By William GreenMore than 200,000 Vienna residents have signed a petition against the controversial expansion of a nuclear power plant in Slovakia, a city councillor has claimed.Social Democratic (SPÖ) environmental councillor Ulli Sima, who had started postcard and online campaigns against its expansion, said today (Thurs) that 204,162 people had signed the petition.She said: “We […]
By Lisa ChapmanPoliticians have hit out after Vienna’s Ringstraße was shut down yesterday (Tues) to mark an EU-wide car free day.They blasted the move organised by the Greens and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which saw the Ring between Operngasse and Bellariastraße shut and covered with artificial grass for people to picnic on during […]
By David RogersAustrian authorities have launched a new scrappage scheme for old refrigerators and freezers.The Household Environmental Forum (UFH) in cooperation with the environment ministry announced today that Austrians would get 100 Euros for the exchange of the old appliances for energy-saving “A++” devices under the scheme, which has been backdated to 1 September.The budget […]
Recession slashes power consumption
Categories
By William GreenPower consumption plunged this year amid an industry downturn because of the recession, the Association of Austrian Electricity Enterprises (VEÖ) said today (Tues).VEÖ said the fall reached its lowest point in April, when consumption was down by 10.3 per cent year on year.Declines of 6.1 per cent and 7.1 per cent occurred year […]
By David RogersThe Vienna insurance firm Allianz has called for more environmentally-friendly car repair.Firm board member Johann Oswald said today (Thurs) that a study by the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology in Germany had shown that smaller repairs instead of the installation of new spare parts resulted in significantly lower emissions of greenhouse gases.Oswald said such […]
By William GreenAustrian environmental groups have launched a fresh attack on industrialised nations ahead of the Copenhagen climate change conference next month.The Austrian Alliance for Climate Justice which includes 50 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the environmental, development-assistance, social and humanitarian sector claimed yesterday (Weds) that industrialised countries were primarily responsible for climate change.The […]
By Austrian Independent special correspondent John Morris Austrian companies from Styria, the Green Heart of Austria, travelled on a trade mission to China the last two weeks visiting Hong Zhou, Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing to stimulate the regions economy following the deepest recession since the 1930s. Raiffeisen Zentral Bank general manager for China, Andreas Werner, […]
By William GreenLowering motorway speed limits will cut pollution, a new study has claimed.A speed limit of 100 kilometres an hour on motorways significantly reduces fine-dust pollution, a study by Graz Technical University has concluded.The newspapers Kleine Zeitung and Kronen Zeitung reported today (Thurs) that the study had shown that periods of lower speed limits […]