World Climate Conference: WWF sees “a lot of shadow and little light”
Environmental protection organization criticizes ambitious results in Glasgow – 1.5 degree target in the distant future – WWF calls for climate justice and a quick end to the fossil fuel age
Once again, the slowers and blockers have succeeded in preventing important progress and utilizing the summit resolutions at crucial points. ”
Lisa Plattner, WWF Austria
Vienna / Glasgow (OTS) – The environmental protection organization WWF Austria is disappointed by the overall ambitious result of the world climate conference COP26 Glasgow. “This means that the world remains miles away from the 1.5 degree target. The text does contain some surprises, such as the negotiation of the protection and restoration of nature – but in the end there is not much left of many other big announcements “, criticizes climate expert Lisa Plattner, who represented WWF Austria in Glasgow and in the result” much shadow and little light ”sees. “Once again, the brakes and blockers have succeeded in preventing important progress and watering down crucial points in the summit resolutions.”
It is particularly devastating that six years after the Paris Climate Agreement was passed, the rapid phase-out of all fossil fuels is still being prevented by many countries.
One of the most important topics was the issue of climate justice. “The big elephant in the room, however, is the question of how international financial resources can be mobilized in order to counter losses and damage after climate catastrophes”, Lisa Plattner points out. “The workshops that have been decided on for the next two and a half years will not prevent people in particularly endangered areas from having to die from loss and damage,” added Plattner. According to current calculations, between 290 and 580 billion US dollars per year will be incurred worldwide for losses and damage by 2030 – but that is only the calculable costs. In addition, there is damage to biodiversity, health and the last remaining natural areas, which cannot be quantified.
National homework in climate protection
The WWF also sees the Austrian federal government as having an obligation to finally do its national homework on climate protection. “Austria has criminally neglected its climate protection policy for many years. Therefore, when will the big construction sites finally be tackled – from the far too high energy and land consumption to the increase in greenhouse gas in road traffic to environmentally harmful subsidies. Billions are still flowing in the wrong direction every year instead of energy efficiency and environmentally friendly renewables, ”says Plattner, referring to the recently published climate protection index, which confirms that Austria has a lot of catching up to do.
Inquiries & contact:
Mag. Nikolai Moser, Head of Communication at WWF Austria
+43 664 883 92 489, nikolai.moser@wwf.at