Statement of the scientific community on the European gas conference | S4F AT

Fossil natural gas, which mainly consists of methane, is around 20 times more harmful to the climate than CO85 over a period of 2 years. The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has increased more than ever before in the recent past.

Although natural gas converts to CO2 (and water) when burned, significant amounts of methane are released into the atmosphere during the extraction and transport of natural gas. This has devastating consequences for the climate. These so-called leaks (Leaks) are far too rarely taken into account when it comes to the carbon footprint of natural gas. 

Natural gas is often presented as a bridging technology and as the climate-friendly alternative to coal and oil. However, if one takes into account the methane losses and emissions during transport, natural gas is just as harmful to the climate as coal. It is clear that in order to stabilize the climate, CO2 emissions must be reduced to zero. This also makes it clear that natural gas is not a bridge to the future, but is part of the fossil past and present that we urgently need to overcome.

Time is running out. In just a few years, we will have so much methane, CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that warming will exceed 1,5°C. Beyond the 1,5°C limit, climate stability is at risk. This danger increases with every additional tenth of a degree. A stable climate is the foundation of our civilization. An unstable climate causes them to falter and eventually collapse in many ways through struggles over distribution, flight and war. Our actions in the coming years will determine how great this danger will be for our children, grandchildren and all future generations.

Excessive investments are currently being made in new gas infrastructure in Europe, also as a result of Russia's inhuman war of aggression against Ukraine. Regardless of the lessons to be learned from the events of the last year, political and economic actors in Europe are still propagating the retention and expansion of infrastructure for fossil natural gas. This policy is devoid of any scientific basis or reason and can only be explained by blindly clinging to old ideologies.

From a scientific point of view, the fears and concerns of all those who view these political and economic developments with concern and who actively oppose them are fully justified. The protest against the further expansion of natural gas infrastructure and for a phasing out of natural gas and all fossil fuels as quickly as possible shows common sense, while clinging to coal, oil and gas shows ideological blindness. In order to overcome this delusion in time, all non-violent forms of protest are justified in view of the enormous threat and urgency from the point of view of the undersigned scientists.

 Signatories: inside

Coordination team of the Scientists for Future Vienna 

 Health for Future

Persons:

