To build Tesla's gigafactory in Germany, 500 thousand trees were cut down - Analysis by the environmental intelligence company

In recent months there have been numerous protests by activists criticizing the damage caused by the expansion of the plant

Tesla's development of a gigafactory near Berlin raises significant environmental concerns.Satellite analyses, reports the Guardian, reveal that around 500 thousand trees were cut down to make room for the plant.More specifically, between March 2020 and May 2023, 329 hectares of forest were deforested, according to data provided by the environmental intelligence company Kayrros, founded in 2016.The construction of the German factory has generated a series of controversies and protests in recent months, fueling a heated debate on the compromises required to support a green economy.Environmental activists have expressed strong concerns about the local destruction and global damage associated with electric vehicle production, criticizing the planned expansion of the gigafactory.And they staged protests such as occupying tree houses and setting fire to electricity pylons.

«Factory expansion must be stopped»

«In one of the driest regions of Germany, our environment has already been compromised.The factory expansion must be stopped to preserve forests and water resources,” said Karolina Drzewo of the Turn Off Tesla's Tap alliance.The same Elon Musk, and co-founder of Tesla, weighed in on the issue, but to criticize local police for allowing left-wing demonstrators to protest.

The balance between harm and benefits

Antoine Halff, chief analyst at Kayrros, noted that while the felling of trees is significant, it needs to be put in perspective against the benefits of the transition to electric vehicles.Halff calculated that the felled trees correspond to approximately 13 thousand tons of CO2, a value that represents only a small fraction of the emissions avoided thanks to the production of electric cars.Meanwhile, the Brandenburg state Ministry of the Environment last July approved a plan to expand the plant and double production to 1 million cars a year.However, several environmental incidents have been reported at the site, including fuel, paint and aluminum leaks, confirmed by Tesla itself.

Cover photo from the archive