The Big Interview – Should We Freeze in Winter, Mrs. Gewessler?

The ugly federal office building on Radetzkystrasse in Vienna has been surrounded by 400 bicycle parking spaces since Leonore Gewessler became Minister of the Environment. “I just got myself a new service bicycle,” she says proudly at our meeting for the ministry, she parked it upstairs in her office. From here we walk down to the Danube Canal, where later she sits quietly and relaxed on a stone, smiles into the “Krone” photographer’s camera and assures passers-by not to be attentive. It is 32 degrees, but a light wind makes the heat bearable.

„krone“: Being the Minister of Energy in the worst energy crisis in decades, how does that feel for you right now?
Leonore Gewessler: It is an extremely intense and stressful time – for all of us. We have not only the energy crisis, but also the war and the inflation that goes with it. I have taken on a task that is a major challenge for me. You are so electrified that you barely have time to stop and catch your breath. It’s a 24/7 job, not just for me but for my whole team. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been working on crisis management for months under high pressure.

This crisis management is viewed very critically by the population.According to a survey for the news magazine “profil”, 72 percent of Austrians believe that the government is not doing enough to prepare Austria for rising energy prices and a possible gas shortage.
We actually have a huge loss of faith in politics. That worries me too. It affects not only the federal government, but also the opposition parties. This loss of confidence is a mandate for action for all. Of course, we followed a clear plan from the start on how to deal with this crisis. Get out of dependence, into renewable energies. Ensure security of supply with other supplying countries, fill gas storage tanks to 80 percent. But we can only do this together.

What do you think when the SPÖ leader says that the government is aimless, discouraged and helpless?
We have been trying to get over this crisis for months. Terrawatt hour by terawatt hour, measure by measure. This is a complex situation with no easy solutions. We all need to be prepared that this will be difficult and will remain so for a while. We need all the constructive forces on board. We cannot handle this feat alone. You should always be open to criticism, but it is more effective to contribute something together to the solution of the problem than to engage in short-sighted party politics in this crisis.

As a common solution to the problem, not only the opposition, but also parts of the ÖVP propose a price cap for electricity and gas. Why is this not being implemented?
The European electricity market needs uniform regulations. Going alone only means that we have to pay in Austria for the cheap electricity for companies from abroad. There are smarter solutions nationally. I really like Wifo’s suggestion. Namely to subsidize households part of the costs for electricity consumption in the form of a credit. For the rest, you pay the higher market price and are thus motivated to save electricity. So those who waste energy are not rewarded for it, but the help ends up at the households. I have commissioned experts from the Ministry of Climate Protection to work out the details.

How’s the gas now? Should we freeze in winter?
In Austria we have the instrument of energy management. It enables us to intervene in the event of gas shortages at large consumers and thus ensure that homes remain warm. Thursday was a big step. Together with OMV, we have secured transport capacities for 40 terawatt hours, or 45 percent of Austria’s gas consumption. And that is a huge reduction in dependence on Russia. Gas will flow to Austria from Norway, Rotterdam and Italy.

If Russian head of state Vladimir Putin stops shipping gas after the maintenance of the Nord Stream I pipeline, will there be rationing and private households will have to contribute?
We are all working to avoid this scenario. But honestly, no one can say what will happen on July 21. Gas may continue to come in, less gas may come out, or no gas at all. The only thing that is certain is that Putin cannot be trusted. And that this is a turning point and that nothing will ever be the same again. That is why we will require large consumers to be technically equipped to switch from gas to other types of energy. One thing is clear: when it comes to gas rationing, households have priority. No one should freeze in our country.

The EU has already announced that it will only heat public buildings to 19 degrees. Her German colleague Robert Habeck said you should only take cold showers…
I think he said we should have shorter showers. Saving energy is of course smart and many people already do that. They see energy as something valuable that must be handled with care. Everyone can contribute. Not the ones who are already saving every cubic meter of gas out of their mouths anyway, I don’t mean them. But anyone who can still contribute is happy to do so. Gas is precious, gas is scarce. Therefore: Bleed the radiators, wait for the Therme, set the heating smartly, all this saves gas. And anything we save will help us last longer if the worst-case scenario occurs: Russia stops supplying.

A coal-fired power station is now even opening, part of the industry is switching to oil, the Greens should be crying…
Yes, but that is necessary now. And we are also currently launching an acceleration package to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy. Every wind turbine, every hydroelectric plant, every photovoltaic panel, every gas heating system that is replaced helps. That alone will take us out of the tremors, out of dependence, out of the knowledge that Russia is no longer a reliable partner.

This week, German Green Economy Minister Robert Habeck paid a visit. He is much praised in Germany for his honest words during the crisis. Aren’t you a little jealous?
No, on the contrary. I am glad that in Germany, as in our country, the Greens are in government. And that we support each other and work together in the crisis.

But in Austria, the Greens are plummeting in polls, while in Germany they are rising. How do you explain that?
We are politically – also due to the change of chancellor, the situation of the ÖVP and the allegations made – in a very different situation. Yet we have mastered a lot in government in recent months. Trust is always built through concrete action, that has always been my claim when it comes to government work. I’m not sitting there, because that was my plan when I was five years old. But because I want to change something for the people of this country. And as long as it works, and it does, it makes sense to me.

Do the Greens want to stay in government at all costs?
There is a scenario for me where this cooperation is jeopardized. When you couldn’t agree on anything anymore and when there’s nothing wrong. But I don’t see that. We go much further.

The SPÖ is already making plans for the time after turquoise-green. There should be three women at the top, one of whom you are as the new leader of the Greens.
I saw it on the “Krone” cover, but at the moment I’m very busy with other things. How do we get gas into our storage facilities? How do we become independent from Russia? How do we survive the winter well? We have a super party leader, his name is Werner Kogler. I hope he recovers quickly and remains party leader for a long time to come.

How is he doing after his corona disease?
Much better. I’ve left him alone for the past few days to let him recover. Now he works from home again.

Have you already had corona?
Yes, two months ago. I’m really glad it’s behind me. Mild of course, but honestly I would have liked to have spared myself. I had a relatively high fever and aching limbs and everything else that comes with it. But there are so many people going through the same thing right now, so get well soon!

You have been leading a super ministry responsible for climate protection for two years now, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology. Do you never feel overwhelmed?
Certainly not. The ministry now has one focus and that is energy. I spend more than 90 percent of my time on that. When we introduced the climate ticket, the focus was on traffic. If there is a major project in the pipeline, it is the environment. It’s important to slow down sometimes when you’re under a lot of pressure and just go out for two hours, like we both do now. I regularly do this with my husband on weekends.

What gives you confidence in your Sisyphean task and in these difficult times?
I would like to tell a short story about this. At the Council of Environment Ministers, the Ukrainian colleague reported to us about the unbearable conditions in his country, and while we were listening to him, the air-raid siren suddenly went off on his mobile phone. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it. At such moments one becomes aware of the dimension of war. And all our gigantic tasks seem much smaller.