The Green Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler does not consider adhesive campaigns to be a suitable means of promoting climate protection. “You really have to ask yourself whether this is effective, and I would doubt that in the current discussion,” she said in an interview with the APA. The minister described the recent excitement surrounding the impending abolition of the commuter allowance as “strange,” following all, there was never any talk of it.
“Fridays For Future” has significantly advanced climate policy in Europe. “I believe that in many respects we would not be as far along in the Green Deal without ‘Fridays For Future’,” said the minister. The current discussion and the activities of the “Last Generation” now show that “on all sides the eye for measure and goal has been lost”. The minister can understand the displeasure of many people when roads are blocked on the way to work or school.
“You also have to ask yourself whether this still benefits the common cause of climate protection or does more damage,” said Gewessler. Ultimately, the goal of climate protection in a parliamentary democracy is to find majorities. Angering more and more people is not conducive to this. During her time as an activist, she herself resorted to other forms of action: “I went where the decisions were made and protested.”
At the same time, given the Middle East conflict, it is “completely inappropriate to make outrageous terrorism comparisons,” said the minister. The sticking actions are civil disobedience and this form of protest also has a place in a strong democracy.
Harsher penalties not necessary
If protests go beyond the goal and damage property or endanger people, there are laws and rules that must be applied. In the minister’s view, legal tightening, as is often called for by the coalition partner ÖVP, is not necessary.
The Vienna public prosecutor’s office is currently investigating 29 activists of the “Last Generation” on suspicion of forming a criminal organization. Such investigations are a decision of the judiciary, “and I have full confidence in the independent judiciary; it does not need any political calls,” explained Gewessler.
The environmental protection organization Global 2000, whose managing director Gewessler was until 2019, sharply criticized the “criminalization of peaceful protest” at the beginning of December and described the prosecutor’s actions as “excessive and disproportionate”.
There was never any talk of abolishing the commuter allowance
The minister cannot understand the recent excitement surrounding the supposedly impending abolition of the commuter allowance. “I found this discussion strange,” said Gewessler. The coalition partners ÖVP and the Greens as well as experts agree that a reform of the flat rate makes sense. The aim is “more climate protection, more social justice”. There was never any talk of abolition. “I think it is dishonest and also dubious to assume that,” said the minister. The ÖVP-led Ministry of Finance is responsible for the reform.
The debate was triggered indirectly by Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP), who joined an initiative from the Netherlands at the World Climate Conference in Dubai to reduce fossil subsidies. In Austria, in addition to the commuter allowance, this also includes the tax bonus for diesel, both of which promote behavior that is harmful to the climate. Experts have been criticizing the current design of the commuter allowance for a long time. Because the amount depends on income, higher earners get more money than lower earners. It also contributes to urban sprawl and promotes soil sealing.
Aviation also enjoys tax privileges; the aviation fuel kerosene is exempt from mineral oil tax despite the climate-damaging emissions caused by its combustion. “I am very happy that this is being tackled, namely at the European level, where it makes sense,” said Gewessler. A corresponding proposal is part of the EU climate package “Fit For 55”, which is now before the Council of EU Finance Ministers.
The energy cost subsidy for companies is also criticized as being harmful to the climate because it primarily promotes the consumption of fossil fuels without providing incentives to save energy. “We are in a time of massive challenges,” said Gewessler, referring to the upheavals in the energy markets triggered by Russia’s attack on Ukraine. “We clearly felt in Austria what dependence on Russian gas means.” In such a situation, it is important to support companies and private individuals. In the longer term, however, it is necessary to become independent of fossil fuels; this is the only way Austria can escape from being subject to blackmail, the minister emphasized.