• Prof. Dr. Elske Ammenwerth
• Univ.-Prof. dr Enrico Arrigoni (Graz University of Technology)
• Hon.-Prof. Martin Auer, B.A
• Prof. Dr.phil. Dr hc mult. Bruno Buchberger (Johannes Kepler University Linz; RISC; Academy of Europe)
• Prof. Dr. Reinhold Christian (executive president of the Science & Environment Forum)
• Univ.-Prof. dr Giuseppe Delmestri (University of Economy Vienna)
• Prof. (FH) Dr. John Jaeger (University of Applied Sciences of the BFI Vienna)
• ao Univ.-Prof. dr Jurgen Kurt Friedel, (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Univ.-Prof. dr Barbara Gasteiger Klicpera (University of Graz)
• Univ.-Prof. dr Maria Regina Kecht (Emerita, Rice University, Houston, TX)
• Professor, Dr. Like. Sabrina Luimpöck (University of Applied Sciences Burgenland)
• Univ.-Prof. GDR. Michael Getzner (Technical University of Vienna)
• Ao Univ.-Prof. dr George Gratzer (University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna – Inst. o. Forest Ecology)
• Univ.-Prof.iR Dr.techn. Wolfgang Hirschberg (former Graz University of Technology)
• em Univ.Prof. dr Dr hc Helga Kromp Kolb (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• HS Prof. dr Matthew Kowasash (Pedagogical University of Styria)
• Univ.-Prof. Axel Maas (University of Graz)
• Univ.-Prof. dr Rene Mayrhofer (Johannes Kepler University Linz)
• Prof. Dr. Markus Ohler (University of Vienna)
• Univ.-Prof. Suzanne Pernicka (Johannes Kepler University Linz – Institute for Sociology)
• Univ.-Prof. dr Alfred Posch (University of Graz)
• Univ.-Prof. Volker Quaschning
• ao Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Klaus Rieser (University of Graz)
• Univ.-Prof. dr Michael Rosenbergr (Catholic Private University Linz – Institute for Moral Theology)
• Prof. Christa Schleper
• Univ.-Prof. dr Henning finish (University of Vienna – Institute for Educational Science)
• ao Univ.-Prof. dr Ruth Simsa (University of Economy Vienna)
• Prof. Dr. Ulrike Stamm (Pedagogical University of Upper Austria)
• Univ.-Prof. Mag. Gunther Stocker (University of Vienna – Institute for German Studies)
• ao Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. dr Harald Vacik (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna – Institute for Silviculture)
• Univ.-Prof. Eve cousin (University of Vienna)
• Hon.-Prof. dr John Weber (University of Applied Arts Vienna)
• Univ.-Prof. dr Dietmar W. Winkler (University of Salzburg – Faculty of Theology)
• Ernest Aigner, PhD (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
• Dr. Use Bartosch (former University of Vienna)
• Dr.nat.techn. Benedict Becsi (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Dr. Bernhard Binder Hammer (Technical University of Vienna)
• Dr. Hubert Bratl
• Dr. Lukas Brunner (University of Vienna – Institute for Meteorology and Geophysics)
• Mag. Michael Buerkle
• Dr. Renate Christ (IPCC Secretariat retired)
• Dr. Rachel Dale (University for Further Education Krems)
• associate Prof. Dr. Ika Darnhofer PhD (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna – Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Economics)
• Dr. Monica Doerfler (NUHAG)
• Univ.-Prof. dr Stephen Dullinger (University of Vienna)
• associate Prof. Dr. Kirsten v. Elverfeldt (Alpen-Adria-University Klagenfurt)
• Assoc.-Prof. dr Franz Essl (Vienna University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences – Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research)
• associate Prof. MMag. dr Harald A. Friedl (JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences – Institute for Health and Tourism Management)
• Dr. Florian Freistetter (Science Buster)
• Ass. Prof. Mag. Dr. Herbert Formayer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna – Institute for Meteorology and Climatology)
• Dr. Stephen Forstner (Federal Research Center for Forests, Vienna)
• Dr. Patrick Forstner (Medical University of Graz)
• dr Friederike Friess (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• dr Manuela Gamsjäger (Pedagogical University of Upper Austria)
• Mag. Helmut Franz Geroldinger (MORE)
• associate Prof DI dr Gunter Getzinger (Graz University of Technology)
• Mag. Marion Greilinger
• TUE dr Franz Greimel (IHG, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences)
• associate Prof. Dr. Gregory Gorkiewicz (Medical University of Graz)
• Dr. Gregory Hagedorn (Co-founder of S4F, academic director at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin)
• Dr. Thomas Griffiths (University of Vienna – Dep. f. Lithospheric Research)
• Ass. Prof. MMag. Ulrike Haele (Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, NDU St. Pölten)
• Dr. Stephen Hagel (ÖAI / ÖAW)
• Assistant Prof. dr Daniel Hausknost (University of Economy Vienna)
• Mag. Friedrich Hinterberger (University of Applied Arts)
• Dr. Sarah Hintze (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Dr. Stefan Hörtenhuber (University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences - Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems)
• Dr. Silvia Huttner
• Dr. Daniel Huppman (IIASA)
• Dr. Klaus Jaeger
• Dr. Andrea Jany (University of Graz)
