The Federal Office for the Protection of the German Constitution has been monitoring the environmental movement known as the Last Generation for potential extremism. This heightened attention stems from concerns about how its actions might influence public order and security. Reports from Spiegel indicate that the monitoring of open-source information sources began more than six months ago, signaling a shift toward closer scrutiny of activist networks. If authorities determine that the movement’s activities meet the threshold of extremism, they would gain expanded powers to observe and, in some cases, surveil members who participate or coordinate the protests. This development reflects a broader trend in which state agencies reassess domestic political activity through the lens of national security and constitutional safeguards.
On March 7, activists associated with the Last Generation took a direct action aimed at drawing attention to climate concerns. They sprayed orange paint across the facade of the German Ministry of Transport and Logistics in a public display that mixed symbolism with a demand for urgency. In what followed, four participants entered the ministry complex via a fire truck, applying paint and releasing water through a hose to leave a visible mark on an official building that houses transportation policy and infrastructure planning. The event prompted reactions from security personnel and drew attention to the organizers’ willingness to use dramatic methods to convey their message, prompting discussions about the boundaries between protest, civil disobedience, and potential threats to public property and safety.
Previously, climate activists employed disruptive tactics in Berlin designed to halt traffic around the same ministry complex. They erected barrier devices such as signal bands and temporary fencing to restrict movement and hinder access, and engaged in actions that disrupted the flow of vehicles and pedestrians in the area. A banner bearing the provocative message “2022 is just the beginning” was positioned to signal the activists’ belief that scale and persistence would escalate the climate campaign. These protests illustrate a pattern where environmental advocacy intersects with civil resistance, raising questions about lawful protest, public order, and the proportionality of response by authorities and security services.