Last conference: Climate Council wants to see action from politicians
After six months of consultation and the development of a wide variety of measures, there is great hope that politicians will listen to the climate council. That’s why the last details were haggled with a lot of energy in Salzburg. The landlord Hans Brenner, the students Aaron Treibelmayer and the student Paul Lackner are satisfied.
“I think the result is very good and some will be surprised what 100 neural, inexperienced Austrians have brought together,” says Hans Brenner. “Whatever is in our hands, we have done well. We are satisfied,” the students add.
“Action as soon as possible”
The results will be presented in early July. It is about topics such as: should climate protection be included in the constitution, speed limits, CO2 prices, commuter allowances, city tolls, vacancies in apartments and houses, zoning for renewable energy, regional planning or the fight against food waste. Topics such as bans and penalties were particularly sensitive, says Climate Councilor Madeleine Stranzinger from Tyrol: “Of course, speed limits are also a very sensitive issue, especially among men.”
Citizens now expect action. “The best thing would be if the measures were implemented as soon as possible. The pressure has to come from below. It didn’t work that he came from above, so now you have to push from below.”
Carinthian Hans Brenner sees the recommendations as an aid to politics. “They can easily refer to us in their decisions. That’s what 100 Austrians suggested to us. But they should finally do something.” The 17-year-old HTL student Paul Lackner can do the same: “We have a number of suggestions that are easy to implement. I mean, this is my future and there should be something further.”
Landesrat Schnöll at meetings in need of explanation
Statements by the ÖVP club chairman, Johannes Schmuckenschlager, caused outrage, pointing out that climate change was not relevant to him and that he did not feel bound by the results. That was up to Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens), he said. That brought his ÖVP party colleague, the Salzburg Transport Councilor Stefan Schnöll, who was a guest at the start of the last meeting in Salzburg, in an explanation. “It’s an individual opinion. We take that very seriously,” emphasizes Schnöll.
The ÖVP made mistakes, says Schnöll, and that’s why he criticizes his own party. “Because we have done a lot wrong in the past, especially in transport policy. And I believe that you have to get much faster and better there.”
They didn’t rely on public transport and rail fast enough.
Citizens are now demanding answers from politicians. At the beginning of July, the results of the climate council will be presented to politicians and handed over.