Yesterday, the CCCA published the following statement on the planned amendment to the Federal Constitutional Act:

Statement by the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) on the proposed state objective "competitive business location"

 49 scientists call for Austria's competitive business location to be aligned with the goals of sustainable development.

Our future depends to a significant extent on whether we manage, in the medium term, to bring economy, society, and environment into balance in the spirit of sustainable development. Given the existing challenges of the 21st century, the economy can only contribute to the overarching goal of the sustainable well-being of the Austrian population by taking into account the limits of available natural resources.

By signing the Agenda 2030 "Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", Austria has committed to pursuing the two overarching goals of human well-being and respecting ecological boundaries in a synergistic manner. In keeping with the holistic nature of sustainability, there is no question that a competitive business location makes an essential contribution to this.

 Accordingly, the undersigning experts of the CCCA propose that this fact be reflected in the new wording, and that it be changed from…

"The Republic of Austria (federal, state and local governments) commits to a competitive business location as a prerequisite for growth and employment."

…to:

"The Republic of Austria (federal, state and local governments) commits to a competitive business location as one prerequisite for sustainable development."

"The integration of a new state objective of economic growth in the form we have become aware of carries the risk of enshrining in the constitution the currently still existing contradictions between economic development and environmental and climate protection," says CCCA Chair Dr Gerhard Wotawa. "Our shared goal, however, should be to work towards compatibility between the economy, the environment, and social development. This not only secures the jobs of tomorrow, but also our future quality of life."

 The statement was adopted by the CCCA Board and personally signed by the following scientists:
Dr Gilbert Ahamer (University of Graz), Prof. Rupert Baumgartner (University of Graz), Prof. Anke Bockreis (University of Innsbruck), Mag. Lisa Bohunovsky, MSc, (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), Dr Stefan Borsky (University of Graz), Dr Thomas Brudermann (University of Graz), Ass.-Prof. Rudolf Dujmovits (University of Graz), Dr Michael Englisch (Vienna), Susanne Feiel, BA MA (Montanuniversität Leoben), Assoz. Prof. Herbert Formayer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), Mag. Karl Gartner (Kottingbrunn), Prof. Hinrich Grothe (Vienna University of Technology), Prof. Martin Grube (University of Graz), Ass.Prof. Günter Gruber (Graz University of Technology), Prof. Leopold Haimberger (University of Vienna), Dr Friedrich Hinterberger (SERI), Dr Daniela Hohenwallner (alpS), Dr Robert Jandl (Perchtoldsdorf), Dr Stefan Kienberger (University of Salzburg), Prof. Gottfried Kirchengast (University of Graz and ÖAW), Dr Helmut Kovac (University of Graz), Prof. Helga Kromp-Kolb (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), Prof. Wolfgang Kromp (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), Assoc.-Prof. Stefan Lang (University of Salzburg), Assoz. Prof. Douglas Maraun (University of Graz), Prof. Heinz Karl Prammer (JKUsustain - Johannes Kepler University Linz), Prof. Franz Rauch (Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt), Prof. Günther Schauberger (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna), Prof. Eva Schulev-Steindl (University of Graz), Dr Marc Schwärz (University of Graz), Prof. Anton Stabentheiner (University of Graz), Prof. Sigrid Stagl (Vienna University of Economics and Business), Dir. Michael Staudinger (Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics), Prof. Karl Steininger (University of Graz), Assoc. Prof. Reinhard Steurer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), Prof. Hans Stötter (University of Innsbruck), Prof. Eike Straub (Alliance of Sustainable Universities - University of the Arts Graz), Prof. Christian Sturmbauer (University of Graz), Mag. Jürgen Suschek-Berger (Interdisciplinary Research Centre), Mag. Kasimir Szarawara (University of Graz), Mag. Simon Tschannett (Weatherpark), Dr Isabella Uhl (University of Salzburg), Prof. Thomas M. Weiger (University of Salzburg), Dr Andreas Windsperger (Institute for Industrial Ecology), Prof. Verena Winiwarter (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), Ass.-Prof. Gerfried Winkler (University of Graz), Dr Elisabeth Worliczek (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), Dr Bernhard Zagel (University of Salzburg).