Resignation of the ADAC boss: He promoted climate protection

D The ADAC is bowing to a minority of its members who no longer want to pay for refueling: Transport President Gerhard Hillebrand has resigned because his statements in an interview caused “damage to the ADAC’s reputation”. Specifically, Hillebrand had saidthat the ADAC considers CO₂ pricing to be the right instrument for achieving climate protection goals – provided that alternatives to combustion engines such as electric cars are affordable. “To pretend that climate change doesn’t exist would be a fatal mistake.” Thereupon many ADAC members complained to the club60,000 left because of Hillebrand’s comments – a fraction of the 22.2 million members. Hillebrand still had to go, ultimately because he said something useful.

It is debatable whether a carbon price is the best way to get people to switch to climate-friendly alternatives. In fact, it burdens people with low incomes more than wealthy people and those in rural areas more than city dwellers with good public transport connections. Instead, public transport should be expanded and electric cars promoted to make combustion engines less attractive. Companies could be required to purchase electric cars for their company car fleets in order to stimulate the used car market. And a speed limit is a good idea anyway to reduce CO₂ and traffic deaths.

Hillebrand regrets that his statements “lost credibility.” However, shortly after the interview, the ADAC committed itself to the CO₂ price as long as alternatives are affordable. Rather, it costs credibility that he is now sacrificing Hillebrand – without any proposals for climate protection measures. The association also leaves it open whether, in its eyes, climate denial remains a “fatal error”. He cowers to a loud minority.

This summer also showed that conservative institutions are susceptible to this right-wing campaign against Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. They desperately need to learn how to grow a spine.