BY Abbas Nazil
Germany’s decision to approve a gas drilling project in the Wadden Sea nature reserve has triggered widespread criticism from environmentalists and local residents, who view it as a major setback for the nation’s climate goals.
The joint Dutch-German venture aims to extract 13 billion cubic metres of gas near Borkum Island, just outside the protected marine zone.
Approved by regional authorities last month, the project comes despite Germany’s legal commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 and warnings from the International Energy Agency that new fossil fuel developments are incompatible with global climate targets.
Local leaders and activists have called the plan “a punch in the face” to Germany’s climate efforts.
Borkum’s mayor, Jürgen Akkermann, who is promoting geothermal energy for the island, expressed frustration that his community’s sustainability initiatives are being undermined by fossil fuel expansion.
Climate campaigners, including Fridays for Future activist Carla Reemtsma, argue that Germany’s political momentum for renewables is fading, with the new coalition government prioritizing gas over green energy.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, a former energy lobbyist, has defended the project, asserting that it will ensure energy security while maintaining the goal of climate neutrality by 2045.
The government has also signaled plans to reduce renewable energy subsidies and slow expansion, a move environmental groups say could endanger Germany’s emission reduction commitments.
Energy company One-Dyas, responsible for the project, insists it has taken environmental precautions by electrifying the platform and keeping it low and compact to reduce visibility from the coast.
However, critics accuse the firm and the government of “greenwashing,” since burning the extracted gas will still release large amounts of carbon emissions.
Activists warn that such projects normalize fossil fuel dependency at a time when Germany should be leading Europe’s clean energy transition.
The controversy underscores a growing tension between Germany’s industrial ambitions, energy security needs, and its pledge to fight the global climate crisis.