2023-09-15 05:30:30
Summer of extremes requires decisive action from the federal, state and local governments – the Heat Act, the Climate Protection Act and the Soil Protection Act must be implemented quickly
Vienna (OTS) – Time is of the essence: Austria has had an extreme summer full of hurricane-like storms, heavy rain events and floods as well as heat waves that lasted well into September – due to the climate crisis, the next natural disasters are already inevitable. The environmental protection organization WWF Austria is therefore once again calling on people to take part in the climate strike and is calling for more speed in climate policy: “Austria lies far behind the EU average in the climate protection index. Without an effective climate protection law, which is 988 days overdue, a comprehensive energy saving package and measures against land consumption, Austria will become a climate policy backbencher. More than 1.5 years after the start of the war in Ukraine, new gas heating systems are still allowed to be installed in Austria, which is incomprehensible and politically grossly negligent. We therefore need a renewable heat law as quickly as possible that regulates the mandatory phase-out of oil and gas heating,” says Thomas Zehetner, climate spokesman for WWF Austria.
The WWF is calling on politicians to speed up climate protection: A Climate Protection Act with binding goals, measures and responsibilities to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 at the latest. A Energy saving package with increased funding for building renovations and mandatory use of solar energy in all new buildings and renovations. A nationwide soil protection law with measures against soil consumption and for unsealing – because only with the ecosystem services of intact natural areas can the worst effects of the climate crisis such as extreme weather events be mitigated, local heat poles prevented and Austria’s security of supply in times of global droughts and crop failures can be ensured for the future. A Renewable Heat Act for the phase-out of climate-damaging and expensive oil and gas heating systems, including a timetable for replacing existing systems. The quick one Repairing the Energy Efficiency Act to make savings a business model, including concrete savings obligations for federal states and the energy industry. The Stop or eco-social reform of climate-damaging subsidies in the public and private sectors. And finally one Transport transition away from cars and planes, towards bicycles and public transport.
Climate protection and nutrition are closely linked. That’s why a Eat4Change information stand of the WWF youth network Generation Earth stand on Heldenplatz during the final rally of the climate strike from 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. All ages can find out more about sustainable and climate-friendly nutrition there.
For anyone who wants to know more about climate-friendly nutrition, there is a further one Eat4Change-Young-Leader-Workshop on Friday, September 29th: Under the motto “Protect the climate and planet – one bite at a time!” it is about the connection between nutrition and effects on the environment and climate, and the advantages of sustainable and vegetarian nutrition are shown. The effects of our current food system on the earth are worked out and discussed together – ways are shown to become active yourself. Info at https://www.generationearth.at/29-09-23-eat4change-leadership-workshop-in-wien
Photos of WWF climate spokesman Thomas Zehetner are available for free use here.
Questions & Contact:
Mathias Kautzky, press spokesman for WWF Austria, 0676 83488 287, mathias.kautzky@wwf.at
1694755940
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