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Entrepreneur returns price: Greenwashing event of the WKO interrupted

Entrepreneur returns price Greenwashing event of the WKO interrupted

A year ago, entrepreneur Dr. Norbert Mayr won the Energy Globe Vienna Award for the CO2-neutral residential area MGG22 - now he returned it at the opening of this year's Energy Globe Award ceremony. During the speech of the former WKO President Christoph Leitl, he entered the stage to return his certificate.

Mayr says: "I feel used for embarrassing greenwashing of the WKO. The WKO has been blocking effective climate protection measures for yearsShe fights future-oriented decisions such as Minister Gewessler's cancellation of the large-scale fossil project Lobauautobahn. The WKO lobbies aggressively for the climate-hostile realization of this motorway and for the construction of agricultural land, for a suburban area that is also harmful in terms of spatial planning. The WKO is largely responsible for Austria's dependence on Putin's gas and is slowing down a consistent energy and mobility turnaround while trying to give itself a green coat of paint."

“We live in times of an acute, steadily worsening climate crisis. Austria has not reduced its CO2 emissions since 1990 and is violating the Paris Agreement of 2015. Far-reaching changes are now needed instead of carrying on as before. Events like today's award ceremony should only distract from the fact that the WKO is trying to block urgently needed measures," the entrepreneur continued. "And that's why today I'm returning the award I received last year. I cannot accept a price from an organization that is committed to climate protection, but at the same time still lobbying for oil and gas.”

Norbert Mayr, who was a member of various WKO trade associations, says to colleagues who think in a similarly future-oriented way: "Defend yourself against this irresponsible standstill in your professional representation".

Photo / Video: Extinction Rebellion Austria.

Written by Option

Option is an idealistic, fully independent and global social media platform on sustainability and civil society, founded in 2014 by Helmut Melzer. Together we show positive alternatives in all areas and support meaningful innovations and forward-looking ideas - constructive-critical, optimistic, down to earth. The option community is dedicated exclusively to relevant news and documents the significant progress made by our society.

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