CHRONIC
Climate activists apparently wanted to draw attention to climate change with a disruptive action at the Vienna New Year’s Concert on Sunday. The six people were recognized by officials and stopped before any action might be taken.
A police spokeswoman confirmed a report by the “Kurier”. The activists had stickers and banners with them, the action was probably planned during the break. According to the spokeswoman, the demonstrators were initially in the building and even on seats.
According to the police, the six activists are two men and four women, the Austrian and German citizens are between 26 and 67 years old. The police had already feared disruptive actions in the run-up to the New Year’s concert and therefore increased the protective measures.
“Last Generation” as author
The organization “Last Generation” claimed responsibility in a broadcast. It was planned to sound the alarm in the Golden Hall and to hold up a banner with the inscription “Two more years” to the assembled politicians as an appeal for immediate action, it said.
The “Last Generation” demands in the broadcast that “in two years at the latest the emission of greenhouse gases must fall quickly and drastically”. Reference is made to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, according to which “a global catastrophe of unimaginable proportions” is imminent by 2025 if emissions are not reduced. In 2022, “all emissions records were broken,” it said.
In a statement, the Vienna Philharmonic thanked the security authorities “for their great commitment”: “Through their intervention, 6 activists were located and the concert, which stands for solidarity, hope and peace, was prevented from being disturbed.”
