Dark times for the environment, climate and nature

Greenpeace is alerted in view of the familiar negotiation protocols from FPÖ-ÖVP and strongly criticizes the plans it contains. Jasmin Duregger, spokeswoman at Greenpeace Austria: “The current blue-black government plans disappoint all along the line in climate and nature conservation. Instead of further investing in the future of Austria, the dismantling of important nature and climate protection measures should begin. People remain caught in outdated technologies, soils are further sealed and valuable natural areas are lost forever. With the current plans of FPÖ-ÖVP, dark times threaten the environment, climate and nature. ”

When it comes to climate protection, funding for e-mobility is to be abolished, and the billion-dollar climate-damaging subsidies should continue to be distributed unchecked. Excessive road construction threatens to drive up climate -damaging exhaust gases and to seal even more soils. In addition, the CO2 pricing and thus a central instrument are obviously shaken to advance climate protection. Climate and nature conservation should be played out against each other by watering down environmental approval processes and circumcision. For example, hurdles are to be created for the participation of environmental protection organizations in environmental processes. In addition, there should be opportunities for federal states to improve the suspensive effect of complaints in procedures.
“When it comes to climate protection, the brakes are stepped abruptly. With this government program, Austria’s chance of reaching the climate goals would be practically at zero. At the same time, hurdles for environmental protection organizations are to be created and their function as interest representatives for nature and environmental protection should be undermined ”so Duregger.

In the negotiation paper there are also utopian descriptions of a “free” Austria, with a 100 percent self-care degree with food. However, domestic acreage is far from sufficient to cover the need for food. The commitment given by FPÖ and ÖVP for a “conscious” handling of soil and the use of space remains unconcrete and vague, in terms of installing and concreting, this means that in fact, as before ”. The advancing area consumption will additionally impair the self -supply of food, grow farmers under increasing pressure and further increase the dependence on imports. “The measures of the FPÖ and ÖVP are nothing more than non -binding phrases that will not stop the surface consumption and further heat the dependency on imports. With this, ÖVP and FPÖ not only risk the livelihood of our farmers, but also the domestic biodiversity “Duregger points out.

FPÖ and ÖVP apparently also agree to make civil society engagement difficult. For example, tightening in the right of assembly should come, certain forms of protest are even brought into criminal law. Duregger: “If people are committed to protecting the environment and our livelihood, they should not be afraid to get into prison. In the past, senseless nature destruction has been prevented by protest by committed people, we remember the Hainburg Danube power plant, for example. The popular National Park Donauauen was only possible through the courageous use of courageous people. “

There are also massive cuts in the tax deduction of donations. Duregger: “Around 63 percent of the Austrian population state that they are regularly or occasionally donated for non -profit purposes. Restrictions on donation deductibility could mean financial disadvantages for millions of people. Many could be forced to do without their donation. The entire non -profit sector would be massively weakened. Numerous important services would be lost. ”