Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) failed because of her own coalition partner in her plan to legally stop fracking in this country. Gewessler expressed surprise in front of journalists on Wednesday: If everyone is against fracking anyway, it could be “no problem” to anchor it.
Before the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Gewessler stressed that the controversial gas extraction method fracking in Austria does not make sense from an environmental protection, climate policy and economic point of view. Your corresponding ministerial speech was not on the agenda.
“Lip service” for elections in Lower Austria?
She thinks it’s “great” when “everyone is against it,” Gewessler pointed out that in Lower Austria, the Greens like the ÖVP are against fracking, but that the ÖVP in the federal government has also spoken out against it. She alluded to the fact that Lower Austria’s election campaign would now also have reached federal politics. “Then it is only logical to me that we put that in a proposal for the Council of Ministers,” said the Minister of Green, “then that cannot be a problem.”
She wanted to avoid people worrying that this was just “lip service” for an election, Gewessler probably alluded to the upcoming Lower Austrian state elections. “That is why I think it would be good, also for the credibility of politics, if we followed words with deeds.”
ÖVP sees no need for action
For the coalition partner, Secretary of State Florian Tursky – he represented the injured Finance Minister Magnus Brunner – tried to defend the ÖVP’s no: “It is very clear to us: Nobody wants fracking.” But there is currently no project for it and “therefore it is simple for us no problem”. If there is a need for regulation on the occasion of a project, this will be dealt with.
Gewessler’s advance should at least have been sunk for the time being. The proposal is “in the internal coordination of the government”, as the minister put it.
Greenpeace: “The fossil lobby is still very strong”
Sharp criticism came from Greenpeace: “It is outrageous that the ÖVP is blocking a ban on fracking across Austria and thus wants to leave a back door open for this environmentally and climate-damaging technology,” it said in a written statement. “Apparently the fossil lobby of advocates of this dangerous production method is still very strong in the People’s Party – there is no other way to explain this stuff,” said Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Austria.
“If the Nehammer-ÖVP takes its supposedly negative attitude towards fracking seriously, it should agree to a ban. Everything else is hypocrisy.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
