2nd Investigative Committee on Nuclear Phase-Out Holds Public Witness Hearing
Berlin, November 25, 2024 – The German Bundestag’s 2nd Investigative Committee on Nuclear Phase-Out held its first public witness hearing today. The committee is tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power by 2022.
The first witness to testify was former Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin, who served in that role during the Schröder government, which made the decision to phase out nuclear power in 2002. Trittin defended the decision, saying that it was “the right thing to do at the time” and that the government had acted on the best available evidence.
However, he also acknowledged that there had been some mistakes made in the implementation of the phase-out, such as the decision to close down the Krümmel nuclear power plant in 2011.
The committee also heard from former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who also served as Environment Minister under Helmut Kohl and played a key role in the 2002 decision to phase out nuclear power. Schröder said that the decision was made in response to the public’s concerns about nuclear safety following the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.
However, he also acknowledged that the decision had been a difficult one and that it had not been easy to find a consensus on the issue.
The committee is expected to hold further public hearings in the coming months as it continues its investigation. The committee’s final report is due by November 2025.
Background
Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power was made in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in 2011. The disaster raised concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants and led to a public outcry against nuclear energy in Germany.
The German government quickly responded to the crisis by announcing that it would phase out nuclear power by 2022. The decision was controversial, and there is still debate about whether it was the right one.
The 2nd Investigative Committee on Nuclear Phase-Out was established in 2023 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the decision to phase out nuclear power. The committee is tasked with determining whether the decision was made on the basis of sound evidence and whether it was the best decision for Germany.
Significance
The decision to phase out nuclear power in Germany was a major turning point in the country’s energy policy. It was a controversial decision, and there is still debate about whether it was the right one.
The 2nd Investigative Committee on Nuclear Phase-Out is tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the decision to phase out nuclear power. The committee’s findings will be important for understanding the decision-making process and for informing future debates about nuclear energy in Germany.
Öffentliche Zeugenvernehmung des 2. Untersuchungsausschusses „Atomausstieg“
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