Police detained Greta Thunberg during a demonstration in Germany.

20-year-old environmental activist has taken part in protests against demolition of village to allow for expansion of nearby coal mine.

Luetzerath is now the frontline in Germany’s climate debate.

This is the second occasion that the Swedish activist who participated in protests on Saturday has been removed by the police this week.

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According to the Aachen police, Ms Thunberg was a member of a group that “stormed” towards an open-cast mine edge. Officers described it as “steep, extremely dangerous”.

According to police, the activist was not taken into custody but instead was carried away. He is currently being held with other protestors for identification.

Utility firm RWE owns the tiny Luetzerath, North Rhine-Westphalia hamlet. It has been cleared to make way for the expansion of nearby Garzweiler coal mine.

Ministers and RWE claim that lignite from the mine, which is a form of coal activists consider the most harmful, will provide Germany‘s short-term energy security.

Fighting back against government backtrack

After the invasion of Russia Ukraine, the government, which is a coalition of three parties, had to adjust its approach to coal use.

In the past, Russia was heavily dependent on it for its energy . However, supplies have been reduced as a result of European sanctions.

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Greta Thunberg joins Luetzerath protests

What is Luetzerath doing to the map?

However, the government insists that it will continue to eliminate coal use in the long-term.

It pledged to present plans to eliminate coal in North Rhine-Westphalia by 2030, where Garzweiler is located.

German environmental activists demand that Germany immediately take action on fossil fuels. They also oppose the expansion of the coal mine.

According to them, the massive greenhouse gas emissions caused by the mining of fossil fuels would be created by bulldozing the village.

“Hundreds of people huddled down in an abandoned village”

Two years ago, protesters entered the homes of ex-residents.

LuetziBleibt, which means Luetzi Is Staying, claimed that “around a few hundred people” were living in the village.

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In an effort to clear out the protestors, police in riot gear entered the village in the early part of the month.

Roadblocks have been cleared, trees that were built by protesters have been razed, and buildings have been bulldozed.

Ms Thunberg was among the protesters and delivered an emotional speech in which Germany was “embarrassing” itself on Saturday.

She stated that “the science is clear: we must keep the carbon in ground.”

According to police, it could take several weeks for the dispute over coal mine expansion to be resolved. This is what activists consider a symbol of Berlin’s failed climate policy in an energy crisis.

RWE reached an agreement with the national and regional governments last year to allow it to demolish the abandoned village in exchange for ending coal use by 2030 rather than 2038.

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