CDU on the environment and animal welfare

The CDU wants to keep taking a hard line against illegally dumped trash, pointing to the already tougher schedule of fines. It also wants to examine whether mobile video surveillance and artificial intelligence can identify littering hotspots faster.

People who dump trash should pay high fines. The fines are already higher. The CDU now wants to look at cameras. AI should help too. This should find trash spots faster.

According to the program, a discarded cigarette butt now costs 250 euros and dumped old tires 700 euros. Fines go directly to the districts, meant to encourage more inspections. A dedicated "waste investigators" task force is to focus on particularly affected areas. Cameras and AI are to be used in line with data protection rules and help target cleanup operations.

The CDU wants to modernize waste disposal in public spaces: by 2030 Berlin should have about 30,000 litter bins, underground containers are to be expanded, and bulky waste collection improved. This is also meant to deprive rats of food.

There should be more trash cans. About 30,000 by 2030. Some bins should be under the ground. Bulky trash should be easier to pick up. Then rats find less food.

Additional bins separated by waste type are to be placed in busy locations. Underground containers are to be considered for new and renovated state buildings as well as in parks and playgrounds. Neighborhood bulky waste days are to be expanded and made permanent, and longer weekend hours at recycling centers will be examined. The BSR is to offer a paid service for prompt bulky waste pickup, including early mornings and evenings. The guiding principle is waste prevention before recycling, for example through more reusable systems and less packaging.

The CDU wants to limit the number of city pigeons, especially at shopping centers, train stations and busy places, in a way consistent with animal welfare. It relies on managed pigeon lofts, feeding bans and structural deterrents.

There should be fewer pigeons in the city. Mostly at train stations and malls. The birds should not be harmed. There should be managed pigeon houses. Feeding them should be banned.

The plan includes managed pigeon lofts. Feeding bans are to be strictly enforced. Structural measures are to deter pigeons, and further means of reducing the population are to be examined.

The CDU wants to capture, store and use more rainwater and secure the long-term water supply. This includes cooperation with Brandenburg and Saxony, a Berlin water summit and cleaner waterways up to bathing water quality.

Berlin should store rainwater better. This is called a sponge city. The water supply should stay safe. Rivers and lakes should get cleaner. One day people should be able to swim there.

Because of possible water shortages after lignite mining ends in Lusatia, cooperation with Brandenburg and Saxony is to be expanded. A regular "Berlin Water Summit" is to bring together districts, the water utility, housing companies and researchers. The "Blue Pearls" program is to be expanded, discharges into waterways gradually reduced, and littering along shores more strictly policed. A cross-departmental concept is to govern uses such as floating homes, tourism and water sports, and abandoned boats are to be removed at the polluter's expense. Wells operated by the Berlin water utility are to regulate high groundwater levels.

The CDU wants to abolish Berlin's list of dangerous dog breeds. Whether a dog is dangerous should instead be judged case by case based on its behavior, since in the party's view breed categories serve neither animal welfare nor safety.

Today some dog breeds count as dangerous. This list should go. An office should check each dog on its own. What counts is how the dog behaves. Owners should know about dogs.

The focus is to be on objective criteria, owners' expertise and individual review by authorities. The new rules are meant to strengthen animal welfare and ease the burden on animal shelters. In the CDU's view, the current breed list leads to blanket judgments.

The CDU wants to act against the illegal pet trade, which it says causes great animal suffering. Selling pets in public squares is to be banned and online platforms more closely monitored.

Some people sell pets illegally. The animals often suffer. Selling pets in public places should be banned. Websites should be checked more. Penalties should be higher.

Clear rules are to target dubious sellers. Since much of the trade happens online, platforms are to face closer scrutiny. At the federal level, the CDU supports significantly tougher penalties for illegal pet trading.

The CDU wants to stop invasive non-native animal and plant species from spreading further in Berlin. The goal is to protect native ecosystems and biodiversity.

Some animals and plants are not from here. They spread fast and harm nature. They are called invasive species. The CDU wants to slow their spread in Berlin. This should protect local nature.

The CDU relies on public education so that residents do not spread such species by accident. The aim is to preserve biodiversity in the city. Long-term damage to nature, infrastructure and health is to be prevented.