Climate protection: Why nothing is happening in Austria

In any case, this will not advance climate protection any faster. A current study that will soon be published shows that little is actually happening in Austria Jesus Crespo Lentuniversity professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Climate policy hardly has any effect

On Thursday he was part of the expert panel at the Hotel Intercontinental in Vienna. The “Club 20” event “A Climate Plan for Austria” (in cooperation with “eXplore!”; moderated by deputy KURIER editor-in-chief Christoph Schwarz) took place there.

“On paper, climate policy in Austria is very ambitious. But in fact it is unsuccessful,” is Jesús Crespo Cuaresma’s harsh criticism. “We looked at how greenhouse gas emissions have developed in Austria – how much of the reduction over the past decades can actually be attributed to climate policy and how much would have happened anyway.”

The result is sobering: only a quarter of the decline can be linked to active political measures. Cuaresma speaks of a glaring implementation and ambition gap (see graphic). A trend that will continue in the future if we continue with “business as usual,” according to Cuaresma.

What is it failing?

“Climate protection is popular,” says Hermione MitterProfessor at the Institute for Environmental Systems Science at the University of Graz. According to surveys, support for the climate neutrality goal at Austrian, European and international levels is very high at 80 percent. And yet: Why is nothing improving? So-called social-psychological barriers are to blame, she says. Simply put, several mechanisms discourage action. She names three.

“There is a gap between what you set out to do and what you actually do,” says Mitter. This is called the intention-behavior gap. How to overcome it? If you want to use less gasoline, you need concrete goals, says Mitter. Cycle to work about three times a week instead of driving. The second mechanism is psychological distance: climate impacts appear far away. “People talk about the year 2100 or rising sea levels, but they see little of it in their own environment.” This is complemented by the third mechanism, pluralistic ignorance. “We often hide behind the fact that others aren’t doing anything either – and then we certainly don’t do anything.”

There are objections here from the director of the Context Institute for Climate Issues, Tina Deutsch – and the audience also gets involved: The issue is being shifted too much onto individuals – the responsibility goes far beyond that.

The wrong language

“The question is how we create a system and framework that makes it easier for each individual to do the right thing,” says Tina Deutsch. Jesús Crespo Cuaresma has an answer: clarity, planning and coherence are needed. But also a “reframing”, a change of perspective.

Deutsch sees a fundamental problem in the term “climate protection” and in the way it is talked about: “We don’t protect the climate, we protect ourselves. It’s about protecting people and not something abstract.” In her opinion, the negative tone that accompanies the topic is also counterproductive. In order to mobilize, you need urgency, but also a positive vision. “If I only come with the club of the end of the world, many people react with fight, flight or freeze – and don’t move at all because they see it as pointless.”

Another problem: the narrative that climate protection and prosperity are opposites. “Climate protection is viewed as a cost factor rather than an investment,” she says. And that is exactly a disadvantage, especially now. “At a time when there is a lot of focus on budget constraints and austerity measures, everything that costs something is being cut.” Investments would create jobs and, as Deutsch says, in many cases lead to GDP growth, at least in the medium and long term.

Money before climate protection

That has Michael Kowatschew recognized long ago and co-founded it a good two years ago Alexander Valtingojer and Valentin Perkonigg the start-up “Heating machineSince the age of 18, Kowachev has been a “whole-hearted entrepreneur and founder.” With Heizma, he wants to enable a change from gas heating to a “self-sufficient, electric, climate-friendly house” – and is installing heat pumps, photovoltaic systems, electricity storage and his own intelligent energy management system, among other things.

Kowachew recognizes a clear behavioral pattern among his customers: “Most of them don’t just do it because they want to do something good for the climate.” Accordingly, it positions itself not as a pure air conditioning company – but as a company that helps save money. “I want to ensure that the most climate-friendly solution is also the most financially sensible.”