Austrian minister calls for basic research on climate
Austrian Science and Research Minister Johannes Hahn has called for more money for basic research in the climate change field, and for more studies on adapting to climate change. Speaking at a press conference on 21 August, Mr Hahn made a clear plea for more basic research, suggesting that between 6% and 8% of funds for climate research should be channelled in this direction. He pointed out green electricity and the greenhouse effect are currently the focus of 'spectacular' demonstration projects, but that the ideas behind them would never have left the laboratory without basic research. 'We must not leave climate protection and climate research to the market and its 'quick wins',' said Mr Hahn. 'As more and more climate researchers are warning, new knowledge is necessary in order to address climate research practically. A lot of what has, until now, been considered as basic knowledge is increasingly losing its validity.' Mr Hahn was joined in his appeal by Helga Kromp-Kolb, professor of meteorology at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna. Current data and knowledge has gaps or is not up to date. New basic research on the new vermin and viruses that climate change is bringing with it is also long overdue, she said. If Austria continues to hang back, the country will not be able to simply use data from other countries to keep abreast of changes. 'Our land, our climate development are not comparable with those of other countries or regions. Austria will not become Greece if it gets warmer, that is a wrongly-held belief,' said Professor Kromp-Kolb. Mr Hahn also called for a change in focus by climate change researchers. Many resources are being used to investigate the slowing of climate change, as well as avoidance of climate change. Meanwhile very few are investigating how towns may look in the future. Sociological and philosophical questions on the impacts of climate change also need addressing, said the minister.
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Austria