Berlin climate referendum falls short
Berliners voted in a referendum on a proposal to make the German capital climate neutral 15 years earlier than planned. However, not enough voted 'yes' in order for it to pass. Not enough voters in Berlin supported a push to make the German capital carbon neutral by 2030, results from a referendum showed on Sunday. A small majority, 50.9% of voters, did support the motion. However, overall turnout was less than 50% and not enough people voted in favor of the motion for it to become law. To pass, it would have needed majority support, and the support of at least 25% of the eligible electorate. Roughly 442,000 people voted in favor and roughly 423,000 against; Berlin has just over 2.4 million eligible voters. City officials had urged voters to reject the proposal, initially put forward by environmental groups in a public petition, arguing that it was unrealistic and unachievable. What was the proposal? Had it been approved the proposal ...