Our election platform for Berlin

Chapter 1: Inspire Berlin!

For CLIMATE and JUSTICE

The earth is our home - Berlin is our project of heart. Together with you, we will turn the capital into a model city we can be proud of: Berlin will be climate positive and socially just.

We are already in the middle of shaping it, together with the citizens of this city - together with you. We are taking responsibility and will therefore become a climate-friendly zero-emission city as early as 2030. Gardens and public green spaces will characterize the cityscape, and the whole of Berlin will become a park. Our neighborhoods will once again be places for everyone to live and meet each other. Energy is generated locally in a renewable way and used efficiently. Our local economy is oriented to the social needs of the people in the city. It respects planetary boundaries, conserves raw materials, and reduces consumption. Circular processes, neighborhood stores and cultural institutions are more important to us than economic growth. Together we are radically redesigning the city: for us people, for our environment, for our well-being.

Ick will Future - I want future!

Climate protection means demanding justice, promoting new opportunities and living sustainably. In Berlin, we citizens are taking the helm into our own hands. The active participation of citizens' councils, whose decisions are politically binding, gives our democracy a contemporary update. We are transferring infrastructure and public services back to public control. We want to overcome barriers to innovation such as the debt brake. Because now and in this legislature is the time to invest in the future. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations. The striking climate justice movement reminds us of that every Friday. The whole city should join their demands in solidarity! This also means that we must put an end to the imperatives of consumption and growth. Instead of the destructive "faster, higher, further" of senseless turbo-capitalism, we finally dedicate ourselves to "closer, more human, more livable".

Donut with currywurst

At the same time, we support all stakeholders who are committed to sustainable and climate-friendly business practices. The donut economy offers an excellent framework for this: because it places the well-being of people and the protection of the planet at the center of all considerations and actions. Let's make the donut the new currywurst! With the participation of the citizens, we take the ideas for a fair economy of the 21st century into the neighborhoods. And we keep the big picture in mind.

The needs of Berliners are considered together with those of other people, living beings and ecosystems near and far. Armed conflict is incompatible with climate protection. For this reason, we are also committed to disarmament and an active peace policy. Conflicts must be solved without violence - in our city as well as internationally. We reject the production and export of so-called armaments.

Berlin only thrives with tolerance

All people in Berlin must finally have the same opportunities. However, this is hardly possible in a society where racism and anti-Semitism are deeply rooted and discrimination is omnipresent. Only if we acknowledge that we live in a white dominated society where the voices of non-white people and minorities are not equally heard, there is room for dialogue and a change of structures. We fight for a tolerant, plural city of radical diversity with participatory democratic structures in a sensitized administration, discrimination-free educational institutions, as well as police structures that take proactive measures against internal racist practices and punish them. Only when sexual identity and orientation, faith, origin and appearance, disabilities, age and social status are accepted in all their diversity can our urban society be truly inclusive and just. We call on all people and especially decision-makers to question their own privileges and actively dismantle prejudices. We work towards the abolition of discriminatory legislation.

We will fight fascist tendencies and parties everywhere. Conspiracy myths must be actively debunked with education and exchange. The Klimaliste Berlin sees anti-fascist organizations and movements as important allies in the fight against fascist violence in the city. We are an anti-fascist working party that focuses on non-violent, democratic dispute. Disrespect for human beings is not to be done with us. Furthermore, we recognize violence by police officers as a problem and consequently prevent the militarization and expansion of the police's powers and instead strive for a comprehensive restructuring of the apparatus. Victim protection takes precedence in all issues and the affected person's perspective is included in our political decisions.

We are aware that we have not yet sufficiently covered Berlin's diversity in our party. With self-criticism and reflection on the privileges of our members and internal party training on discriminatory structures, we want to shape our structures so that people from all communities feel welcome.

1 election program is not enough

Planning for the future means shaping far-sightedly with a steady hand. Unlike other parties, we don't think in terms of legislative periods, but in terms of generations. That's why we have written a climate plan for Berlin that shows a path to a fair, CO2-neutral city on a scientific basis. Let's work together to supplement and expand this climate plan. Let's listen to the needs of all Berliners and find powerful solutions to our challenges. Let's unite behind the science to address the climate crisis in a safe and healthy way. We have a vision for the future of this city - and a passionate desire to make it happen. Together with you. Are you ready to help shape your future?

