In just under a month, Austrians will elect a new EU Parliament. The outcome of the elections will be crucial for the future of energy. More than two-thirds of the Austrian population is acting too slowly on this issue: they want the EU to accelerate the phase-out of oil, coal and gas. This is evident from a new study commissioned by the KONTEXT Institute for Climate Issues, which is available to “Krone”.
1000 people were interviewed by the opinion research institute “marketagent”. The Austrians mainly see renewable energy as the key to independence. More than eight in ten respondents see it as the EU’s central task to stimulate the expansion of renewable energy sources, in order to become independent of energy imports.
Companies and households suffer from energy dependence
“The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has shown how dependent Europe, and therefore Austrian companies and households, are on fossil energy from unsafe countries. For European politics and at national level, the research shows a clear mandate from the population to shape restructuring through concrete measures,” says Florian Maringer, responsible for strategy and analysis at KONTEXT.
About 80 percent of Austrians say that building renovations and sustainable forms of heating not only make a significant contribution to climate protection, but also reduce dependence on other countries.
The EU elections will be crucial
“The upcoming EU elections will have a decisive influence on future energy policy. The brakes are on the few who continue to benefit from the oil, coal and gas industry and therefore cling to their dependence,” warns KONTEXT spokeswoman Katharina Rogenhofer. More than 70 percent expect Austrian representatives at EU level to do more to promote climate protection.
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.
