Following his keynote address at the Austrian Wind Energy Association (AWES), IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber spoke to the industry magazine Windenergie about why we need to step up current climate policy and what climate protection has to do with patriotism.
When asked about his statement that climate protection is also synonymous with patriotism and homeland protection during his address at an AWES event in June, Schellnhuber responded as follows:
"This is a connection that is completely underestimated: if you are a patriot, you have to focus on climate protection! Populist politics should actually lead directly to popular climate policy. If you really want to combat the causes of migration, you have to make a contribution to global climate protection. Austria is also incredibly vulnerable to major climatic changes as a cultural and natural land that is worth protecting. Austria would look completely different if we were to experience 2 to 3°C of global warming on a permanent basis. So if you want to continue to protect the Weinviertel or other regions of our homeland, you actually have to focus on climate protection."
Read the full article starting on page 12 of the magazine here. Please note that the article is in German.
News
01 July 2026
“SITCA” Alliance for the global transition to timber construction
Under the leadership of IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, the Science and Timber Construction Alliance (SITCA) was officially launched today. The initiative aims to transform the construction sector into a driver of climate protection through sustainable forest management and modern timber construction.
30 June 2026
Scenarios across borders: 100 meetings of the Austrian IIASA Committee
On 26 June 2026, the Austrian IIASA Committee gathered at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna for its 100th session – an afternoon focused on systems, science diplomacy, and the question of how to fit an entire world into a model.
20 May 2026
New Elsevier report on Austria’s science system highlights IIASA’s global impact
IIASA has emerged as one of Austria’s standout research institutions in a new Elsevier report titled, Austria as a Science and Technology Nation, which benchmarks the country’s scientific performance in an international context.