Youth organisations in conversation with Environment Minister Carsten Schneider

Members of the federal executive boards of the Bund der Deutschen Landjugend (BDL), BUNDjugend, Jugend des Deutschen Alpenvereins, NAJU and Naturfreundejugend presented their perspectives to the Federal Ministry for the Environment. They emphasised the dangers posed by right-wing extremists for democracy, voluntary work and environmental associations and called for a clear political stance against their influence and increased support for appropriate measures. DBJR Chairman Wendelin Haag emphasised the importance of a strong democratic civil society as the basis for effective climate, nature and environmental protection.

The youth organisations also discussed international climate and environmental policy, the financing of climate protection measures and issues of species and nature conservation. They called for ambitious national steps to implement international commitments and emphasised the need to think and act together on ecological and social issues

Finally, the youth representatives emphasised the central role of youth participation in the Federal Environment Ministry. In addition to the opportunity to make young perspectives more visible, the ministry can gain valuable experience in youth participation that can also benefit other ministries. The youth organisations thus underlined their willingness to work in partnership and critically with the new Environment Minister.