2023-07-18 12:51:16
71 percent of Austrians want a significant expansion of climate protection measures against the background of growing social inequality.
This is shown by a representative SORA study commissioned by Global 2000 and Volkshilfe presented in Vienna on Tuesday. Because the climate crisis hits socially disadvantaged people particularly hard, it was said at a press conference to present the survey, which was carried out from April to May 2023.
A majority of the 1,000 interviewees consider the current measures to combat climate change to be “insufficient”. It would not be possible to keep negative consequences such as water shortages, periods of drought, storms, increasing inequality and social unrest as low as possible. Representatives of NGOs explained that this opinion is not only held centrally by young people and the higher classes, but is shared by a clear majority across all age groups, income and education levels.
They appealed to the federal government to take action as soon as possible. “People who live in Austria no longer have any understanding for appeals for delay and appeasement. Poverty and the increasingly noticeable effects of the climate catastrophe are increasing every day,” said Erich Fenninger, director of Volkshilfe Austria. The aim is “fair climate protection”. More than three quarters (76 percent) are in favor of an income-related design of the measures. Agreement increases with age (up to 29 years: 72.9 percent; 30-59 years: 73.8 percent; people over 60 years 82.2 percent).
Against the background of the study, SPÖ environmental spokeswoman Julia Herr again called for “millionaire taxes” in a broadcast: These were “urgently necessary”, it was the “most accurate CO2 tax there is.” These “also contribute to the fair financing of necessary climate protection investments,” said the deputy club chairwoman of the SPÖ. “Not everyone contributes equally to the climate crisis. The richest ten percent of people in Austria emit four times more CO2 than the poorest ten percent.” When it comes to climate protection, the rich must also make a particularly large contribution, Herr demanded.
Another aspect is concern for one’s own health: almost half (46 percent) expressed concern in this regard. “The climate crisis and the health crisis are increasingly going hand in hand,” Fenninger warned. In addition, more than 84 percent are calling for increased and long-term subsidies for thermal renovations and the switch from oil and gas heating to more climate-friendly alternatives such as heat pumps and district heating.
Agnes Zauner, Managing Director of Global 2000, warned that the conversion should not fail because the population simply cannot afford it. “We therefore very much welcomed this year’s increase in federal funding for thermal renovation from 6,000 euros to 14,000 euros.” In the course of the negotiations on the Renewable Heat Act, this should be further increased and secured in the long term. She called for mandatory phase-out plans for all energy suppliers – but especially those that are in public hands. “Clean and safe energy supply must be affordable for everyone.” “The climate crisis is also a social crisis,” Fenninger said with conviction. “It’s about nothing less than preserving our livelihoods.”
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