Greenpeace sets out 395 empty chairs for heat deaths

Greenpeace placed 395 empty chairs outside the Federal Chancellery in Vienna on Saturday to symbolise people who died in the heat, ORF reported. The chairs were fitted with candles of mourning.

The environmental organisation said the action commemorated people who, according to the latest count by AGES, had not survived the first heatwave of the summer. “Many more are likely to have been added as a result of the heat records in recent weeks,” Greenpeace said.

Greenpeace described heat deaths as “the most shocking consequence of this disastrous summer”. It said drought, water shortages and fires were destroying habitats for people and animals and threatening livelihoods.

The organisation called for the Austrian government to adopt an immediate climate package next week, before the latest heatwave is forgotten and politicians return to normal business.

“What we are experiencing this summer is the product of collective failure in environmental and climate policy in Austria,” said Jasmin Duregger, Greenpeace Austria’s climate and energy expert. She accused large parts of the federal and state governments of blocking action, resulting in dried-out fields, burning forests and homes and hospitals becoming deadly heat traps.

Greenpeace said its proposed package should have five main pillars: a binding climate law with a binding plan to phase out oil and gas and achieve climate neutrality by 2040; an emergency funding pot instead of fossil-fuel subsidies; an end to soil sealing; protection for water resources; and a one-billion-euro restoration fund for greener cities.

Duregger said Agriculture Minister Totschnig, together with Chancellor Stocker and the federal government, had to take responsibility and implement the necessary measures in the coming days. She said a chancellor and government unable to respond with clear measures and assistance to a disaster situation such as this summer’s should resign.