Harsh criticism of the Chancellor: Merz no show at the COP

“Disgrace”, “devastating signal”, “absolute breach of taboo”: Environmental associations, the Greens and the Left have reacted with devastating criticism to the announcement by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) that he will not travel to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) in Turkey. The Chancellor thanked him for the invitation, but “due to other commitments” he was not able to take part, a government spokesman said in Berlin on Wednesday.

The UN climate conference begins next Monday in Antalya. It is considered the most important global forum for alleviating the global climate crisis. In the past five years, the German chancellors have always taken part in the COP. Merz was also in Belém, Brazil last year.

At that time, however, he caused a stir with a derogatory remark about the COP venue (“Which one of you would like to stay here?”). This time his cancellation was already expected due to various indications. Climate protection organizations announced an action in Berlin's government district for Thursday evening.

Luisa Neubauer from Fridays for Future criticized that by staying away, the Chancellor was “demonstratively” letting young people down in the climate crisis. “Friedrich Merz couldn’t show more honestly how little he cares about the climate crisis,” explained the climate expert of the left-wing faction in the Bundestag, Fabian Fahl.

In view of the drama of the climate crisis, Merz must personally announce a “turning point” in German climate policy at the UN conference, which is currently not on track, demanded Martin Kaiser from Greenpeace Germany.

“The Chancellor said in August that he would do everything to push back climate change,” said Green Party parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge. “Now he doesn’t even take the time to take part in the most important decision-making platform for global climate policy.”

Bread for the World and Diakonie Disaster Aid called for more commitment from the federal government in climate protection on Thursday. Germany must keep its commitments to climate financing. Although the government promised 6 billion euros for climate protection and adaptation in the Global South, it only provided 4.7 billion euros last year.

An analysis by the Oeko-Institut on behalf of the WWF showed how necessary an exit from fossil fuels is in terms of climate policy and economics. According to this, the amount of energy imports into the EU fell by ten percent over the past ten years. However, the costs for gas, oil and coal rose by a third: in 2025, before the cost increases caused by the Iran war, they were 296 billion euros after deducting export revenue. Oil and gas imports accounted for almost 90 percent of the European import bill. The current price fluctuations once again showed “how important it is for our economy and geopolitical security to free ourselves from dependence on fossil energy.”