New government trouble
Soil protection: new trouble in the government
The closer the election date approaches, the more often the ÖVP and the Greens clash. The arguments alternate between climate protection and justice issues. Currently, it is once again the turn of environmental protection: Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) triggers a wave of indignation by distancing himself from the soil protection target.
The government program of the ÖVP and the Greens envisages limiting land consumption in Austria to 2.5 hectares per day. Brunner is now quoted in the Vorarlberger Nachrichten newspaper as saying that a concrete figure is too short-sighted. "You have to think it through to the end. I am cautious when it comes to these clear guidelines. Not every federal state has the same requirements." He continued: "It would be important to pay attention to this on an individual basis. As well as thinking things through to the end and not from one day to the next."
Brunner supports the federal states and municipalities
The Greens are more than annoyed by Brunner's initiative, which puts him on the side of the federal states and municipalities. They reject a binding target for land consumption. Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) describes the situation regarding land consumption in Austria as precarious.
"If we carry on as we are now, then in 200 years we won't have a single fertile field left in Austria, then we will have concreted over this land and then we won't know how to grow a potato in a parking lot or take a bite out of the ground. I am firmly convinced that this problem cannot be ignored. We're not burying our heads in the concrete, we're working on solutions," Gewessler said on Ö1.
We are not burying our heads in the concrete, we are working on solutions.
Umweltministerin Leonore Gewessler
Bild: SEPA.Media/Michael Indra
Environmental protection organizations react in horror
Environmental protection organizations are stunned. Brunner is stabbing local farmers and nature in the back. "Almost all of the soil used in Austria is fertile agricultural land," says Greenpeace Europe head Alexander Egit to "Krone".
WWF program manager Hanna Simons describes Brunner's statements as "negligent and irresponsible". "Austria is extremely wasteful with valuable land. We are losing fertile fields and valuable habitats for animals and plants every day due to land consumption."
A little less alcohol instead of a drink-drive limit
Kurt Weinberger, head of Hagelversicherung, also disagrees with the Minister of Finance: "Soil is a limited resource, which is why we need binding targets for land use. Binding limits are necessary, just think of road traffic. To say, a little less alcohol at the wheel instead of the 0.5 per mille limit, what would that achieve? This example shows that limits are essential in many cases."
Finance Minister Brunner has since rowed back somewhat after the fierce criticism. "Climate protection is the greatest challenge of our generation, and we in the Ministry of Finance take this very seriously," says the ministry. They stand by the agreed target, and the question being discussed between municipalities, federal states, the federal government and various organizations is: How do we get there in the medium to long term, and how can we take into account the different requirements of the federal states and municipalities?
"Ultimately, as with any measure, social, distribution and location policy considerations must always be taken into account in addition to climate policy considerations. This also applies to this area." Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) also had his say. He made it clear that "land consumption in Austria is too high and we must not waste any more time. As agreed in the government program, we are aiming to reduce land consumption to 2.5 hectares per day."
EU renaturation law facing the end
Bad news for the Greens also comes from Brussels. The EU renaturation law is in danger of failing. Several countries have opposed it, first and foremost Belgium. It is uncertain whether it will find the necessary qualified majority (at least 15 out of 27 member states, representing at least 65 percent of the population) in the Council. Austria must abstain due to a decision by the federal states. Germany's position is also unclear due to differences of opinion within the government.
The planned EU law provides for more forests to be reforested, moors to be rewetted and rivers to be restored to their natural state. Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU member states agreed on corresponding requirements in November, according to which the EU member states must take measures to protect natural areas. At the end of February, the European Parliament approved the compromise, which means that only the formal approval of the EU states is still required for the regulation to enter into force.
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