Minister confident: ‘In 2040 we will still be driving a car’

“crown”: The government has presented a law on renewable heat and an energy efficiency law, which are in parliament and need the approval of the SPÖ because they are two-thirds business. When will that be decided?
Leonore Gewesler: I expect that this will now be negotiated and decided quickly in Parliament. We need these laws to save energy and make the transition to renewable energy sources. The SPÖ called for these laws and now has a responsibility to make sure we get things done here.

You still have not presented a climate protection law, the ÖVP has recently questioned this. when is this coming
We have passed a series of climate protection laws, including the climate ticket, the plastic bottle deposit, the environmental compatibility law and many more. Each of these laws was negotiated hard, thick planks were drilled. And there was sometimes a lot of resistance. But we drafted and passed all those laws. It will be exactly the same with the Climate Protection Act.

Is it still in this legislature?
That comes. There is still plenty of time for a climate protection law until 2024. But one thing is clear: if I could do it alone, we would already have one.

The ÖVP often does not make it easy for you. Is it sometimes more difficult to prevail against the coalition partner than against the opposition?
I’d be lying if I said everything is super easy. Of course not. It’s a hard struggle to find compromises, it’s drilling into thick planks. There are companies that are not always happy with my suggestions. They then submit their opinion to the Chamber of Commerce. But the stakes are high when it comes to climate protection. For a happy life also for our children. In the end, it’s the results that count for me.

Many people who travel by car have the feeling that you are trying to take something away from them. That you want to take away their personal freedom. What do you say to these people?
We will also be driving in 2040. We’re just going to drive differently. We’re going electric. The future on the road is the electric car. And we get more freedom of choice to drive in public as well.

An e-car is not affordable for many. What should these people do?
More used e-cars will soon be on the market. This market is evolving and that’s a good thing. In addition, there are smaller models. The manufacturers respond. A lot will happen here in the coming years. And thirdly, we support that, both the purchase with 5000 euros and the infrastructure. We have a record e-mobility budget.

You are striving for a ban on the destruction of new goods, how far have you come with this?
We have had discussions with the industry and with various stakeholders. These rounds have shown that many Austrian retailers know that careful handling of goods is important. They do not destroy new clothes or electronic devices. However, large international mail order companies are very often really careless about our future. That is why our destruction ban should mainly be aimed at large, international traders.

Waste separation works much worse in Vienna than in other federal states. What are you planning to do?
We are very late in collecting plastic. That is why we are introducing the plastic deposit and the mandatory reusable quota for retailers. We are also working to make collecting as easy as possible and have unified the system. But the federal states must also contribute to this.

The National Council will be re-elected next year. Can you imagine leading the Greens as a top candidate?
In Werner Kogler, we have a great federal spokesperson who has just been elected. I like working in his team. And as Minister of Climate Protection, I am very busy.

The FPÖ leader in Lower Austria, Udo Landbauer, has criticized the financial support for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. What do you make of it?
I’m not often speechless, but it almost makes me speechless. Making small political change on the back of this suffering can hardly be surpassed in baseness.