660 leading scientists in Austria are sounding the alarm: the board of the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) has, with the support of the board of Scientists for Future Austria (S4F), published an open appeal. The appeal is directed at the Federal President, the Federal Government, ministers, state governors, and decision-makers in business and public administration.

The signatories issue an urgent warning that climate and climate impact research, as well as key structures for climate protection and climate change adaptation, are being increasingly weakened. At the international level, the approach taken by the USA is being criticised for systematically undermining structures for climate protection, climate change adaptation, and research. In Austria, too, a gradual erosion of climate policy and climate research is looming — through delays, budget cuts, and political indifference. This approach endangers security, prosperity, and social cohesion.

The appeal calls for:

• an open, honest engagement with the challenges and risks that lie ahead, and clear political commitments to science, evidence, and precaution;
• a long-term, reliable, and needs-based funding of climate and climate impact research as well as research into socio-ecological transformation, through instruments such as research programmes of the Climate and Energy Fund, StartClim, the RTI Strategy, or the RTI Pact;
• adequate funding for structural measures on climate change adaptation and consistent action towards climate neutrality;
• the systematic embedding of science-based climate targets as a central component of political strategies, e.g. the industrial strategy

You can find the full appeal & the list of signatories here.

The appeal can still be signed until Tuesday, 17.02. here!

Many thanks for your support and engagement!