Environmental protection organization calls on Federation of Austrian Industries to stop blocking climate legislation
Vienna (OTS) – Only recently, an internal paper of the Federation of Austrian Industries, the so-called “IV cheat sheet”, became known, which was sent to some member companies. In it, the IV wants to see a softening of numerous climate resolutions, such as from the European Green Deal or the planned climate protection law in Austria. Greenpeace sees this as an attack on the most important climate policy measures. Therefore, the environmental protection organization has asked 20 leading Austrian companies and members of the IV whether they support the IV’s position. 13 of the companies asked, including OMV, Voestalpine and Verbund, have taken a stand. The companies Mondi and Ochsner have announced a statement. It emerged that ten of the companies – in contrast to IV – adhere to EU climate protection targets without any ifs and buts or would like to see clear legal framework conditions in Austria. Greenpeace calls on IV not to play the climate and energy crises off against each other. What is needed now is a united approach by companies and their interest groups with politics and civil society to lead Austria safely and quickly out of the numerous crises.
“The IV is still trying to torpedo climate protection by all means. But many Austrian companies position themselves here completely differently than their representation. They adhere to the climate targets of the EU, want to pursue their own climate targets as planned and want clear legal framework conditions and support for this. However, the IV under President Georg Knill is undermining precisely these interests with its climate protection blockade and instead wants to hold on to war-driving fossil fuels in the long term,” says Lisa Panhuber, spokesperson at Greenpeace Austria. Seven of the 13 companies surveyed, such as Brauunion or Lenzing, have declared their support for the European Green Deal or the adopted EU climate targets, which IV wants to soften. Similarly, six groups, including Verbund and Voestalpine, spoke out in favor of the rapid implementation of climate legislation in Austria. Mention was made here, for example, of CO2 pricing. The companies Greiner and Saubermacher have indicated that they are in favor of “implementing, rather than suspending, urgently needed legal framework conditions” with the CEOs for Future initiative.
Greenpeace welcomes the fact that the majority of companies are in favor of climate protection legislation. “Businesses must now be a strong voice for climate protection within the IV. The climate crisis is not negotiating with us. We cannot afford to put climate protection off any longer. This is shown by the enormous damage caused by extreme weather around the world in recent weeks and the fossil fuel dependence on Russia, which is to blame for the energy crisis and inflation. Everyone – politicians, companies, civil society – must now pull together so that Austria can be led safely through the current crises in a climate-friendly manner,” demands Panhuber. Greenpeace is also calling on the five companies Fronius, Infineon, Magna, Siemens and Swarovski, which have not yet responded to Greenpeace’s question on the IV cheat sheet, to speak out in favor of a clear legal framework for climate protection within the Federation of Austrian Industries.
You find the IV cheat sheet under: https://act.gp/3xKcraj
In a press release on 1 June (five days after bekanntwerden of the IV cheat sheet) demand the CEOs for Future: A convert instead of suspending climatic laws.
https://ceosforfuture.at/2022/06/01/umsetzen-statt-aussetzen-ceos-for-future-fordern-effiziente-und-effektive-gesetzliche-rahmenbedingunge n-fuer-energiewende/
Lisa Panhuber
Consumer expert
Greenpeace CEE in Austria
Tel.: +43 (0)664 61 26 712
E-Mail: [email protected]
Flora Eder
Press spokeswoman, Greenpeace CEE in Austria
Tel.: + 43 (0)664 81 69 716
E-Mail: [email protected]
OTS-ORIGINALTEXT PRESS RELEASE UNDER EXCLUSIVE CONTENT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SENDER. www.ots.at
© Copyright APA-OTS Originaltext-Service GmbH and the respective sender
The post Greenpeace poll on IV cheat sheet: Austria’s leading companies stick to climate targets and want clear laws appeared first on TOP News Austria – News from Austria and around the world.