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Chapter 2: Fair changes for Berlin

Citizens for trees, trees for citizens

Berlin's transformation is a matter for the community. A functioning urban nature needs the cooperation of administration and urban society. All necessary measures are bundled and implemented competently, efficiently and cost-effectively. For this purpose, laws are adapted, funds are made available, clear responsibilities are defined in the senate and districts, staff is hired and experts are trained. Then off to the neighbourhoods: Berlin's greening will be a celebration of direct democracy. In dialogue and with the participation of the residents, we will tackle urban restructuring together. Our actions bring climate education into the community. They strengthen the local coexistence and form the backbone for a sustainable resilient social community.

Energy transition from the bottom

The energy transition is a task for society as a whole. Everyone should be able to participate and benefit equally. Bans and obligations alone are not nearly enough. We know: Decentralised renewable energies are the chance for a fundamental shift away from an undemocratic, profit-oriented and climate-damaging energy supply as we have it today. That is why we consistently give people living in Berlin the opportunity to get involved in the planning, financing, implementation and operation of energy transition projects through participation. In addition, we actively approach people so that they can take advantage of this opportunity across all levels of society.

You become an electricity supplier

The production of heat and electricity from renewable energies offers the chance for a fundamental democratisation of tomorrow's energy supply. By 2030, we want to generate solar energy on every rooftop in Berlin together with all Berliners. Solar energy promotion and mandatory photovoltaic installation through appropriate legal regulations for new and existing buildings in all sectors are core goals for us. In particular, we want to support tenant electricity projects and completely dismantle the previous financial disadvantages and complicated approval procedures. In addition, we promote the cooperative and private-sector upgrading of new areas for photovoltaics, for example in industrial zones or on commercial and military wasteland.

Strengthening the municipal energy utility and citizens' energy

A strong municipal energy utility is the best prerequisite for the direct participation of citizens in Berlin's energy transition. We will develop the municipal energy utility into a central and competent partner for cooperative, private and public energy transition projects. Berlin's economy will also benefit from this. The further required energy infrastructure is to be completely transferred back to municipal self-administration with a serious intention to offer the participation of the citizens of Berlin.

Protecting tenants

Last but not least, climate protection means reflecting on individual lifestyles and, where possible, adapting them in the interests of all. On average, every Berlin resident lives in 40 square meters of space - almost twice as much space as 40 years ago. If we think about the climate, living space means: electricity, heating, building materials, maintenance, and sealed nature. A larger living space per person leads to more resource consumption and more ecological consequential damage and pushes us outside the planetary boundaries.

We want to enter into a dialogue with the people of the city in order to find means and possibilities of a redistribution that is equally appropriate for the climate and for personal needs. This is about the right strategies and participation structures. It is about strengthening the living communities in the neighborhoods and expanding the rights of all renters. One of the instruments for sensible measurement of living space sizes could be a per-capita budget linked to energy requirements, which would function analogously to a personal CO2 budget: it would be priced if exceeded, and rewarded in the form of a bonus if not exceeded, for example by sharing living space. For this living space budget, we want to introduce an average guideline value of around 30 m² per person into the debate as a proposal from an ecological perspective. It is crucial to embed these measures: they must be introduced in consensus with the urban community, need appropriate transition periods, and must take into account the income of the respective renters.

We ensure that all people in the city can find adequate housing. Many Berlin residents need a larger or smaller apartment. For this purpose, we are setting up a public, free apartment exchange. Commercial interests and brokerage commissions will have no place there. We will ensure a legal framework that guarantees that landlords are not allowed to change the terms of an existing lease without good reason, such as a necessary modernization.

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Chapter 4: Strengthen Berlin – Power to the People

Strengthen referendums

Our city is hectic, noisy and dirty. The administration is broken, many public buildings are run down. Countless apartments belong to anonymous financial players and speculators. The hospitals are overcrowded and overburdened. In short: The citizens of this city have long been kept out of sight. We demand change and rethinking now! Berlin must finally breathe a sigh of relief! To do this, we need to reflect on the essence of our city: Berlin - that's the people. We are a city of neighborhoods, of markets, of small merchants, of strollers and idlers, of individual lifestyles, of small and large freedoms. And all that means: participation, co-determination - for everyone, as comprehensively as possible.

