|
What the numbers say: Most Germans affiliated with the SPD and the Greens, two left-leaning political parties, support the phaseout of nuclear energy in Germany. The Greens back the policy more strongly than the SPD. Most voters affiliated with the liberal FDP, the center-right CDU/CSU, and the far-right AfD oppose the phaseout. Relevance: Germany is the EU's largest economy and its local energy policy affects regional economies across Europe. Resistance to nuclear power has resulted in the shutdown of all German nuclear plants as of April 16. It remains to be seen if the decision will affect the German government's ability to provide affordable energy, which has supported Germany's export-driven economy. Brands that should care: If Germany keeps its nuclear reactors offline and fails to regain access to cheap Russian gas, the country will need to secure other sources of power. Clean energy firms could benefit from considering the long-term prospects of expanding into Germany. Conversely, manufacturers in the country may struggle to secure enough reliable energy at low prices to sustain growth in the coming years. |
