Thunberg joins march on German village in protest against coal mine expansion

Climate activist Greta Thunberg joins the activists protesting against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE to Luetzerath, in Keyenberg, Germany, January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

LUTZERATH (Reuters) - Around 6,000 protesters - including climate activist Greta Thunberg - marched through mud and rain to the German village of Luetzerath on Saturday, according to a police estimate, demonstrating against the expansion of an opencast lignite mine.

The clearing of the village in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia was agreed between RWE and the government in a deal that allowed the energy giant to demolish Lutzerath in exchange for its faster exit from coal and saving five villages originally slated for destruction.