Heidemarie Sequence warns: Lobau car, endangers our environment!

Heidemarie Sequence warns: Lobau car, endangers our environment!

Wien, Österreich - On April 11, 2025, the 67th meeting of the Vienna municipal council took place, in which Heidemarie Sequence was critically commented by the Greens about the planned lobau highway. She emphasized that many of the issues discussed contradict the Vienna Climate Marriage. In her appeal, she asked to protect the ecosystems, as a third of the water surface in the lower Lobau has already disappeared, which has serious effects on the flora and fauna. wien.gv.at reports that sequence denounced the difference between the formulated goals in the climate ticket and the current reality.

sequence criticized the inactivity of the authorities, which despite existing studies and concepts did not take any concrete measures to improve the situation in the lower Lobau. A planned preparation system was not realized, which exacerbates the concerns about impending contamination of the drinking water fountain. Here she emphasized that both the protection of the national park and the drinking water supply can be taken into account - a doping could help secure the groundwater. She also mentioned an open letter from the nature conservation association, which was aimed at the mayor and demanded measures.

environmental exams and recommendations

In the context of the controversy around the Lobau car, the final report of the strategic environmental examination (SUP), which was presented on February 5, 2025. The investigation, which was carried out by the Federal Environment Agency in cooperation with the Vienna University of Vienna and the TU Graz, recommends a clear no to the construction of the highway. This makes it clear that the environmental impact, the high costs of 2.4 billion euros and the increase in traffic loads in Vienna are not portable. Lobau.org also explains that the Lobau-Autobahn was identified as the most environmentally harmful and expensive option.

The critics, including Greenpeace and the WWF, demand an alternative to motorway construction and warn of the ecological risks associated with the project. Greenpeace urges to delete the Lobau motorway from the Federal Reasons Act and to develop alternative traffic solutions. According to the sequence, the Lobau motorway is in direct conflict to the city's climate and traffic strategies and could negatively influence the relationship between private transport and CO2 emissions.

climate goals in danger

Heidemarie sequence confirmed the need to invest in environmentally friendly traffic solutions. It recommended alternatives such as the S80, which is more efficient and is able to transport more people than a highway. Her criticism was also directed against the city government, since many of their investments do not meet the climate goals, while applications from the opposition in the municipal council did not find a majority. This underpinning of the discussion is the current challenges with which the city is confronted: the balancing act between fulfilling infrastructure needs and climate protection.

summarized it is shown that the plans around the Lobau Autobahn are repeatedly under fire from both environmentally political and financial perspective. The results of the strategic environmental exam should serve as a wake -up call to consider alternative, sustainable mobility concepts. bm.gv.at emphasizes that the SUP is an instrument to take into account environmental aspects compared to economic concerns. This objective is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of a social rethink about our traffic and environmental management.