Austria and the Alps are disproportionately affected by the consequences of climate change. Why that's the case, and why without action there could be more hot days in Innsbruck in the future than in Vienna, was the focus of both up-and-coming and established researchers at this year's Klimatag in Innsbruck. A behind-the-scenes look at the latest research revealed one thing above all: investing too little in climate protection comes at a high price – especially for those who are already financially worse off.

"Nature doesn't know catastrophes – only we humans do," said natural hazards researcher Margreth Keiler, speaking to ORF Topos on the sidelines of the 25th Klimatag of the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA), loosely quoting Max Frisch. "But the catastrophe only comes if we don't act – and we do have the option to act."

That action, however, needs to happen as soon as possible. The EU weather service Copernicus recently published a report showing that global climate warming exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark for the first time last year. Europe is also the fastest-warming continent. "In Austria, the increases in temperature and their impacts will be even greater," said Keiler… read more at topos.orf.at