More than 700 scientists from German-speaking countries have signed a petition that explicitly backs students’ strikes demanding rapid climate action by the government, Jutta Maier writes in the energy policy newsletter Tagesspiegel Background. The pending petition under the title Scientists for Future will be published on 12 March. It says that the climate strikes dubbed Fridays for Future “are justified and well-founded,” and argues that “the measures currently being taken to protect the climate, biodiversity, woodlands, oceans and soils are by far insufficient.” The petition goes on to say that neither Germany, Switzerland nor Austria are acting quickly and rigorously enough to protect the environment, and that Germany’s 2030 sustainability targets are in severe danger. “These young people rightfully claim that our society becomes more sustainable without hesitation,” the scientists say, adding that they “fully second their demand.”

The Fridays for Future strikes have put climate action high up on the national debate in recent weeks, as more and more school students in the country followed the example of Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and skipped school to protest every Friday. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she supports the students' political commitment, earning her resentment from parts of her conservative CDU/CSU alliance who say the protests are violating the law because schooling is compulsory in Germany.