• associate Prof. Dr. Christina Kaiser (University of Vienna)
• Univ.-Doz. dr Dietmar Kanatschnig
• Melina Kerou, PhD (Senior Scientist, University of Vienna)
• DI Dr. Luke Daniel Klausner (St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences – Institute for IT Security Research, Cent. for AI)
• Prof. Dr. Margaret Lazar 
• MMag. dr Verena Liszt-Rohlf (University of Applied Sciences Burgenland GmbH)
• dr Mag.MM Margaret Maurer (S4F, President of the Association for Interdisciplinary Research and Practice)
• associate Univ.-Prof. dr Uwe Monkowius (Johannes Kepler University Linz)
• TUE dr Michael Muehlberger
• Dr. Heinz Nabielek (Research Center Jülich, retired)
• TUE dr George Neugebauer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Dr. Christian Nosko (KPH Vienna/Krems)
• Mag. Ines Omann (ÖFSE Vienna)
• private Doz. DDr. Isabella Pali (University of Veterinary Medicine; Medical University of Vienna)
• Ass. Prof. Beatrix Pfanzagl (Medical university Vienna)
• Dr. Barbara Plank (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Dr. Christian Peer (Technical University of Vienna)
• Dr. Yagoda Pokryszka (Medical university Vienna)
• Dr. Edith Roxanne Powelll (LSE)
• Dr. Thomas Quinton
• Dr. Nicolas Roux (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Dr. Gertraud Malsiner-Walli (Vienna University of Economics and Business – Institute for Statistics and Mathematics)
• private Dr. Martin Ruby (Vienna University of Technology – Institute for Discrete Mathematics and Geometry)
• Dr. Helmut Sattmann (Naturehistorical Museum)
• Dr. Patrick Scherhaufer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Dr. Hannes Schmidt (University of Vienna)
• associate Prof DI dr Joseph Schneider (Graz University of Technology)
• Dr. Matthew Black MSc MSc
• TUE dr Sigrid Black (Vice President of the Austrian Soil Science Society, Univ. Lecturer)
• Dr. Rene Sedmik (Technical University of Vienna)
• Dr. Barbara Smetschka (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Dr. Ena Smith (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Maximilian Sohmen, PhD (Medical University Innsbruck – Inst. o. Biomedical Physics)
• Dr. Johannes Sollner
• associate Prof. Dr. Reinhard Steurer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Dr. Leonore Theuer (lawyer)
• Dr.med.vet. Maria Sophia Unterkoefler (University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna)
• Dr. Tilman Voss (Scientists for Future – Department of Politics and Law)
• Dr. Johannes Waldmuller (ZSI Vienna)
• Dr. Anja Westram
• Dr. Dominik Wiedenhofer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• TUE dr David Woss (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Mag. Heidemarie Amon (AECC Biology)
• Franz Aschauer, MSc
• DI Stefan Auer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna) 
• Pamela Baur, MSc (University of Vienna)
• Mag. Dieter Bergmayer (KPH Vienna/Krems)
• Fabian Dremel, MSc
• Christopher Falkenberg, MSc (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Gwen Goeltl, MA (University of Vienna – Institute for Sociology)
• Mag. Peter Gringinger (CEnvP, RPGeo)
• DI Martin Hasenhundl, B.Sc. (Technical University, Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Engineering Hydrology)
• TUE Bernhard Heilmann (TIA)
• Jennifer Hennenfeind, MSc
• TUE Ines Hinterleitner
• Mag. Hans Holzinger
• Julian Horndl, MSc (University of Salzburg – Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials)
• TUE Christina Hummel (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Lisa Kaufman, Mag.a (University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna – Institute for Social Ecology)
• Dipl. Geoecology Steffen Kittlaus (Technical University – Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management)
• Julia Knogler, MA (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna – Center for Global Change and Sustainability)
• Dipl.Ing. Bernhard Koch(University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Jana Catherine Koehler, M.Sc B.Sc, (University of Vienna)Mag.a (FH) 
• Andrea Kropik, MSc (University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna)
• TUE Barbara Laa (Technical University of Vienna)
• Hans Peter Manser MA, (MDW, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna)
• TUE Alfred Mar (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Mag. Mirijam Mock Maximilian Muhr, MSc (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Mag. Elizabeth Muehlbacher
• Max Utility MSc
• Markus Palzer-Khomenko, MSc
• Catherine Perny, MSc (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna – Institute for Meteorology and Climatology) 
• Martin Pühringer, MSc (NLW, University of Salzburg)
• Mag. Ines Clarissa Schuster
• DI Arthur Schwesig
• Mag. Bernhard Spuller
• Eva Strauss, MSc
• Ivo Sabor, MSc (JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences – Institute for Energy, Traffic and Environmental Management)
• Florian Weidinger, MSc (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
• Roman Bisko, B.Sc.
• Maria Mayrhans, B.Sc.
• Jana Plochl, B.Sc.
• Thomas Wurz, B.A
• Anika Bausch, B.Sc. MA

Cover photo: Gerd Altmann on Pixabay