The green reds

Babler: Stop the “renaturation show”!

The zoologist Häupl (specializing in amphibian protection) advises Babler

(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

"Renaturation show" instead of serious politics. With these words, SPÖ leader Andreas Babler sums up the weeks of bickering within the turquoise-green government and between the federal and provincial governments. The SPÖ is proposing a national renaturation plan with an investment volume of one billion euros over the next five years.

In a double interview with the former Mayor of Vienna and current member of the SPÖ Expert Council Michael Häupl, Babler explains the red turn on this issue to the "Krone" and positions himself as a green red. According to Babler, the restoration of forests, rivers and moors is one of the most important political issues today. The only thing the government has to offer is a "renaturation show in which the minister is interested in passing the buck back and forth". In truth, there are important issues at stake. "We need a strategy. We haven't had a climate protection law in Austria for 1200 days, we don't have any binding climate targets."

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Babler wants a biodiversity billion 
The SPÖ is calling for an increase in funding for biodiversity to at least one billion euros for biodiversity for the next legislative period and refers to calculations by the EU Commission, according to which every euro invested would lead to a benefit of at least eight euros. According to Babler, the current allocation of 80 million euros for a five-year period until 2026 is far too little. Isolated protected areas alone are not enough to bring about the necessary improvement in species conservation; what is needed is a network of protected areas, i.e. a "Green Network for Austria", to which the Federal Forests, as a major forest owner, and private individuals contribute through contractual arrangements.

"Would like to greet every kingfisher personally"
In order to identify potential negative effects on nature and biodiversity in advance, a mandatory biodiversity check (similar to the climate check announced by the federal government but not yet implemented) should be introduced. Babler refers to his flagship project, which he implemented as mayor of Traiskirchen in 2020 and is currently expanding. "Back then, we started to free up the course of the Schwechat Au river, which was once squeezed by human hands many decades ago. The area has come back to life and even the kingfisher has returned. I would love to greet every single one of them personally," says Babler.

Until recently, the EU restoration regulation was blocked by a unanimous decision of the federal states. However, Red Vienna and Carinthia have changed course and are now calling on Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler to approve the law at the EU Council of Environment Ministers on June 17. In the view of the Reds, the blockade of the federal states has been lifted. Michael Häupl, the long-serving mayor of Vienna, who advises Babler on environmental issues, commented: "If there is no unanimity between the federal states, the decision is no longer valid. The uniformity is gone."

Legal dispute over jurisdiction
Gewessler himself recently called for a clear statement from the federal states. In the opinion of the SPÖ, it can agree in Brussels on its own and should not hide behind the federal states, according to Häupl and Babler. The issue is complex. Legal experts are not only arguing about whether the blockade of the federal states has ended with the red shift, but also whether Gewessler needs the approval of other ministers, such as Norbert Totschnig (Agriculture). The ÖVP says yes and relies on an expert opinion from the Constitutional Service.

"The Greens can't get their way, they are playing tactical games"

SPÖ-Chef Andreas Babler

Babler criticizes this hiccup. "The Greens can't get their way, they are playing tactical games, but actually there must be a common interest in Austria to guarantee intact natural landscapes." And the ÖVP "mainly makes policy for the big agricultural companies and doesn't give a damn about the small farmers".