Climate helplessness – government has been ignoring recommendations for a year climate referendum

2023-07-04 13:55:05

Vienna (OTS) – Around 100 people from Austria discussed measures to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 with enthusiasm and commitment as part of the Climate Council. Detailed recommendations were developed together with experts. The reactions are sobering – the 93 recommendations of the Climate Council have been swept under the carpet by politicians for exactly a year.

One year ago today, the Climate Citizens’ Council handed over 93 recommendations for containing the climate crisis and achieving climate neutrality by 2040 to the federal government. Since then, the more than 400,000 supporters of the climate referendum and the climate council have been waiting in vain for measures or reactions. The Climate Council was one of the central demands of the climate referendum to involve the public in climate policy measures. In March 2021, the Climate Council was commissioned with the votes of the ÖVP, Greens and NEOS in a motion for a resolution and carried out in 2022 by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection. Over six weekends, the 100 members of the Climate Council worked out recommendations together with experts and presented them to politicians in July of the previous year. These recommendations could have been quickly implemented by politicians, after all they came directly from the population.

But instead of taking the recommendations made seriously and implementing them, they ended up in the drawers of our politicians. There they wait for better times.

There is acceptance by the population, but there is no political will
“The government – which once decided on the climate council – does not want to hear the voices of the population. Where is the much-cited ‘closeness to the people’? This kind of politics does not do justice to the people who stand up for the most important issue of our time. Only binding laws and dialogue can help against the climate crisis – without delay and ignorance!” Elisabeth Sallinger from the climate referendum gets to the heart of the disappointment.

The 93 recommendations of the Climate Council provide a roadmap that will lead Austria to climate neutrality by 2040. It is high time that we embarked on this path. We finally need structural framework conditions to initiate the energy and climate transition. Individual decisions alone will not contain the climate crisis. Today’s presentation of the draft of Austria’s energy and climate plan has shown again: we are currently missing our climate policy goals by miles and are putting our living conditions at risk.
Effective and courageous climate protection looks different. The government still has a chance to act forward-looking by acknowledging the climate crisis for the threat it is and taking strong action.

On the climate referendum:
The climate referendum wants to promote bold climate policy. Around 400,000 people signed the referendum, and the motion for a resolution in Parliament on the demands made it a historic success. However, there is still a lack of implementation. Politicians must finally take climate protection seriously. It must create the legal framework that will ensure a fair and liveable future for us and our children. The numerous volunteers behind the climate referendum are tirelessly committed to this.
You can find more information on our website: www.klimavolksbegehren.at

Questions & contact:

Climate referendum – It’s about our survival
Mag.a Andrea Dierer
Climate referendum | Head of Communications
[phone]
[email protected]
www.klimavolksbegehren.at

1688479082
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