Environmentalists have initiated a unique form of protest against Tesla’s plans to expand Gigafactory Berlin, building treehouses in the forest surrounding the factory.
Tesla’s expansion plans for Giga Berlin include additional facilities such as a freight depot, warehouses, a company kindergarten, a water recycling plant, a second production facility, and a battery recycling plant. The expansion is expected to increase the plant’s annual production capacity from 500,000 to 1 million units. However, this expansion means over 100 hectares (247 acres) of forest will need to be cleared.
According to local media reports, about 80 to 100 activists, supported by environmental groups such as ROBIN WOOD, have taken to building treehouses in the forest area slated for clearing. These treehouses, some erected several meters above the ground, serve as an attempt to block Tesla’s expansion efforts.
The activists have expressed intentions to remain in place for weeks, with police allowing the demonstration to continue until at least March 15.
Eine Plattform gegen #Tesla! 🌳✊ Menschen vor Ort haben gezeigt: Es reicht! Nun auch Bäume in #Grünheide besetzt gegen den Ausbau des Tesla-Werks: Ausbaustopp der Gigafabrik! Wasser schützen & 100 ha Wald retten – sozial gerechte #Verkehrswende jetzt! 💚https://t.co/HoUiAMMfe4 pic.twitter.com/ErUJ1K9QYR
— ROBIN WOOD (@robin_wood) February 29, 2024
This protest follows a nonbinding vote in mid-February, where residents of the Gruenheide municipality largely rejected Tesla’s expansion plans, reflecting widespread local opposition. The concerns are not only environmental as it relates to the surrounding forest, but also touch on the potential impact of the factory’s expansion on the area’s water supply.
