Conference at Weißensee

Provincial councillors take a stand against nuclear power

Minister Gewessler is not happy that the federal states did not reach an agreement.(Bild: Uta Rojsek-Wiedergut)

The environmental councillors take a clear stance on nuclear power plants: No to nuclear power plants in our neighboring countries - and many Carinthians immediately think of the Krško nuclear power plant in the immediate vicinity.

While the provinces were unable to reach an agreement at the Conference of Environmental and Nature Conservation Officers at Lake Weissensee in the dispute over the Renaturation Act, the provincial councillors quickly came to a common denominator on the subject of nuclear power. "We clearly say no to nuclear power plants in our neighboring countries," said Carinthia's environment officer Sara Schaar (SP), who chaired the conference. For Schaar, it is an important signal because the Krško nuclear power plant is located in the immediate vicinity of Carinthia and Styria.

We are clearly saying no to nuclear power plants in our immediate neighboring countries.

Sara Schaar, Umweltreferentin, Kärnten

And while Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) shows little enthusiasm for the provinces' decision on the renaturation law, she has a lot to gain from the decision against nuclear power: "This is an important sign that the anti-nuclear policy is supported by the provinces. After all, nuclear power is neither environmentally friendly nor clean; on the contrary. The nuclear power plants in our neighboring countries are extremely dangerous." Despite the nuclear decision of the federal states, the Environment Minister left Carinthia with a grim face.