Volt on the environment and animal welfare

Volt wants to secure the quantity and quality of water because, in the program's view, climate change, pollution and rising demand are putting the resource under pressure. Public water supply is to take priority over other uses, and supply and wastewater networks are to be renewed.

Volt wants to protect water. Water for people should come first. Other users come after that. The state should spend more money on pipes and wastewater. Fewer harmful substances should get into the water.

Pollution from trace substances, fertilizers and industrial discharges is to be reduced, for example by requiring microplastic filters in washing machines and sewage treatment plants. Investment in water supply and wastewater disposal is to rise significantly, accompanied by simpler planning procedures, tax measures and funding programs so that fees do not go up. A national funding program is to promote water-saving irrigation in agriculture, such as drip irrigation. Nationwide monitoring systems are to track groundwater quality and hold polluters responsible.

Volt wants to strengthen forests and peatlands as natural carbon sinks and habitats. At least one billion trees are to be planted by 2035, clear-cutting is to be banned, and the rewetting of peatlands greatly expanded.

Volt wants to protect forests and peatlands. They store the climate gas CO₂. One billion new trees should grow by 2035. Nobody should be allowed to cut down whole areas of forest at once. Dry peatlands should become wet again.

Reforestation is to focus on native and climate-resilient tree species; monocultures are to be restored to a natural state and degraded land rehabilitated. For forestry, the program provides for nationwide minimum standards, a ban on clear-cutting, and incentives for near-natural management and certified timber. A national forest monitoring system is to track carbon storage and biodiversity, alongside research funding, planting campaigns with the public, and cooperation with private forest owners. For biodiversity, Volt plans a national monitoring center and regional targets.

Volt wants to expand reuse and recycling to conserve raw materials and cut waste. To this end, deposit, lending and reusable systems are to grow, quotas are to rise, and waste law is to be overhauled.

Volt wants less waste. There should be more deposit and reusable systems. More old products should be collected and recycled. For example, more old batteries should be returned. Repairing things and buying used goods should pay off more.

For batteries, the collection rate is to rise from 50 to 70 percent and the recycling rate from 90 to 95 percent. Easily accessible collection points and deposit systems are to be expanded, especially for critical raw materials. Economic incentives, for example through a reformed value-added tax, are to support repair businesses and the trade in used goods. Small and medium-sized companies are to get help with circular processes through clear standards, workable rules and tax advantages. Public tenders are to include binding requirements for circularity.

Volt wants to tighten animal protection outside agriculture. Plans include new duties for pet owners, a long-term phase-out of animal testing, stronger enforcement, and the transformation of zoos.

Volt wants to protect animals better. Dogs and cats should get a chip. People who keep an animal should prove their knowledge. Animal testing should become less and later end completely. Zoos should no longer show wild animals.

Dogs and cats would have to be chipped and registered nationwide, and free-roaming cats neutered. Trade in animals with traits from harmful breeding (Qualzucht) would be prohibited, and private keepers would need a species-specific certificate of competence. Research without animal testing is to be funded; binding targets are to reduce testing even in basic research and make it unnecessary in the long run. Authorities are to get more resources for enforcement, and animal welfare organizations broader rights to sue. Zoos and aquariums are to become wild-animal-free experience centers focused on species conservation.