Germany’s climate U-turn is the worst possible response to the oil shock

Prices at the pump have leapt since the start of the conflict – but clinging to fossil fuels will only prolong the pain

The car is perhaps the closest thing Germany has to a national symbol. For this reason, the success of the auto industry and the happiness of motorists has long been a barometer for the standing of the Federal Republic.

Since the beginning of the war on Iran, German news has been filled with stories about drivers. Journalists have filed breathless dispatches from petrol stations all over the country, reporting scenes of anger and frustration at the hike in fuel prices.

Tania Roettger is a journalist based in Berlin