Austria Faces New Heatwave Amidst Criticism Over Government Inaction on Extreme Temperatures

Austria is once again grappling with an extreme heatwave, as temperatures in some areas reached nearly 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Tulln-Langenlebarn in Lower Austria recorded a high of 39 degrees Celsius, with meteorologists predicting that the country's all-time heat record of 40.5 degrees Celsius, set in August 2013, could be broken in the coming days.

This current heatwave follows a significant heat event in June, when temperatures in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Lower Austria, hit 40.1 degrees Celsius. Austrian experts described the June temperatures as a "shocking herald" of the current conditions. Projections for July and August suggest temperatures could exceed 41 degrees Celsius, potentially setting new records.

According to calculations by Greenpeace Austria, based on data from the Austrian Central Statistical Office, approximately 300 people died from the effects of the extreme heatwave in June alone. The environmental organization sharply criticizes the Austrian Minister for Climate and Environment, Norbert Totschnig, for his perceived "inactivity" amidst the recurring heatwaves.

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Greenpeace is calling on Minister Totschnig to urgently implement measures to protect citizens from extreme heat, labeling it a "new challenge" that requires serious and immediate attention. They propose that an emergency aid package should include opening public spaces with cooling facilities on weekends, offering free entry to public pools, and providing free public transport. Furthermore, Totschnig is expected to present an ambitious and effective Climate Protection Act and launch a comprehensive initiative for renovating poorly insulated buildings.

Marc Dengler, a climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Austria, stated, "Around 300 people died in June from the consequences of extreme heat. Now Austria is once again in the grip of an extreme heatwave, but the responsible minister Norbert Totschnig is leaving the population in this extraordinary situation stranded, endangering the lives and health of numerous people in Austria." Dengler questioned whether Totschnig is the right person for the ministerial role if he does not promptly introduce emergency measures and the long-awaited climate protection law.

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