Environmental and Youth Organizations Urged Again for Stricter Climate Protection Law

In addition to binding climate neutrality by 2040, the youth representatives demand "clear sector targets in all areas and consequences for failure," stated Lejla Visnjic from the Federal Youth Representation at a rally in front of the Ministry of the Environment.

Furthermore, they want a "publicly accessible climate roadmap," "regular monitoring by an independent body," as well as the "protection of legal rights" in case of failures. Climate neutrality by 2040 is the minimum requirement, according to Fridays-For-Future spokesperson Lea Moser. The appeal is also supported by the Austrian Scouts, the Alpine Club Youth, Nature Friends Youth, the Youth Biodiversity Network, as well as the Catholic Youth and Catholic Children's Group.

Appeal for More Child Protection

The Children's Group also sees a need for improvement in climate protection for children. According to Marla Mies, advisor for children's and human rights, 88 percent of climate-related health risks affect children under five years old. Therefore, the Federal Constitutional Law on the Rights of Children should "be explicitly mentioned in the climate protection law." Austria should also "finally ratify the third optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child." According to the spokesperson, more than one billion children live in countries that are particularly affected by climate change.

On Wednesday, the EU environment ministers in Brussels agreed on a new climate target after months of negotiations, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent compared to 1990 by the year 2040. The demands of the youth representatives came just a few days before the start of the World Climate Conference (COP30) in Brazil.

(APA/Red)

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