Budget Expert Defends Special Climate Fund Loans in Parliament
Christian Goiny, a budget expert for the CDU in Germany's House of Representatives, has defended the need for special loans to finance a climate protection fund, despite criticism from the State Court of Auditors. Goiny stated that while the CDU values sound budget policies, there's also a necessity for investment, a challenge that can't be tackled with regular budget funds.
The State Court of Auditors criticized the Berlin special fund's five-billion-euro plan, arguing that it lacked justification for the specific financial year and a causal link between the emergency situation and the planned measures. However, Goiny pointed out that Berlin took a different approach, using existing reserves for climate protection rather than simply re-labeling coronavirus funds.
Goiny considers the decision to seek an expert opinion on how the Karlsruhe ruling affects the Berlin plans as the right move. "We must carefully analyze the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court, also with regard to the Berlin law," said Goiny, who serves as the CDU parliamentary group's chief budget officer.
Recently, the Federal Constitutional Court declared the second supplementary budget for 2021 unconstitutional due to debt brake violations. The ruling caused a billion-euro hole in the federal budget as the government sought to invest loans in climate protection, originally intended for coronavirus measures.
Enrichment Insights:
While the State Court of Auditors' specific critique was not mentioned in the article, the broader context suggests that the focus on climate protection and investment is a broader issue. This includes the push for climate accountability, balancing economic development needs with environmental concerns, and the importance of sustained funding for conservation projects.
For instance, at the federal level, there's a proposed legislation aimed at making fossil fuel corporations pay for climate change costs. In North Carolina, conservation projects are affected by funding delays, and efforts are underway to streamline the environmental permitting process in Minnesota.
These insights help contextualize the underlying concerns associated with the special fund for climate protection, adding depth to the discussion on the topic.
