Austria has become the latest country in Europe to adopt a climate law.
Friends of the Earth Austria/Global 2000 has been campaigning for a climate law through its SOS Klima campaign (the name of the Big Ask in Austria). Global 2000 says that the bill passed by the Austrian parliament today, although step in the right direction, is disappointingly weak. Big questions remain over how the law will be implemented and these could either weaken or strengthen the legislation.
The law established two new bodies: a National Climate Change Committee and a Climate Change Advisory Board. The committee is the decision-making body, and the Advisory Board gives recommendations to the Committee. Friends of the Earth Austria has been appointed a member of the Advisory Board on behalf of Austrian environmental groups.
Friends of the Earth Austria opposes the use of offsetting to fulfil Austria’s emission reduction obligations and will be working to ensure the government adopts a strategy to meet its targets through domestic action only.
