BERLIN

Greenpeace activists staged a demonstration in Berlin with boats and canoes on Tuesday to protest the government’s backpedaling on climate promises. 

More than two dozen activists swam in the Spree river in front of the German parliament, as lawmakers began debating the government’s budget proposal, which brings revisions to the planned climate bonus payments.

During the symbolic action, some of the swimming activists carried banners and signs bearing the messages “ice bathing against social coldness,” “socially fair climate protection, now,” and “climate bonus, now!”

Germany’s left-liberal coalition government had earlier promised to introduce climate bonus payments to support households while promoting renewable energy investments.

Household energy prices continue to rise in the country, due to the CO2 emissions tax and costly investments for renewables.

Amid new austerity measures, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said last week that the introduction of a climate bonus is likely to be postponed, and could be discussed in the next legislature period.