How important is climate protection to the people of Styria? How much are they already affected by climate change and its consequences today? Has climate protection lost significance alongside the coronavirus pandemic, or has it actually become more important? These and many other questions were posed for the second time on behalf of climate protection regional councillor Ursula Lackner as part of a representative survey of Styrians, and were presented this morning (16 July) by Regional Councillor Lackner and Styria's climate protection coordinator Andrea Gössinger-Wieser.

"Climate change has arrived. Many Styrians are already feeling its effects today," climate protection regional councillor Ursula Lackner began, adding: "That's why we need to keep working to reduce harmful greenhouse gases. This requires broad solidarity and the involvement of everyone!" In order to achieve this and ensure that all Styrians — from businesses to private households — are pulling in the same direction, climate protection measures need to be widely accepted. The Climate Barometer she initiated gauges public sentiment and thus creates the data basis for the steps ahead. The representative study covered a broad range of topics, from personal impact through to willingness to take action oneself. "That's exactly what we need! Because climate protection can't be done against each other — only together," Lackner is convinced.

A summary of key results

• 80 per cent of Styria's population currently describe the topic of "climate change & climate protection" as (very) important. (2020: 77 per cent).
• Eight out of ten Styrians believe that climate change exists, with seven out of ten also identifying an urgent need for action in this regard.
• The priority list of topics that the state of Styria should focus on particularly, according to the current study, also identifies climate protection as a key core issue. This is followed by education, "stimulating the economy" and "science/research/innovation".
• The overwhelming majority (68 per cent) of Styrians still see climate protection as an opportunity to revitalise the economy (2020: 72 per cent).
• An overwhelming majority of 84 per cent are aware of the State of Styria's environmental subsidies (e.g. for heating system conversions or solar thermal energy) (2020: 76 per cent).
• For nine out of ten Styrians, protecting the climate is (very) important. The proportion of "engaged" individuals who are very actively committed (including financially) has tended to increase (from 17 per cent to 21 per cent).

All results in detail at: kommunikation.steiermark.at