Appeal from scientists: Where do we stand five years after the Paris Climate Agreement? 760 scientists have signed!

Here you'll find the appeal, the list of signatories, and the response letters from Minister Gewessler (BMK) and the BMF.

On 12 December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted by the 195 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Its central aim is to avert the catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis through drastic emissions reductions and adaptation. This should keep the global temperature rise this century well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. How should we assess global climate developments today? What is the situation in Austria?

Scientists from the Climate Change Centre Austria, Scientists for Future Austria, the Alliance of Sustainable Universities and the UniNEtZ project are addressing the public in an appeal to mark the 5th anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement. They are calling for a national united front, similar to that in nuclear policy, which places climate protection at the top of Austria's political priorities and establishes and implements a roadmap to climate neutrality that endures beyond changes of government. Across 17 separate points, the appeal highlights that it is no longer possible to stabilise the global climate at 1.5°C of warming unless effective measures are taken without delay.

The changed societal and economic framework conditions for doing so look better than ever: global discourse has shifted strongly in recent years towards social-ecological sustainability and transformation, and despite — or possibly even because of — the Covid-19 crisis, this narrative has become even more firmly established. Political statements of intent are also moving closer to the general objectives of the Paris Agreement. However, Austria still lacks concrete roadmaps that would ensure the implementation of declared goals and announcements. Austria is far from being a pioneer in climate protection. There appears to be a lack of understanding, in key quarters, of both the urgency of the problem and the economic potential of the solutions. This fills the scientists who have signed this appeal with deep concern.

It is no longer possible to stabilise the global climate at 1.5°C of warming unless effective measures are taken without delay. Austria is far from being a pioneer in climate protection. There appears to be a lack of understanding, in key quarters, of both the urgency of the problem and the economic potential of the solutions. This fills the signing scientists with deep concern. They are calling for a national united front, similar to that in nuclear policy, which places climate protection at the top of Austria's political priorities and establishes and implements a roadmap to climate neutrality that endures beyond changes of government. 

At the  press conference on 09.12.2020, the key messages were reiterated.
You can listen back to the inputs here (and via the audio above the photo).

Speakers included:

• em. univ. Prof. Helga Kromp-Kolb, meteorologist and climate researcher. Since April 2020, she has served as chair of the Austrian climate research network CCCA, and is also active in the Alliance of Sustainable Universities, the UniNEtZ project, and Scientists for Future Austria.
• em. univ. Prof. Nebojša Nakićenović, systems scientist and energy economist. Former Deputy Director General of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). Board member of CCCA since April 2020. Member of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission since September 2020.
• Dr. Thomas Schinko, climate economist and systems scientist at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and coordinator of the CCCA working group on early-career researchers.

You can find the press review here.

Here you'll find the response letter to the appeal from the Federal Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Leonore Gewessler.

Here you'll find the response letter to the appeal from the Federal Ministry of Finance.