Climate protection in danger? Experts warn of government reshuffle!

Climate protection in danger? Experts warn of government reshuffle!

Conventional biodiversity protection policies are under pressure, in the midst of a global crisis. Last fall, COP16 in Colombia ended chaotically and without tangible results. Four months later, representatives from around 200 countries gather in Rome to make a new attempt. In Austria, the political discussion about the EU's essential “renaturation law” has become more heated. The yes from Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) was crucial for the approval of the protection of biodiversity, which at the same time caused the turquoise-green federal government to falter Small newspaper reported.

There are concerns about the future responsibilities of the next Austrian government, which is to be formed from the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS. Many experts question whether the Ministry of Agriculture, which is expected to take responsibility for environmental and conservation agendas, can effectively address critical issues such as the ongoing biodiversity crisis. There is a lack of consensus between nature conservation and agriculture, which makes cooperation difficult. According to Yvona Asbäck, coordinator of the Biodiversity Council, it is crucial that measures initiated are continued under new political responsibilities in order to establish a functioning network of nature conservation areas.

National Biodiversity Strategy

The need for an effective National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS 2030) is clear. In 2023, the public consultation process started to develop a new draft NBS, giving all citizens and relevant stakeholders the opportunity to submit their opinions and suggestions. What was particularly remarkable was the great interest: over 2,000 people took part in the survey and almost 1,000 comments were submitted. The area of ​​action that received the most attention was agricultural landscapes, followed by protected areas and urban landscapes. This feedback was incorporated into the first draft of the catalog of measures, which focuses on the implementation of goals by 2030, according to the report Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN).

In order to adequately overcome the challenges of the biodiversity crisis, a strong social awareness is required. Only through collective efforts and the active support of all stakeholders can a turnaround in the protection of biological diversity be achieved. The pressure on decision-makers is growing.