ÖDP on the environment and animal welfare

The ÖDP wants to cut the use of energy and raw materials and build a circular economy. Durable, repairable products made from renewable raw materials would get priority, and fossil-based materials would be replaced.

The ÖDP wants less waste and less consumption. Products should last long and be easy to repair. Materials should be used again and again. This is called a circular economy.

Sharing, lending and swapping would be promoted. Composite materials that are hard to recycle would be avoided, and reusable packaging systems introduced on a large scale. Wood or plant fibers would replace fossil-based materials. Where that is not possible, synthetic feedstocks such as hydrogen, e-fuels, methane or ammonia would be made only with renewable energy. The plan also includes shared, adaptable housing concepts and faster energy retrofits of buildings using natural building materials.

The ÖDP wants to bring the use of new land for housing and transport down to net zero within ten years and to expand nature reserves. Bavaria's species protection rules from the "Rettet die Bienen" (Save the Bees) petition would apply nationwide.

The ÖDP wants better protection for soil, animals and plants. In ten years, no new land should be built over. There should be more nature reserves. Species protection rules from Bavaria should apply in all of Germany.

Vacant lots and empty buildings would be used before new land is paved over. In land-use planning, nature conservation would come first, ahead of farming, forestry and housing. Farming would become organic, with fewer animals and humane husbandry; subsidies would follow ecological criteria and support hedges, field margins and humus build-up. Ten percent of forest area would become unmanaged protected zones. Peatlands would no longer be drained but rewetted, and peat use would be replaced. Internationally, the ÖDP wants action against rainforest clearing and soil protection written into trade agreements.

The ÖDP wants the water supply to remain public and not be privatized. Groundwater would be protected through less paving, more infiltration and stricter rules on withdrawals and industrial sites.

The ÖDP wants to protect water. The water supply should belong to the state and the towns. Companies should not be able to buy it. Rainwater should be able to seep into the ground.

Municipalities that draw more water from their own wells or springs than permitted would face financial penalties. No industry would be allowed to settle in water protection zones. Water would seep directly into the ground so that groundwater can recharge, and paving over land would be avoided where possible. Areas that hold back water would be restored and enlarged as flood protection.

The ÖDP wants to give animal welfare organizations the right to sue at federal and state level and to appoint independent animal welfare officers with binding powers. It also calls for a plan to phase out animal testing and for several bans.

The ÖDP wants to protect animals better. Animal welfare groups should be able to go to court for animals. There should be animal welfare officers who check on animal keepers. Animal testing should end under a plan. Fur farming and wild animals in circuses should be banned.

Animal welfare officers or advisory boards at federal, state and local level would inspect keeping, breeding and trade, mostly unannounced. The phase-out plan for animal testing would include target dates, immediate bans, monitoring and sufficient money and staff. Breeding that causes suffering, fur farming, cruel events with animals and wild animals in circuses would be banned. Across Europe, docking and the import and sale of products such as foie gras or shark fins would be prohibited. Slaughter methods would be checked more strictly and animal shelters given considerably more support.