Environmental alarm on Borkum: Protests against controversial gas drilling!

Environmental alarm on Borkum: Protests against controversial gas drilling!

On Friday, September 5, 2025, the North Sea island of Borkum experienced the climax of a climate camp that wanted to send a strong signal against the planned gas drilling in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. Around 200 participants registered for the camp, which was set up near the beach promenade on Thursday. NDR reports that climate activist Luisa Neubauer gave an urgent speech in front of the island train station, supported by representatives of German Environmental Aid and the citizens' initiative “Clean Air Ostfriesland”. The occasion? Critical voices opposed the approval of the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG), which had promised drilling by the Dutch energy company One-Dyas in the North Sea.

The protest is aimed at the upcoming gas drilling planned just 500 meters from the UNESCO World Heritage site. A demonstration with posters marched to the beach promenade, while Nele Evers from “Fridays for Future” denounced the drilling as worsening the climate crisis. They and other activists fear that the ecosystem of the Wadden Sea will be massively endangered by gas production. The WWF highlights that some species in the North Sea are already on the red list and that gas production could further fuel the extinction of species WWF.

Controversial approvals and impacts

Permission for gas drilling has already been granted, although a lawsuit challenging that decision is pending. Bernd Meyerer from the citizens' initiative warned that the drilling would sacrifice valuable stone reefs. Half of the planned gas field extends under Dutch waters and could produce up to 13 billion cubic meters of fossil gas in the first production phase from 2024. However, this amount would only cover less than 1% of German gas consumption. This is not enough to reduce dependence on gas imports, especially in times of increasing demand.

The social discussion is fueled by the approval of Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) for gas production. He emphasizes the need for security of supply, while at the same time assuring that environmental protection should not be left behind. German Environmental Aid provides critical findings: an estimated 65 million tons of CO2 would be released when the natural gas produced was burned YOU H.

Ecosystem and climate change

The Wadden Sea is already at great risk from climate change. The WWF points out that accelerated sea level rise threatens the habitats of many bird species. There is an urgent need to protect and restore these ecosystems that are worthy of protection. If gas drilling actually takes place, it will further strain the maritime ecosystem. Underwater noise and possible earthquakes are just some of the risks associated with drilling. These factors could significantly affect the communication and navigation of marine life.

Still, it remains to be seen what legal action can be taken to stop drilling. The upcoming decisions on gas production shine a bright light on the challenges of climate protection compared to economic interests. While the protesters on Borkum loudly express their displeasure, the question arises as to whether it is still possible to implement environmental protection and climate goals.