Church aid organisations and NGO umbrella associations are warning of an Austrian withdrawal from international climate finance and are urging the federal government to release already budgeted funds promptly.

Withheld funds were putting food security, climate protection projects, and human lives at risk, Caritas Austria, the AG Globale Verantwortung, the Coordination Office of the Austrian Bishops' Conference (KOO) and the aid organisation Jugend Eine Welt said on Tuesday. "We can't afford inaction," said Caritas Vice-President Alexander Bodman, criticising the "lack of political will". The organisations are particularly calling on Climate Protection and Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) to take responsibility.

Caritas Austria criticised the fact that, for 2025, no new calls for tender for international climate projects from the responsible ministry have been published so far, even though corresponding funds have been earmarked. In addition, the continuation of the long-standing partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), worth around 20 million euros annually, is also in question, as is the mandatory contribution of 1.5 million euros.

Read everything about it at: religion.orf.at and the article NGOs kritisieren Stopp internationaler Klimamittel

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