In view of the differences of opinion within the government about the climate plan, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen calls for speed in climate protection. However, the 79-year-old did not want to evaluate the government dispute. But he can say one thing with certainty: climate change is not a “joke problem.”
“Anyone who still thinks he has a lot of time is making a historic mistake,” he said at a joint press conference with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in Vienna on Tuesday. Both Greece and Austria have experienced the consequences of the ‘climate emergency’, for example in the form of floods or forest fires.
Van der Bellen appeals to the conscience of the government
Van der Bellen continued that he could not assess the misunderstanding surrounding the National Energy and Climate Plan. But he wanted to remind all parties that the “climate crisis is not a joke problem, but a problem for the survival of humanity.”
European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) and Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) are mainly fighting over the National Energy and Climate Plan. After it became known at the beginning of this week that the European Ministry had withdrawn the NEKP submitted to the EU by the Environment Ministry, Edtstadler reported on platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. She called the Environment Ministry’s actions a “dangerous precedent” and accused Gewessler of going it alone.
Green Party energy spokesman Lukas Hammer responded to Edtstadler’s words in a statement: One can only shake one’s head at her “destructive behavior.”
The president does not expect a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels
Van der Bellen’s state guest Sakellaropoulou also emphasized that, given the ‘climate emergency’, collective efforts are needed to reverse the negative developments and protect citizens from extreme weather conditions.
When asked about recent reports from the COP28 climate conference in Dubai that the exit from fossil fuels should not be mentioned in the final document, the Federal President was calm. “That alone wouldn’t shock me,” said Van der Bellen.
He pointed out that the phase-out of oil and gas would take decades. However, he wanted to remind participants from around 200 countries, representatives of oil companies and political parties in Austria “that the climate emergency did not appear out of the blue”.
It is the “greatest market failure of all time.” Because the market has been demanding prices “that do not correspond to real prices” for decades, “states are obliged to take appropriate measures.” Van der Bellen himself had to cancel his trip to the opening of COP28 due to illness. About his non-participation, he said on Tuesday: “Whether that was an accident or a blessing” remains to be seen.
Greece as a financial role model?
Van der Bellen also discussed the development of political and economic relations with Greece. The 30 billion euros from the EU recovery fund is an opportunity for Austrian companies active in infrastructure and green technology. The Federal President still sees “much room for cooperation” here.
He also expressed his “explicit appreciation” to Greece for having managed to “stabilize” its economy after the financial crisis. The growth figures of around two percent are well above average, also in Austria. At the same time, Greece has shown “unprecedented pace” in reducing its public debt.
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.
