG Metall, on Tuesday in Frankfurt. “IG Metall calls for a realistic calculation of electricity demand, initially through 2030. The annual expansion targets for renewable energy must then be based on this.”
IG Metall is calling on policymakers to restructure the pricing system: government-imposed price components such as the EEG surcharge and the electricity tax must be abolished and financed through tax revenues in the future. As CO2 prices rise, relief must be provided as quickly as possible for the socially disadvantaged as well as for commuters. Energy-intensive industries need a guaranteed industrial electricity price.
Without a massive expansion of renewable energy, we will remain dependent on fossil fuels. “We need more onshore and offshore wind farms and must make it easier for municipalities to participate financially in wind farm projects,” said Lemb.
Germany is also failing to meet its targets in the building sector. The technology exists, but it is used too rarely. This is partly because the subsidy landscape is unclear and complicated, and partly because innovative collaborative projects are lacking in municipalities. Similar to the expansion of fiber-optic infrastructure, for example, the expansion of photovoltaics could be coordinated at the municipal level.
However, to ensure that the facilities of the future can actually be built and that there is no shortage of skilled workers—especially in the skilled trades—a “skilled-worker initiative for green professions of the future” is needed. Young people could be convinced and motivated that their careers make an important contribution to climate protection.
To underscore its demands for a socio-ecological transformation in industry, the economy, and society, IG Metall is calling for a nationwide day of action on October 29. Under the slogan “#fairwandel – social, ecological, democratic,” tens of thousands of workers will take to the streets at more than 50 rallies across the country to demand a just transformation of industry.
Further information and press photos by Wolfgang Lemb
