Numerous refugees from the war zone have already arrived in Berlin this morning.
(Photo: dpa)
The neighboring countries of Ukraine apparently willingly accept people fleeing the death and terror of the war. A special protection status in the European Union is also in prospect for them. The fact that the tragedy is taking place in Europe and not in more distant regions inspires empathy. Also in Germany.
One can criticize this and refer to the principle that all people in need should have an equal right to help. The principle is correct, but should not be the focus.
First of all, it’s good that so many people want to help. And it is human that the fate of neighbors touches us more and makes us feel more clearly that deadly dangers are not only lurking in the distance, but could affect everyone, including oneself. In this context, it is easy to overlook how many emerging countries have already generously taken in refugees from neighboring regions.
Climate change will play a part in the future
The new willingness to help gives hope for better political solutions. The haggling over who should take in how many and which people fleeing has always been an indictment of Europe and the values to which we all refer. The cold-heartedness towards people from poor countries too: the USA let them die of thirst in the desert, we in Europe let them drown in the Mediterranean.
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Perhaps, we should allow ourselves so much tentative optimism, that this will change. Perhaps taking in the people from Ukraine can become part of a larger plan, a better coordinated refugee policy at the European level. That would strengthen cohesion in Europe, which is more important today than ever. And many who come across the border now will repay what they get today through their work, social commitment or their achievements at school.
We will need a pragmatic policy even more in the future. Because in the temperate zones, climate change may eventually become a problem first and foremost in the form of an influx of refugees. Regions with extreme geographical locations or in harsher climates may become uninhabitable due to drought, heat or flooding.
There is already a danger that extreme temperatures and drought will first lead to violent clashes and then to people fleeing to live in temperate, safe zones. We have to be prepared for that.
More: The German economy is committed to people from Ukraine