Against a backdrop of rising energy prices, inflation, and falling purchasing power, reminiscent of the situation after the start of the war in Ukraine, Green MP and former Environment Minister Joëlle Welfring said in conversation with RTL Radio that Luxembourg and Europe had made progress since then, particularly in diversifying energy sources and expanding renewable energy.

Welfring pointed out that solar energy had been massively expanded under the previous government, while wind energy had increased sixfold over the past ten years. At the same time, she said, the moment had now come to accelerate the energy transition further.

She called on the current government to send stronger and clearer signals to support households in switching to independent energy sources.

Climate social plan: Exact details still lacking

Welfring was also critical of the government’s new climate social plan. Many of the measures, she said, were already known from the 2023 national energy and climate plan, which had been drawn up while she was environment minister.

However, concrete details were still missing, particularly when it came to social leasing for electric cars and the creation of a national renovation company, according to Welfring.

She pointed to France, where social leasing for electric cars had been a major success, allowing lower-income households to lease an electric car for €100. More than 50,000 people had applied within six weeks.

Welfring said it was a real shame that Luxembourg still had no further details ready, as such a measure would benefit people in rural areas where public transport is less developed, as well as shift workers.

The Green MP criticised the fact that, for two and a half years, she had repeatedly asked for details, only to be referred back to studies.

‘This is when people need help’

Welfring also sees “mixed signals” in the climate aid scheme, locally known as the ‘Klimabonus‘. The programme has existed since 2016 and, since then, more than €400 million has been invested in helping people become more energy independent, with support for heat pumps, solar panels, and other measures, she said.

According to Welfring, the current government tabled a new bill last summer which would increase certain forms of support for small heat pumps, but reduce other subsidies. For her, this is not the right time to send mixed signals.

The Greens have therefore tabled an amendment to introduce additional support of €2,000 for heat pumps and electric cars. According to Welfring, the amendment was received positively, but the government is now waiting for the tripartite talks, which means the process could take several more months.

Welfring encapsulated her feelings in this way: “Valuable time is being lost. That is what I regret somewhat. This is when people need help, and this is when the government really should have come forward with a strong response.”

Government dismantling nature protection, says Welfring

Nature protection was another major topic. Welfring accused the government of mainly seeking to dismantle nature protection rules.

In her view, the reform of the nature protection law put forward by the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) would not automatically lead to faster housing construction. Instead, she warned, it risked destroying more biotopes and creating new legal uncertainty.

PFAS in blood: Concrete measures?

A few weeks ago, Welfring and several party colleagues had their blood tested for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the so-called “forever chemicals”. The substances were found in all samples.

The Greens are therefore calling for faster measures, particularly in drinking water protection zones. Welfring criticised what she described as a lack of a common line within the government between environmental and agricultural policy.

She noted that CSV Environment Minister Serge Wilmes had said in an interview that pesticides should no longer be used in drinking water protection zones, while CSV Agriculture Minister Martine Hansen later said she did not see it that way.

Welfring stressed that the issue was not about pitting agriculture against environmental protection, just as housing construction should not be set against nature protection. Instead, she said, the aim should be to look for and find common solutions.

Based on the current exchanges, however, she said Luxembourg seemed far from finding such a solution, which she described as extremely regrettable.

Watch the full interview in Luxembourgish