Totschnig relies on thermal renovation for heat protection and warns against austerity measures

Austerity course during ongoing adaptation

The minister also emphasized that the coming years would be marked by budget consolidation. "Wir müssen und wir wollen den Staatshaushalt sanieren", said Totschnig. Despite these austerity requirements, investments in climate change adaptation would continue. "Klimawandelanpassung ist das Gebot der Stunde in der Landwirtschaft", he said.

Regarding the outstanding climate protection law, Totschnig announced that he wanted to bring positions together. "Beim ausständigen Klimagesetz will der Minister 'Positionen zusammenführen'." It is about combining "ambitioniertem Klimaschutz" with a strong business location. The government has created "ein gutes Budget" for the environment and agriculture, Totschnig said.

Mobility and water supply

In the area of mobility, the minister emphasized that electric cars are now selling well even without public subsidies. He also pointed to the importance of drinking water supply: Trinkwasserversorgung takes priority, and one must handle "sorgfältig mit der kostbaren Ressource Wasser."

Criticism from the Greens and WWF

The opposition Greens sharply criticized the minister's statements. "Was wir heute gesehen haben, ist die Selbstaufgabe eines Umweltministers", responded Lukas Hammer, the Greens' environment spokesperson. Hammer accused Totschnig of failing to name any short-term protective measures for the population: "Es ist erschreckend, dass der zuständige Minister keine einzige Idee hat, wie man die Menschen akut vor der nächsten Hitzewelle schützen kann", said Hammer.

The environmental organization WWF was also dissatisfied with the announcements. Die Umweltschutzorganisation WWF saw a "weiteren Beleg für die ambitionslose Klima- und Naturschutzpolitik der Bundesregierung". It called for "ein starkes Klimaschutzgesetz" as well as sufficient financing of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.

Minister rejects the accusations

Totschnig rejected the accusations and emphasized his personal connection to the portfolios. He stands "mit vollem Herzen" for these two issues, and combining them under his responsibility makes sense. Basically, austerity is the order of the day in the coming years, he stressed. Jede*r must contribute, yet the government has created a "gutes Budget für Umwelt und Landwirtschaft".

The minister also reaffirmed his goal of shaping the coming years with discipline while not stopping investments in climate adaptation. He sees the challenge as reconciling climate protection, location policy, and budget consolidation – a balancing act that must take concrete shape in the upcoming budget negotiations.