The organization ‘Fridays For Future’ (FFF) is once again calling for an international climate strike on Friday. The largest demonstration will take place in Vienna on Friday. The organizers expect “thousands of participants”. Central demand: Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) must convene a “national summit on climate disasters”.
Klara König of “Fridays For Future” demanded that the summer, marked by environmental disasters including floods, drought and forest fires, “must have an aftermath.” The summer of climate disasters requires an autumn, which must be followed by serious climate policy action.
“The first step: the chancellor convenes a summit on climate disasters,” König said. Here the federal government, together with the state governors, should “herald a turning point in Austrian climate policy.”
Extreme weather causes billions of dollars in damage
Karl Steininger, climate economist and head of the Wegener Center at the University of Graz, particularly emphasized the dramatic economic consequences of global warming. In Austria, damage caused mainly by extreme weather currently averages at least two billion euros per year.
“Every euro invested reduces the damage by ten to twenty euros”
According to the forecast models, this will amount to at least three to seven billion euros in 2030 and further increase to seven to fourteen billion euros in 2050. With the right investments, these amounts could be significantly reduced. “Every euro invested reduces the damage by ten to twenty euros,” says the economist.
Climate summit “far too late”
“We have companies that can build heat pumps and lay rails, and we have ready-made laws in the drawers of the ministries. What fails is the will of politicians,” the economist criticizes. The requested climate summit is therefore “a step that should have taken place much earlier”.
“Over the past thirty years I have watched the climate crisis on farms and in nature continue to worsen. We used to have a dry year every ten years, but now heat and drought are normal in the Weinviertel, organic farmer Maria Vogt shows as an example.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
