BERLIN (AP) 鈥� Voters in Berlin go to the polls this weekend to decide on a proposal that would force the city government to drastically ramp up the German capital鈥檚 climate goals. Critics warn it could come with a steep price tag.
Sunday's referendum, which has attracted considerable financial support from U.S.-based philanthropists, calls for Berlin to become . The target means that in less than eight years, the city would no longer be allowed to contribute further to global warming.
An existing law sets the deadline for achieving that goal at 2045, which is also .
The center-right Christian Democratic Union, which won and is likely to lead its new government, opposes the earlier target but would be bound to implement it if the referendum passes.
Jessamine Davis, a spokesperson for the grassroots group that initiated the vote, said Berlin's current target isn't in line with the 2015 Paris climate accord, which aims to (2.7 Fahrenheit) compared with the pre-industrial average.
鈥淭his is a very ambitious target, we're clear about that. And it won't be easy,鈥� she said of the plan to cut almost all emissions by 2030. 鈥淏ut is an even bigger challenge.鈥�
Davis pointed to the flood disaster in western Germany two years ago that killed more than 180 people and caused . Scientists say as the planet warms. By contrast, redesigning Berlin's city-wide heating network as one of the measures to become carbon neutral is estimated to cost 4 billion euros, she said.
While surveys showed Berliners narrowly in favor of the proposal, enthusiasm was muted Saturday. A rally and concert at the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate drew far fewer than the 35,000 people organizers had hoped for.
The referendum requires the support of at least 25% of the city鈥檚 2.4 million eligible voters to pass 鈥� something that could be harder to achieve on a day when no other voting is taking place.
To draw attention to the referendum, Davis' group has conducted a large-scale advertising campaign, helped by donations of almost 1.2 million euros ($1.3 million). While about 150,000 euros came from crowdfunding, most of the money was provided by philanthropic organizations and individuals.
The biggest chunk 鈥� over 400,000 euros 鈥� came from German-American investors Albert Wenger and Susan Danziger.
In emails to The Associated Press, Wenger said the U.S.-based couple had 鈥渁 long history of supporting climate movements and making investments in innovative solutions to the climate crisis.鈥�
鈥淭he Berlin ballot initiative demonstrates that citizens in a democratic process are demanding faster and stronger climate action,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is a replicable model for the rest of the world and could result in achieving climate neutrality by 2030 .鈥�
Stefan Evers, a senior lawmaker for the Christian Democrats, said his party acknowledges the 鈥渉istoric challenge鈥� of climate change and the impacts it is already having on Berlin and its 3.7 million inhabitants.
The party has proposed increasing the budget for climate-related measures by 5 to 10 billion euros, but Evers said the investments required if the referendum passes would break the bank.
鈥淓verybody who votes 鈥榶es鈥� on Sunday needs to ask themselves: Do we want to make drastic savings on kindergartens, schools, public sports facilities, homeless aid and social housing because of this referendum, or not,'鈥� he told fellow lawmakers Thursday.
Evers warned that if estimates of a 100 billion-euro price tag for the measures are accurate, 鈥渢hen in a few years Berlin won't be climate-neutral but bankrupt.鈥�
Strong criticism of the plan has also come from newspapers owned by German media giant Axel Springer. Its biggest shareholder is American investment firm KKR, which has sizeable financial interests in the fossil fuel industry.
In a statement, Axel Springer dismissed as 鈥渁bsurd鈥� any suggestion that its publications could be influenced by the interests of its owners. 鈥淓conomic interests or those of third parties don't play a role in the coverage by our media,鈥� it said.
Davis said she's optimistic about the referendum's chances, 鈥渂ut what really counts now is that everybody goes to the polls."
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Frank Jordans, The Associated Press
