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Stephan Pernkopf: For me, two issues will definitely remain: regionality and security. The disadvantage of municipalities in rural areas, experts say, has become a strength. Before it was said: few companies, a lot of nature and few jobs in rural areas, that has now been turned upside down. The urban-rural division has been reduced, there is an office at home, you no longer have to travel. It will stay that way. But it is also important that, especially in the area of significant supply of goods, one has to think about what needs to be re-produced in Europe.
Most countries reacted to the Covid crisis with incredible force, but everyone is holding back when it comes to climate change. Why?
Pernkopf: We still have a long way to go. In the Covid crisis, there is a direct impact that leads to direct action, other issues have moved far away. When it comes to climate change, I’m afraid this is still very abstract. After all, we are currently negotiating the new law on expanding renewable energy. The objective is to generate energy again in the region.
Badelt: I find it remarkable how radically politicians can react when there is a sense of urgency, with organizational, regulatory and financial measures. From this I conclude that the urgency of the climate problem is not yet sufficiently recognized. Because I don’t hear the phrase “whatever it takes”, which became famous during the crisis, when it comes to climate protection. My job is to make it clear to politicians and people: if we don’t act on climate change now, it will be terrible for decades to come.
Has politics not recognized the urgency of the problem?
Pernkopf: Not just politics, but society as a whole. As such, society is not directly affected, so there are no one hundred percent direct deductions, as happened with the Covid crisis.
