Climate Summit: »Where there is a will, there is a way«

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

We are all seeing the writing on the wall.
The temperature increase that is being recorded:
1,6 degree celsius globally. 3,1 degree celsius in Austria.
The wildfires, for instance in Spain and Portugal.
The floods, among others in Austria exactly one year ago.
The rising sea levels, threatening small island States in the Pacific.

Isn't there a positive message?
Well, not the quick fix. Not the one and only
all-encompassing solution for the entire climate crisis. No.

Where there is a will, there is a way.
And there is a will in Austria.

But there are many small positive messages:
One is: For the third consecutive year,
the greenhouse gas emissions of Austria
have decreased, summing up to a reduction of 14,3%.

Where there is a will, there is a way.
And there is a will in Austria.
We do take measures, bigger and smaller ones.

For one, we support
the presentation of the EU member states' joint NDC
at the COP30 in Belem.

Secondly, we are currently finalizing a new Climate Law
laying the groundwork for our ambition
to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 -
ten years ahead of the EU's 2050 target.

Thirdly, we will install a new governance structure,
including a mechanism to involve state and non-state actors
and an advisory board of climate scientists

Bundespräsident Alexander Van der Bellen bei seiner Rede in New York.

And we have introduced the so-called Climate Check,
ensuring that climate policies
are mainstreamed across all sectors of policymaking.

The energy transition is in full speed in Austria.
On top of our already existing hydropower capacity
there is a rapidly growing wind and solar energy sector,
taking us a step further towards our goal
of 100% green power generation by 2030.

And yes, like so many others,
we also face budgetary constraints.
But inaction would end up being far more expensive
than investing now in a climate-neutral economy.

Which is why Austria will continue
to contribute appropriately
to international climate finance,
and is actively engaged in the UN Climate and Security Mechanism,
standing in solidarity with the countries
most affected by climate change.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Many other bigger and smaller positive messages
are around the corner.
I hope that next year, I can report
on a fourth year of decrease of Austria's greenhouse gas emissions.

And I hope that,
COP30 in Belem will witness
an ambitious coalition of member states
willing and ready to change course.
Austria will be there standing with you.

Thank you.

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