2024-08-23 07:54:25
Over the past few weeks I have been reading reports, emails and letters to the editor and the Court of Auditors report on the Antheringer Au acquisition and I am not surprised. Not surprising, as it represents a classic example of the political overtones and interpretations we have experienced over the years in our state, our country and especially our city of Salzburg. On the one hand there is the denigration of political opponents, coupled with the envy and rejection of ownership on the part of the left – and on the other hand the inability to really find decisive and compatible climate protection measures except on a small scale, or the outright denial of their necessity.
Factual discussion? Not any! However, in my humble opinion, they are like this: The state of Salzburg purchased 520 hectares of land for approximately €37 million. Compared with the price of grassland and non-construction land in our country, it is a great deal! With this purchase it has also secured funds to create, in addition to Weitwörther Au, a premier green lung in the area due north of the city of Salzburg. Through this acquisition of ownership – for those who don’t want to understand the terminology: buyers and sellers agree on a price before the property changes ownership and disposition – it ensures climate and flood protection for generations. Now, only the public sector, secured by ownership and contractual terms, can identify this unique area, its biodiversity and its capacity as a critical water and resource resource.
CO2 storage helps ensure a climate that works in all our interests – with no expiration date! If this were a bad deal, I would ask the Court of Auditors to calculate the cost of planting a tree in the city of Salzburg, which is of course a necessary but undeniably expensive measure. I would like to calculate how many square meters of floodplain landscaping can be purchased for this price (probably hundreds of square meters) and how many times the CO2 is stored year after year in this area with lots of vegetation, green space and living things. Yes, small steps can add up to a big contribution and they must be taken to make progress on climate protection. But big steps will be crucial. Wind power, avoidance of soil closure, etc. Within the size of our federal state, I would describe a natural area of eight square kilometers that has been preserved for centuries and includes extensive wetlands. Yes, 37 million euros is a lot of money, but I am sure that from the perspective of its cost-benefit efficiency in climate protection (i.e. the ratio of euros spent to the amount of CO2 continuously stored), this acquisition need not shy away from the Most measures of countries are compared. Even without considering its sustainability, flood control uses, and protection of single habitats for flora and fauna!
Carlo Vanzini, 5411 Obram
1724400010
#Waste #climate #protection
