Krismer calls for stronger climate action, criticises health plan

Helga Krismer, the Greens’ leader in Lower Austria, has called for stronger climate protection measures while again describing the province’s health plan as “health chaos”, ORF reported.

Speaking to ORF Lower Austria editor-in-chief Claudia Schubert, Krismer said drought had created an acute emergency for many agricultural businesses. She welcomed the aid that had been approved but said it should have come sooner. “When a house is on fire, you have to put it out,” she said.

Krismer added that disaster aid alone was not enough and called for an effective climate protection law. In her view, such a law would have little value without sanctions for missed targets. She compared this to a speed limit with no consequences for violations.

The Greens were the only party represented in the provincial parliament not to support the health plan, Krismer said. She argued that many people did not know what healthcare in their region would look like in the future, while existing structures were already being changed.

She called for specialist appointments within 14 days and reliable emergency and primary care in the regions. Krismer also rejected the planned changes to emergency doctor bases in their current form, saying new structures first had to be secured legally and in practice before the system was changed.

The Greens also opposed the province’s double budget, approved in July. Krismer said it did not provide sufficient answers to the effects of drought and flooding or to the challenges facing the healthcare system.

In an ORF Lower Austria commissioned poll, 23 percent of Green supporters named healthcare as the most important issue after climate and the environment.