However, the pandemic did nothing to dampen awareness of the issue here in Austria — at least, that's what a recent survey suggests.
What is people's relationship with renewable energy in Austria? What are their views on climate change? How much responsibility do they place on politicians? Once a year, a study by the University of Klagenfurt, the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Deloitte Austria, and Wien Energie looks into these questions. For five years, around 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 70 have been surveyed for this purpose — always in autumn up to now.
But then spring 2020 brought a pandemic, and with it a full-blown economic crisis. As a result, the study's authors added an additional survey in June of this year. The results of the — again representative — survey turned out to be quite remarkable. The level of importance attributed to the climate crisis increased noticeably once more compared to autumn 2019.
Almost 60 per cent want climate protection in the constitution
Whereas around 53 per cent of respondents a year ago were of the opinion that the effects of global warming are noticeable in Austria, by June that view was shared by 57 per cent. Support for climate and energy policy measures also grew in recent months. The demand to enshrine climate protection as a national objective in the constitution was already backed — either somewhat or fully — by more than half of respondents in March, specifically 53 per cent. Since then, this figure has risen by a further six percentage points to 59 per cent. The picture is similar when it comes to questions about a kerosene tax or the introduction of CO2 tariffs.
Read the full article at: orf.at
More detailed information can be found in the study by the University of Klagenfurt (AAU)