To achieve this, we must change the rules: Direct democracy gives citizens more opportunities than just "casting their vote" every few years. Every inhabitant of Berlin should have the right to vote, regardless of their citizenship. The number of signatures required for popular initiatives and petitions must be reduced, and deadlines extended. Digital technologies reduce barriers and provide easier access (to legislation). It is necessary to simplify the bureaucratic process of referendums and make them legally binding, so that it becomes harder for politicians to override successful decisions.

Direct and democratic

Citizens' councils will become an integral part of Berlin politics at the state and district level. A representative cross-section of the Berlin population over the age of 14 will be drawn as participants. The important thing is that the decisions of the councils will be politically binding and cannot simply be ignored by the senate and districts. If the political bodies do not want to implement these decisions, a Berlin- or district-wide referendum will be held. Active participation of the citizens must be strengthened. The people of Berlin know best what is good for their city. And especially in an important time of transformation, as we are experiencing today, their voice must be heard. In order to ensure the implementation of citizens' decisions in the long term, there will be a state commissioner for democracy development in the future. This position will serve as a central coordinator and promoter of citizen participation and as a point of contact for all citizens' democracy concerns.

Power to the children

Climate means the future. Therefore, codetermination must also be possible for those people who will bear the consequences of our current decisions. We stand for intergenerational justice and for lowering the voting age to 14 for elections to the German Bundestag, the Berlin House of Representatives and district councils. Berlin is working at the federal level for corresponding changes in the law. In order to explore the full range of possibilities, we are also having an independent study conducted by the state of Berlin. It will serve to develop appropriate measures for the participation of children and young people in all areas of life relevant to them.

Transparency for Berlin

We are committed to radical transparency laws. The referendum on a transparency law has already set a course that clearly goes beyond the Senate's proposal. The work of politics and administration must become "transparent. Among other things, a portal will be set up in which information about state-owned companies can be viewed by the public. Contracts worth 100,000 euros or more between public corporations or state institutions and the private sector can then be read. At the same time, all information will be free of charge. The new openness drastically reduces the previous volume of public inquiries to the administration. This reduces contradictions and complaints. The time and personnel resources freed up will benefit day-to-day business - and all of us.

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Chapter 5: Bringing Berlin together

Transformative education for an active shaping of our society

Education is more than transferring information. It is a social process that forms connections and positively strengthens the interests of the people. Education means participation - it is a tool that people are given to consciously shape their future. We see the promotion of systemic, innovative and critical thinking as the basis. We consider a positive learning environment, in which mistakes and the exploration of one's own strengths and weaknesses are seen as part of social coexistence, to be central.

Starting in the 7th grade, political education should become a central aspect of the curriculum. Students should be enabled to participate politically and to exercise their democratic rights, duties and opportunities in accordance with the guiding principle of being active citizens instead of informed spectators. This also implies basing school discussions of the climate crisis increasingly on the handprint concept rather than on the ecological footprint: joint impact on structures. Educators must be allowed and encouraged to critically reflect on the current political system at school. Students must be made aware of the fact that the system in place is in itself not neutral, but instead represents a permanent normative influence that promotes commercial growth. This focus on economic performance thus stands in opposition to achieving climate neutrality that is necessary for survival.

Important topics of our time are too often only addressed in schools selectively or in temporary projects - often through additional work of individual committed teachers or through cooperation with external partners, who are (can) only rarely be adequately remunerated. Structural changes and rapid digitization are necessary, but must be designed with the involvement of those affected - we demand a broad discussion and real participation! Initiatives consisting of teachers, social workers, parents and children have been dealing with the necessary transformation for a long time. The demands of some initiatives have been incorporated into our program and we see them as important partners.

For us, lifelong learning is not an empty phrase. Extracurricular educational opportunities must be accessible to everyone. Berlin has a museum landscape that is unique in the world. We make it accessible to all Berliners free of charge and continue to expand the educational program at museums and memorial sites. In doing so, we are pushing for a critical re-examination of colonial crimes and ensuring a greatly increased visibility of provenance research.

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Chapter 6: Berlin radically new

Last but not least: We remain activists!

Experience has shown: our policies are only as good as the civil society that drives them. We are part of the climate justice movement. We see ourselves as a mouthpiece for every initiative, every association and every alliance that works for climate justice, for the transport and energy transition and for a peaceful, social and livable Berlin. Let's get into conversation with each other.

Let's build a strong community for climate and civic participation. Let's bring radical humanity to Berlin's parliaments and cast social change into law. And let's stay active and continue to fight on the streets for the climate-positive transformation of our city. Join the movement! Berlin needs you!

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