German authorities have sparked an uproar after greenlighting a controversial project near a popular tourist destination and protected nature reserve. 

What's happening?

As detailed by the Guardian, after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Germany began exploring alternative gas suppliers and considering domestic dirty fuel projects to meet energy demand.

Recently, regional authorities approved a Dutch-German venture to extract 13 billion cubic meters of gas just outside the Wadden Sea nature reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. 

As the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world, the one-of-a-kind reserve attracts millions of visitors to the Wadden Sea islands and the surrounding area every year, generating significant economic revenue for residents, according to UNESCO. 

Jürgen Akkermann, the mayor of Borkum — the island closest to the greenlit gas platform — told the Guardian that residents view the project, headed by One-Dyas, as "a punch in the face." 

Borkum hopes to end its reliance on polluting fuels for heating by 2030. It has plans to use geothermal energy — one of the most reliable types of clean energy because the heat powering it, which is produced and stored within the Earth, occurs around the clock. 

"You're taking care of it, you're engaged — and then you get a gas platform shoved in front of your nose," Akkermann said. 

Why is this important?

While oil, gas, and other fossil fuel projects have historically been a driver of rising prosperity, resulting in social, economic, and technological development, they also have significant drawbacks. For one, air pollution from these fuels causes millions of annual premature deaths.

Offshore fossil fuel projects also pose a significant threat of spills or leaks. Recovery efforts can take years, leading to long-term health consequences and disrupting tourism and the marine food web. The Walden Sea also hosts millions of migratory birds every year, supporting biodiversity on a global scale. A biodiverse ecosystem is crucial to healthy communities.  

"We've been confronted with the 'not in my back yard' argument — that everyone wants gas but nobody wants to be affected by it," Akkermann told the Guardian. "But I always say: This isn't just any backyard." 

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What can be done about this? 

Because of the aforementioned risks, among other consequences, there's a global push to transition to cleaner, safer forms of energy, including solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower. In the not-so-distant future, the "holy grain" of clean energy — fusion, which doesn't have long-lasting radioactive waste — may also become a reality. 

As for the Walden Sea project, a spokesperson for One-Dyas said the company behind the venture would take steps to minimize its impact, including electrifying the platform, which can be powered by clean energy, according to the Guardian. 

"The inconvenient truth is that there are not yet enough renewable energy sources to meet the growing demand for energy," the spokesperson said in defense of the project. 

However, Germany has indicated it may scale back renewable growth after a Deutsche Bank report suggested electricity consumption might grow more slowly than previously believed. Critics fear this will be used as an excuse to set back progress toward cleaner energy. 

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