Activists gather at Borkum's Climate Summit for ecological discussions

In a significant development, environmental activists are rallying against a gas extraction project off the North Sea island of Borkum by the Dutch company One-Dyas. The climate strike is scheduled for this Friday at the island's train station.

Organisers, including Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) and the climate movement Fridays for Future, expect around 150 participants, according to the police. The protest is a response to the gas extraction project, which, if approved, could have far-reaching consequences for climate protection.

The legal opposition to the project comes from various quarters. Lower Saxony's Minister for Energy and Climate Protection, Christian Meyer (Greens), is among those who oppose the gas extraction project. He is joined by Hamburg international law attorney Roda Verheyen, who has prepared a legal opinion commissioned by Greenpeace.

Verheyen argues that the "Unitarisierungsabkommen" (Unitization Agreement) between Germany and the Netherlands for gas and coal mining near the North Sea island of Borkum violates the German Basic Law and international law. The agreement, she contends, is unconstitutional and breaches international law, including the Paris Climate Agreement and the climate protection mandate enshrined in the German Basic Law.

The lawyer further explains that the agreement could enable an unlimited number of further gas projects in the German-Dutch border area, making it incompatible with the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, she points out a violation of the obligation to avoid irreversible damage to the climate and environment.

The city of Borkum, together with the island municipality of Juist, is examining possible legal remedies, according to an announcement on Tuesday. The Bundestag and Bundesrat must approve the ratification of the contract, and this could potentially prevent them from approving the gas extraction.

One-Dyas has already started test operations, and the gas extraction platform is located in Dutch territorial waters, with drilling planned to partially extend into German territorial waters. The exploration of new oil and gas reserves, according to Verheyen's legal opinion, is "incompatible with the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement."

Climate activist Luisa Neubauer is expected to be on the island, as per DUH. The climate camp began on Thursday and is expected to last until Sunday, providing a platform for activists to voice their concerns and push for climate action.

The German government had already paved the way in early July by deciding to sign the "Unitarisierungsabkommen" with the Netherlands. However, the growing opposition to the project suggests a complex and ongoing debate about the balance between energy needs and climate protection.