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Berlin Coalition Drops Own Tree Law, Backs Citizens’ Draft Largely Unchanged

Parliamentary leaders set a rapid schedule that returns the Baumentscheid proposal to committee on Oct. 8 with a plenary recommendation due Oct. 17.

Overview

  • CDU and SPD group chiefs Dirk Stettner and Raed Saleh told the initiative in a letter they will forgo an alternative bill and adopt its core text.
  • The Abgeordnetenhaus main committee will re-hear the proposal on Oct. 8, with a recommendation to the full chamber slated for Oct. 17.
  • Coalition leaders are targeting a special parliamentary sitting on Nov. 3 to pass the law, according to their stated timetable.
  • The BaumEntscheid campaign seeks one million trees across Berlin by 2040, which would require roughly 300,000 new plantings.
  • The Senate had rejected the draft in July over cost concerns, but organizers now welcome the reversal and say a referendum would be unnecessary if the core text is adopted.