Dear Federal President Van der Bellen,
Dear Federal Chancellor Stocker,
Dear Vice Chancellor Babler,
Dear Ministers,
Dear State Governors,
Dear decision-makers in business and public administration,
We are watching with great concern as funding is increasingly being withdrawn from climate and climate impact research, as well as from the institutions and organisations that put climate protection and climate change adaptation into practice, and as the climate crisis is being pushed off the political agenda. As researchers working in this field, we feel it is our obligation to draw attention to this dangerous development and to take a public stance on the consequences that arise from it.
International criticism of the approach taken by the USA and its political direction is entirely justified, particularly regarding the systematic weakening of structures for climate protection, climate change adaptation, and climate research. But a creeping erosion of climate policy and climate research is also taking place in Austria through delays, budget cuts, shifts in priorities, and political wilful blindness.
What is currently being practised in Austria is not fiscal responsibility, but grossly negligent political action in the face of known risks, foreseeable damage, and demonstrable social and economic downstream costs. Climate (impact) research and research into socio-ecological transformation are not a luxury. They are central prerequisites for security, prosperity, and social cohesion.
We call for
- an open, honest engagement with the challenges and risks that lie ahead, and clear political commitments to science, evidence, and precaution;
- long-term, reliable, and needs-based funding for climate and climate impact research, as well as for research into socio-ecological transformation, through instruments such as research programmes of the Climate and Energy Fund, StartClim, the RTI Strategy, or the RTI Pact;
- adequate funding for structural measures on climate change adaptation and consistent action towards climate neutrality;
- the systematic embedding of science-based climate targets as a central component of political strategies, e.g. the industrial strategy
Full statement including list of signatories here
Final count: 1,225 signatories (predominantly from the scientific community)
At the public launch on Thursday, 12 February 2026 (07:00), the number of signatories stood at 660. By the close of the signing period on 17 February 2026, this had risen to 1,225. Thank you for your support!