Posted on 03/01/2017 10:39:37 PM PST by nickcarraway
For years German cities have suffered under the effects of polluted air, mainly caused by diesel cars. But now that it's nearly the Christian season of abstaining before Easter, experts have a novel solution.
The Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) and other climate protectionists are encouraging Germans to go on a ‘car fast’ for the season of Lent leading up to Easter.
Katrin Dziekan of the UBA suggested special discounts on Deutsche Bahn and regional train services could be offered to those who abstain from cars for the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
The Minister for Environment and Nature Conservation, Barbara Hendricks, also supported the concept, explaining that it doesn’t mean all car-driving has to stop.
“But we could change our perspectives if we are totally aware and at least during the fasting season switch to other forms of transportation,” Hendricks said.
Green party transportation expert Stephan Kühn explained that fewer cars on the roads helps to fight the amount of pollution in the air. He also noted that, in his experience, travelling to work by bus or train is a much more relaxed way to commute as one isn't tormented by daily traffic jams.
Earlier this year the UBA released a report showing that the air in German cities during 2016 was too polluted with nitrogen dioxide - the main culprit being old diesel cars. The levels measured on over half of busy streets exceeded safe recommendations.
Three in four German households have at least one car. And for a population of more than 80 million, there are 45 million cars in total.
The proposal to give up driving for lent is actually nothing new - some churches have been encouraging “car fasts” for decades.
“During the fasting period, we Christians are challenged to reconsider and review our living habits,” said Mainz diocese environmental officer Franz Hock.
The General German Automobile Club (ADAC) said it had no fundamental objections to the idea. Spokesman Andreas Hölzel noted that voluntarily not driving a car should also not be limited to fasting periods, and travelling short distances is better suited to walking or bike-riding.
Hölzel also pointed to a survey conducted by ADAC that showed people were more willing to switch to using the bus or train if prices were cheaper, the connections were quicker and more reliable, and if the ticket variety was easier to understand.
Stefan Küper of environment group Germanwatch argued against the notion that cars are the most affordable option.
“Right now including the fixed costs like the depreciation of cars, taxes, insurance… and more, you can generally travel with the bus or train for significantly less,” Küper said, adding that there’s also the option of using car-sharing services.
But he conceded that “of course there are places, in particular in the countryside, where it’s very difficult to travel without a car.”
Ulrich Lange of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU party said he had a realistic perspective when it comes to not using a car.
“I come from an area with a lot of open land. In practice, not driving a car and using other transportation has its limits for people there and for me,” Lange said.
Stuttgart, known as Germany’s most polluted city, recently passed a law to shut down certain central streets for diesel vehicles on days with high levels of air pollution, starting in 2018.
The UBA said that the number of traffic jams in the country could be an indicator that there are simply too many cars.
“Fewer cars would make our cities more liveable. It would help to share cars,” said Dziekan of the UBA.
Dziekan was also optimistic that young Germans have been using and buying fewer cars in recent years because they’re finding other methods of transportation.
“We can hope that this development holds.”
Better to return Islamic guests for Lent.
And what, pray tell, are they asking their Muslim residents and citizens to give up?
And what, pray tell, are they asking their Muslim residents and citizens to give up?
Better idea: merkel gives up air for Lent.
I don’t think they observe Lent.
Any future in Europe or any other part of a civilized world maybe?
maybe they should import camels
Climate “experts” should stop driving and flying altogether. They should also be very concerned about the C02 they exhale.
rape rape
Especially since they can attend teleconferences instead of living high on the hog world traveling to tell hysterical tales.
Climate liars should give up taxpayer money.. forever.
I wonder if the Climate “Experts” would shut their mouths and stop exhaling C02 in observance of Lent. Of course not. It’s always a one way street with the talking heads.
I asked my wife to give up abstinence, which, unfortunately, is about as unlikely it seems.
Never have I seen a car get angry with its owner.
On the other hand I have seen vids of camels displeased with humans.
Rather have inanimate car
“Climate Expert”
What do you call a clueless, despondent academic...
LoL. I know Muslims don’t observe Lent. I asked what Muslims would would ever be asked to sacrifice [for their new communities]. No one would dare ask them to sacrifice anything.
Been here for 15+ years now. Have not seen anything approaching "smog" EVEN ONCE. But of course if you set ridiculously low "trigger levels" everyone is choking to death 24/7.
Why not? They gave up their country.
Everyone concerned about hot air should give up hot air for Lent.
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