In Cologne, 30,000 participants marched, followed by 24,000 in Berlin, 15,000 in Hamburg, and 12,000 in Munich, despite police reporting lower attendance figures. Protesters criticized Minister Reiche’s legislative proposals, claiming they threaten the success of the energy transition and favor fossil fuels. Environmental organizations, including Greenpeace and WWF, emphasized the urgent need for independence from fossil fuels amidst rising energy prices and the climate crisis. Concerns were raised over increasing costs associated with energy bottlenecks, as more renewable energy is produced than can be utilized, leading to reliance on expensive fossil fuel sources.